bigboydan
08-20-2003, 12:38 AM
8-20, Local: 4 forfeit cash, machines in gambling case
By GLENN EVANS
HENDERSON — The dismissals of gambling charges last week against four defendants concludes legal action that began with a countywide eight-liner sweep in May 2002.
A spokesman for Attorney General Greg Abbott said Tuesday that all charges against Jerry and Shirley Smires of New London, Berta Smires and Lovie Pollard were dropped Thursday. The four, who operated the Henderson Game Room on U.S. 79, agreed to give up $2,133 cash and 21 machines seized by agents during a raid.
That raid of 12 game halls and convenience stores was one of several then-Attorney General John Cornyn conducted with local law enforcement across the state. The action in Rusk County, set up by undercover agents who played the games and reported winning cash or coupons redeemable for merchandise, netted nearly $100,000 that was divided among the state and local agencies that took part.
It also netted eight convictions against defendants from seven of the dozen locations, Abbott's office reported. Cases were dismissed or not filed on 19 arrested in the sweep.
Similar in appearance to slot machines, eight-liners are video machines on which fruit and other icons spin on a tic-tac-toe grid. The payoff typically is additional spins or tickets redeemable for in-store merchandise or gift certificates.
Affidavits supporting the arrests say some of the eight-liner operators paid off winnings with cash.
Eight-liner defenses that succeeded argued they were exempted from the definition of a gambling device, an argument that swayed juries to acquit defendants in Gregg and Henderson counties and elsewhere in the state.
The Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in September 2002 that Abbott says upholds his argument that gift certificates won from the machines are the same as cash and make eight-liners illegal gambling devices.
By GLENN EVANS
HENDERSON — The dismissals of gambling charges last week against four defendants concludes legal action that began with a countywide eight-liner sweep in May 2002.
A spokesman for Attorney General Greg Abbott said Tuesday that all charges against Jerry and Shirley Smires of New London, Berta Smires and Lovie Pollard were dropped Thursday. The four, who operated the Henderson Game Room on U.S. 79, agreed to give up $2,133 cash and 21 machines seized by agents during a raid.
That raid of 12 game halls and convenience stores was one of several then-Attorney General John Cornyn conducted with local law enforcement across the state. The action in Rusk County, set up by undercover agents who played the games and reported winning cash or coupons redeemable for merchandise, netted nearly $100,000 that was divided among the state and local agencies that took part.
It also netted eight convictions against defendants from seven of the dozen locations, Abbott's office reported. Cases were dismissed or not filed on 19 arrested in the sweep.
Similar in appearance to slot machines, eight-liners are video machines on which fruit and other icons spin on a tic-tac-toe grid. The payoff typically is additional spins or tickets redeemable for in-store merchandise or gift certificates.
Affidavits supporting the arrests say some of the eight-liner operators paid off winnings with cash.
Eight-liner defenses that succeeded argued they were exempted from the definition of a gambling device, an argument that swayed juries to acquit defendants in Gregg and Henderson counties and elsewhere in the state.
The Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in September 2002 that Abbott says upholds his argument that gift certificates won from the machines are the same as cash and make eight-liners illegal gambling devices.