Criminal charges have been filed against the employee of the Worcester strip club who allegedly videotaped the beating of a patron in a club bathroom. The footage of the attack was downloaded on the Internet and viewed by thousands, including the police.

Tien W. Russell, 25, of Leominster, was arraigned today in Central District Court. He was ordered held on $1,000 bail.



He is charged with kidnapping, assault and battery and unarmed robbery, each under the joint-venture law. Authorities say he used a phone camera.



The attack in the bathroom of Platinum Premier, 241 Southbridge St., occurred last year but did not come to the attention of the authorities until last month, when the video showed up on YouTube and other websites.



The video shows a club employee, later identified by police as Easton Byfield of Oxford, attacking a patron and sifting through the victim's wallet.



The video prompted police to seek the person behind the camera, since identified by authorities as Mr. Russell.



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Editor's note: The video of the alleged assault contains graphic language and violence.