Judge Sides with Investigators in South Carolina Poker TrialHe Refuses to Dismiss the Case; Jury Trial May Be in Future |
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A judge refused to dismiss the charges levied against five men who were fined for playing home poker in South Carolina, sending the case on a collision with a possible jury trial, or another go-around at dismissal.
Bob Chimento, Scott Richards, Michael Williamson, Jeremy Brestel, and John Taylor Will believe that the law they’re accused of breaking, a law that makes it illegal to play any kinds of games that use cards or dice in the state and that law enforcement agencies have used to stop home poker games, is unconstitutional.
“Our next step is to go into an appeals process on the dismissal or move forward and ask for a speedy jury trial,” Chimento said.
Judge Larry Guffy did not agree and refused to dismiss the charges on Aug. 22, which allows for state prosecutors to push on. This pretty much is standard protocol for any trial, and cases are seldom dismissed at this point, but the judge could have waited to rule for years if he wanted to.
Defendant Bob Chimento, a contractor by trade and one of the 65 people who were served warrants after police investigated several home games in South Carolina, said the group will evaluate what to do next.
According to Chimento, arguments were heard for about an hour. Prosecutors are defining the houses where the games took place as casinos, yet admitted that they couldn’t point out a craps or a blackjack table.
The goal of the group is not necessarily to be found innocent. They’re only facing fines of between $154 and $257, which were paid by the other 60 players who were charged in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in April 2006.
The men’s goal is to take this fight as far up the state’s judicial ladder as possible in hopes of forcing state officials to redefine the century-old law that is recently being used in one part of South Carolina to go after poker players.
Chimento was thrilled that the judge ruled today and was excited at the prospect of being able to use the system that busted them to try to change the poker law in South Carolina. He’s confident about his legal team, which includes lawyer Chuck Humphreys and self-proclaimed poker coach and poker law advocate Bob Ciaffone.
Also, if local newspaper and radio polls are to be believed, public opinion clearly sits on the side of the players, despite being in the heart of the Bible Belt.
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