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Saturday, October 27, 2007
Ind. Courts - Defendant's sentence includes watching his electronic gambling machines being destroyed
Sophia Voravong reports today in the Lafayette Courier & Press:
A Lafayette businessman watched Friday afternoon as 38 gambling machines seized from his former all-ages nightclub in May 2004 were crushed and destroyed.That was part of the punishment handed down to Rodger L. Heer, 57, on Friday morning by Judge Don Johnson of Tippecanoe Superior Court 1.
Heer also was sentenced to unsupervised probation and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.
"This was four years ago," Heer said, gesturing to the machines being smashed by a bulldozer in the parking lot at the city of Lafayette's fleet maintenance facility.
"I don't even know why I'm here."
Heer pleaded guilty to promoting professional gambling, a Class D felony, on the morning jury selection was to begin in his trial last month.
Three other charges, including Class C felony counts of corrupt business influence and money laundering, were dropped.
The machines -- some that Heer bought brand new and some that were used -- had an approximate value of $2,200 each, according to Lt. Jim Taul of the Lafayette Police Department. * * *
Taul, who investigated the complaints, said he hopes it sends a message to other business owners who have gambling devices.
"I would think that it would encourage anyone operating the illegal machines to get rid of them," he said, "before they get arrested and charged. Because now, we have a citizen with a felony on his record."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 27, 2007 04:12 PM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions