From Staff Reports

Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and two of his ex-deputies pleaded not guilty to extortion and other federal charges last Monday, but will stay in prison while they await trial.

Despite the pleas, federal Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell ordered that Medford and his former employees remain in custody, citing a likelihood that they might try to obstruct the trial if allowed to go free and might constitute a flight risk or a danger to the community. The trials may start in February or March, although Howell did not set court dates.

During the two-hour arraignment hearing, Medford, 62, sat between his two attorneys, Bob Long and William Parker. The former sheriff  wore leg irons, a Caldwell County jail jumpsuit and prison-issue flip-flops.

Medford was arrested by federal agents last Thursday for allegedly using thousands of dollars in proceeds from illegal gambling operations to pay for campaign expenses and cover a gambling debt.

A dozen federal officers in fatigues and helmets raided Medford’s Weaverville apartment early in the morning to arrest him on six charges, including using his position to commit extortion.

The charges against Medford are outlined in a 19-page indictment that details deals with video poker operators and a sports betting bookie that allegedly brought in at least $324,000 in bribes and protection money for Medford and his top deputies during the last six of his 12 years in office.

Three of his top deputies also were arrested Thursday, including former lieutenants Ronnie “Butch” Davis and John “Johnny” Harrison and reserve Capt. Guy Kenneth Penland.

At Monday’s hearing, Howell ruled that Harrison and Davis also must stay in jail pending trial. A decision on whether Penland would be allowed to go home to await his trial was expected this past Tuesday, after the Daily Planet’s press deadline.

A fourth member of Medford’s command staff, former Capt. Tracy Keith Bridges, already pleaded guilty to converting cash into money orders that were paid to Medford’s campaign account.

Following Monday’s hearing, Davis’ attorney, Albert Neal Jr., told reporters that his client had been innocently pulled into a pre-existing situation and indicated that criminal activity had taken place, but that his client had nothing to do with it.

Such statements could indicate the first signs of a split between Davis and the others, possibly signaling the first steps toward a plea deal, observers noted.

During Monday’s arraignment hearing, Medford’s longtime girlfriend Judi Bell testified that Medford is ailing and cannot stand or sit for longer than 15 minutes — and therefore is not a flight risk. Medford suffers from chronic pain and requires an electric shock from an implanted device to soothe him.

Medford and his deputies are charged with conspiracy to commit extortion under the color of official right, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and deprivation of honest services of a public official, conspiracy to commit money laundering, making false statements, and obstruction of state and local law enforcement.

Though video poker machines were legal in North Carolina from 2000 until July 1 this year, they were required to be legally registered and have the proper paperwork. Without registration stickers, the machines could be seized by the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency. Sheriffs were responsible for issuing the registration stickers.

The indictment against Medford alleges the following:

Medford met with video gambling machine operators in Buncombe County in 2000 and appointed Harrison to be his point man for video poker, with Penland assisting Harrison. Davis replaced the men when Harrison retired in May 2005.

Penland was allowed to carry a captain’s badge and had his personal Ford Crown Victoria — which looked like an unmarked police car — equipped with a county radio.

In some cases, video poker operators were asked to enter a team in Medford’s golf tournaments for about $400 or sponsor a hole for $1,000 in order to get their machines registered. Though they were told the money would be used for Medford’s re-election campaigns, it actually went into the pockets of Medford and his deputies. More than $54,000 of that was used to pay off debts Medford accrued gambling at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in 2006, alone.

In other cases, Medford’s deputies simply demanded money of the operators in order to be allowed to have their machines registered, according to the indictment. In exchange for their cooperation, the operators could call on the Sheriff’s office for special favors and protection.