Judge Sides with Investigators in South Carolina Poker TrialHe Refuses to Dismiss the Case; Jury Trial May Be in Futureby Bob Pajich | Published: Aug 28, 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, 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.
3 Comments
carolinem
1 year ago
this is a joke. i can't believe that this old ass law is still in place, well it is south carolina. we may can get SPURIER on our side and i KNOW IT WILL GET CHANGE,lol. well its just another reason to keep tourist out of the carolinas cuase theres nothing here but war history and cival war wana b's. the law needs to change and south carolina needs to get with todays world not 100 yr old rules that want let u play any kind of games, what a fucking joke carolina
whbass43
1 year ago
I live here in Charleston & clearly can see where this will end up. The judge doesn't want to be the bad one & enforce this BS law.Because in the back of his mind he knows there is nothing wrong with a poker game between friends.It will go to a jury'where the jury will dismiss charges by not guilty agreement.If individual states sell lottery tickets? Then poker should be legal as well. Games of chance involve scratching a ticket! We can control the out come of a poker hand.But,we cannot control that $10 scratch off card.So..clearly poker is not a game of chance.
pokerwidow1
1 month ago
Bob Chimento likes to be in the newspaper. He could give a rats ass if poker gets legalized. The more attention you pay to him, the happier the poor sap is.