South Carolina Poker Ring Appears in Court

Five men who were arrested last Saturday during a friendly $100+$10 Texas Holdem game appeared in court on September 13th. The men were arrested for breaking a 104-year-old anti gambling law in Greenville, South Carolina. Defense Attorney Jeffrey Phillips, who is representing the five men, argues that the 1802 law is too ambiguous such that it would make any card game or dice game illegal.Miles Thomas is the prosecutor who brought the case against the five poker players: Mark Thoennes, Michael Wiggins, Michael Cooper, Don McNair and Jarrett Chester. Thomas argued to presiding judge Henry Mims that the law is clearly indicative of illegal games and wagers.The five men are charged with organizing a 16-man poker tournament that was broken up two hours into play by the police department. Court papers indicate that officers rammed the door of the residential clubhouse where game was being held, guns ablaze, and forced the players onto the ground.Judge Mims will make a ruling next week as to the validity of the charge.