Testimony links Haywood County sheriff to illegal video poker money

North Carolina-- Haywood County Sheriff Tom Alexander accepted thousands of dollars from a South Carolina company in exchange for allowing illegal video poker machines in businesses, a company official testified in an Asheville courtroom May 5.

Jerry Pennington of Henderson Amusement Inc. said the company paid Alexander $100 per month for 33 machines “or we could not operate in the county,” according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Pennington was on the stand testifying as part of the federal trial of Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford. Medford is on trial for allegations he extorted money from gambling operators, money laundering and conspiracy to run an illegal business.

Under North Carolina state law, video poker machines are registered, reported to county tax officials and regulated by county sheriffs. The machines are subject to property taxes as business equipment.

Pennington told the judge that the code XX (2) in his expense reports represented Alexander.

Pennington’s testimony created some confusion because earlier Monday his assistant Anna Deaton said the code XX (2) stood for Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland.

Pennington, though, said Deaton’s testimony was incorrect and that he had never bribed Holland.

Alexander told the Citizen-Times Monday, May 5, that he had never met Pennington, but declined to elaborate on the allegation. By the following morning, the sheriff was not accepting media inquiries pending the release of a formal statement that afternoon. That statement was not available as of press time.

A sentiment of shock ran through the Haywood community as word spread of Alexander’s name being linked to illegal video poker operations. The sheriff has served in his post since 1987 and was a well-known figure in Haywood County. The county has commissioned a bust of Alexander to place in the new law enforcement center after first considering naming the building for him.

“He’s easily the most respected and well-liked public official, and probably the most popular public official in the history of Haywood County,” said county tax collector David Francis, who is also an elected official. “This is just hard to believe, and it’s going to take a lot more than somebody on the stand saying that to sway my opinion of Tom.”

County Commissioner Bill Upton, who is also a former superintendent of schools, shared a similar sentiment.

“I’d have to say I’m very, very surprised of the allegations,” said Upton. “I’ve known Tom forever. He’s been a great sheriff. He is innocent until proven guilty. I think we need to let things run their course.”

News Added: 07 May, 2008

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