Judge Sides with Investigators in South Carolina Poker TrialHe Refuses to Dismiss the Case; Jury Trial May Be in Futureby Bob Pajich | Published: Aug 22, 2008 | |
 
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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 today, 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 in the state that use cards or dice 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, which allows for state prosecutors to push on. This pretty much is standard protocols for any trial and cases are seldom dismissed at this point, but the judge could’ve 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 black jack table.
The goal of the group is not necessarily out to be found innocent. They’re only facing fines of between $154 and $257, which are the fines that the other 60 players who were charged in Mount Pleasant, S.C., 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.
3 Comments
LukeSJ
1 year ago
i live in south carolina and I am against all of this blue law- bible belt BS Give those bastards hell in the court and I pray to god the arresting officers are shot and killed in a routine traffic stop. Its ridiculous and these grandfather law shuold be abolished. PS Did you also know you can beat you're wife on the courthouse steps on Sunday in South Carolina as long as the instrument used is wooden and less than 2inch in diameter - REAL LAW Why don't they raid a couple nursing homes, I volunteer at one- they play bridge AND poker religiously there- gonna lock up our grandparents next? GIMME A BREAK
carolinem
1 year ago
i think there needs to be a change in the law in s.c. there are to many crimes and murders in the projects to be messing around with working class citizens trying to have a good time playing poker and chilling at a friends house. cops are to scared to patrol the appartments and gov. housing were ALL the drugs and violence exist, they rather have it easy and lock up working class people to get there money. there needs to be a change and fast, cause i love to play ppoker and i'm tired of worrying if the door is going to get busted down by cops. there are about 7 places i play and some of them are in rental places in strip malls, majority houses though.
pokerwidow1
1 month ago
If Bob wasn't a convicted felon he could be a lawyer.