Medford trial, day three

Three government witnesses appeared during Thursday’s proceedings in the trial of former Buncombe Sheriff Bobby Medford.

First up was Eddie Caldwell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, a non-profit group comprised of all 100 county sheriffs in the state. The group handles education, advocacy and policy coordination among the state’s sheriffs.

Caldwell noted that the office of sheriff is the oldest office in the state, a carry-over from English common law. He explained sheriffs’ duties and the video poker laws enacted in 2000 (which legalized it) and 2006 (which phased it out).

Next FBI Agent Drew Grafton took the stand to outline evidence seized from the home of Ronnie “Butch” Davis in a raid on Feb.22, 2007. (Davis was a co-defendant of Medford, Penland and Harrison, and has already pled guilty in the case.) Grafton reported seizure of $18,000 in cash (wrapped in aluminum foil and stuffed above a duct), bank deposit slips, other financial records, notebookds, a Rolodex and a video poker machine.

At 2:55 former Buncombe County Lt. Johnny Harrison took the stand. Harrison has also pled guilty in the case.

Harrison, who was responsible for registration of video poker machines from 2001 through 2005, detailed his registration of illegal machines, acceptance of pay-offs from machine operators as directed by Medford, his work organizing semi-annual Medford Golf Classic events and receipt of funds from participants, his coordination of meetings between Medford and gambling operators, etc.

Harrison asserted that Medford told him that golf tournament receipts did not need to be reported in non-election years. (In election cycles the money went to the campaign and was reported to the Board of Elections.) In off years Harrison kept the money in the trunk of his patrol car and doled it out to Medford upon request. Harrison also testified that he, Guy Penland and others, routinely forged Medford’s signature on checks cashed at George’s Mini Mart and Bi-Lo stores. The Bi-Lo locations were used because they employed long-time Medford confidant Homer Honeycutt —first the Bi-Lo on Leicester Highway, later the Weaverville location.

Harrison said Medford told him not to cash checks at banks. During his testimony Harrison detailed financial transactions with Garren Amusement, Western Amusement, Mountain Music, Hot Dog King, Henderson Amusement and other video poker operators and locations.

He also testified that  Imran Alam (who has also pled guilty), a convenience store owner, had come to him with complaints about Henderson Amusement which allegedly was failing to provide timely service for poker machines at his stores and was allegedly shortchanging Alam on the split of gambling proceeds. Harrison said Medford initially refused to permit switching companies, but that Alam insisted on meeting with the sheriff.

Following a lunch date arranged by Harrison, he said Medford agreed to permit Alam to switch to Mountain Music machines and Alam paid Medford and Harrison each $3,000 in cash.

Harrison will take the stand again this morning at 9 a.m.

Proceedings adjourned for the day at about 5:30 p.m.