Gambling machines seized from businesses

December 7, 2006

By BEN GARRETT
Independent Herald Editor

WINFIELD — The Scott County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on illegal machine gambling here, seizing gambling machines from and issuing citations to three businesses.

Machines were seized from the Cozy Inn Tavern, the Roadside Tavern and the Wooden Nickel, all located inside the city limits of the Town of Winfield. According to a news release issued by Sheriff Anthony Lay, machines at the Cozy Inn were located in a private room of the business, while devices at the other two facilities were located “in plain view.”

According to the written release issued by Lay, Detective Donnie Anderson executed a search warrant at the Cozy Inn Tavern at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday evening. Two gambling machines were seized in a private room located inside the establishment. The machines contained a total of $314. Records located inside the machines explained in detail how the machines pay out per point earned, the release said. A citation was issued to the owner of the business, Sheila Straub, of Strunk, KY, for possession of a gambling device.

The Roadside Tavern and Wooden Nickel were targeted for gambling devices that were in plain view, Lay said. Five machines were located at the Wooden Nickel and three machines were seized from the Roadside Tavern. A total amount of $1,940 was also seized. That amount did not include money from change machines seized from the Wooden Nickel. Detective Anderson stated that money from those machines would have to be counted later, due to not being able to get into the machines.

Citations were issued to both the Roadside Tavern and Wooden Nickel for possession of a gambling device.

Lay stated that when the cases move to trial, he will request the judge to give the seized money to a local organization to help children in need.

Lay further stated that gambling machines will no longer be tolerated in Scott County.

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