By Alexis Russell

08/29/2008

In April of 2006 65 people were arrested in South Carolina while playing poker.  ‘What kind of operation were they running?’ would be most people’s immediate reaction.  However, these people were arrested in separate occurrences and it really didn’t take much for the police to warrant the arrest.  They simply had to prove the individuals were playing poker.

                That’s right, the law of South Carolina prohibits any type of game that uses cards or dice no matter whether or not it’s a home game.  They have even recently struck down a radio station’s attempts at organizing a charity poker tournament.  If this law seems outdated, it’s probably the law is over 200 years old.

                Sixty of the 65 arrested have already settled their nominal fines by pleading out.  However, 5 individuals are refusing to accepting the ancient law.  The defendants Bob Chimento, Scott Richards, Michael Williamson, Jeremy Brestel, and John Taylor Will were happy to hear on August 22^nd, 2008 that Mount Pleasant Judge J. Lawrence Duffy Jr. refused to dismiss the case as so many other judges in other states would have.  That’s because these men are now on a mission in the name of poker.

                Though the host of the poker event was pocketing some of the table cash, the abode was indeed a private home not a casino or open to the public as prosecutors are trying to allege.  The remaining defendants are calling for a public outcry against the law that they feel is unconstitutional.  If anything it’s definitely behind on the times.

                The 5 defendants are ready and willing to take the case as high as they have to get draw attention to the unjust law, but it might be a while before they see the fruits of their labors.  Experts say the case can easily to drawn out 2 years or more.  By the looks of authorities reactions to the event poker is going to be in the hot seat of South Carolina long into the future.