Willy in Dallas writes in with some info that might interest attorneys and anyone who might be looking for legal counsel. Basically, as a poker player with a case pending, he\’s calling for a mass reraise:
A local lawyer, Lee Bright, is representing a bunch of us busted at the first Ace\’s raid […] Guess what? The D.A.\’s office has indicated that charges will probably be dropped […] I spent almost 24 hours in jail, robbed of my liberty, for charges the city has absolutely no interest in pursuing.
My girlfriend was at one of the busts this weekend and told me about how rude the cops were to some of those arrested…commenting about how fat they were, ridiculing their dress, etc. Just being plain assholes to a bunch of nonviolent poker players. It must be easy to be a big tough guy when…you know…there aren\’t any actual violent criminals around. Being on TV is really going to these nuts\’ heads.
I, for one, will put my votes and money where my mouth is. No more support for these police departments with so much time on their hands. Much has been said on this site about the DPD wasting their time on poker games in one of the most violent cities in America. This voter gets it. The police have spoken loud and clear: \”We are not interested in pursuing real crime in Dallas.\” Well, then, don\’t expect any further funding support from this voter and frequent giver to police charities (my company gives over $1,500 a year to police charities, though we have now stopped). A police department which cannot distinguish between real and imaginary (i.e., victimless) crimes cannot count on my support.It is critical that everyone fight these charges. Dare the city to take these to jury trials. Subpoena all the video footage shot by the news agencies who accompanied the cops on these raids. Also, explore a 1999 Supreme Court case, Layne v. Wilson, wherein a search warrant was ruled illegal merely because the cops invited the media to ride along on the raid with them.
All defendants are entitled to any video shot at the raids by the media who were invited along by the cops…and all confidential informants are on those tapes. I suspect that the city will fold on all such cases.
Show these morons you\’re not afraid to flex your rights, and watch them buckle.
There also was a case of a busted poker room in 1998 … a judge (or maybe a jury?) found that guy not-guilty. For interested attorneys, I have the actual Cause #s.