Gambling news from http://www.thedailycitizen.com/
Orville Revel “Pops” Moore, 67, plead guilty Thursday to operating a gambling house and illegal gaming devices. The charges were made in White County Circuit Court by Chris Raff, prosecuting attorney April 24 after a March 18 raid on Pop’s Hideaway on C.W. Road between Searcy and Judsonia.
Sentenced to three years probation, Moore was also fined and ordered to pay court costs.
Between March 10 and March 28, undercover officers repeatedly entered the business and observed illegal acts. During the raid deputies found two Super Fruit Bonus machines, two Cherry Delight machines, a White Face machine, a Magic Bomb machine and a Queen Bee machine. Officers found an envelope marked “Sunshine School Building Fund” containing $50. On the front counter, officers found rolls of poker chips marked “Pit Boss” and decks of playing cards. Bottles of wine, rum and beer were confiscated, along with a 12-gauge shotgun which was hanging on a wall in the back of the business. The gun was found to be stolen out of Pulaski County.
In the tanning salon next door, which Moore also ran, officers found a computer and Sentry safe containing $6,829.
Moore confessed to exchanging tickets won in the machines for pool table rental, pool lessons, tobacco shop credit or cash.
“I was the only one that would pay/redeem tickets,” Moore said. “I did not want anyone else getting in trouble.”
Michael L. Johnson, 53, also charged with operating a gambling house and illegal gaming devices, has not yet appeared in White County Circuit Court for plea and arraignment.
After the raid, Johnson said he was in charge of the poker game at the establishment. People would buy in for $25 or $50, Johnson told police, and would play as long as they wanted or until one player was left. He said the poker game was stopped two weeks before the sheriff’s raid “because we expected a visit from the sheriff’s department.”
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