Video poker probe that caught sheriff could continue

As disgraced Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and a top deputy await sentencing on corruption charges, current Sheriff Van Duncan continues to work on rebuilding the department's reputation.

"Just by the nature of what we do, it involves a tremendous amount of public trust and just by the nature of what we do, occasionally there are mistakes made and things that shape that," Duncan said. "Hopefully, nothing to this extent will ever occur in this county again."

While Duncan said the FBI has found that his office is clean, it appears the investigation of an illegal video poker ring that has led to more than a dozen convictions in western North Carolina will continue. An attorney for Haywood County Sheriff Tom Alexander told the Asheville Citizen-Times on Friday he expects to talk with federal investigators soon.

Medford and former volunteer Capt. Guy Penland each face up to 170 years in prison when sentenced in four to six weeks. They were convicted Thursday of taking thousands of dollars in payments to protect an illegal video poker operation run by South Carolina-based Henderson Amusement Inc.

Prosecutors have said Henderson made as much as $14 million from the illegal video poker machines. Four men with ties to the company, including owner James Henderson and his brother Barron Sloan Henderson, were sentenced in February to prison terms varying between one and six years.

At Medford's trial, a witness said he used a middleman to bribe "the sheriff of Haywood County." That has led government attorneys to subpoena records from Alexander, whose attorney said he will comply with it.

The case against Henderson was based in part on a tape of James Henderson trying to bribe Rutherford County Sheriff Jack Conner, who was working undercover for the FBI. On the recording, Conner asked Henderson for the same bribe given to the sheriff before him.

That points to Philip Byers, who served as sheriff for a year before losing to Conner, or predecessor Dan Good. Both men have said they were not involved in illegal gambling. Byers said Friday the allegation has been "heartbreaking," and both men said they have not been subpoenaed or contacted by investigators.

"I would be glad for them to come and talk to me if they want to talk to me," he said. "I have nothing to hide. I fought those people. I fought the video poker establishment. And I want my name cleared."

Meanwhile, Duncan said Friday the FBI has investigated the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office under his leadership and found no problems. Only two members of the office's current command staff of eight officers also served in command positions for Medford, Duncan said.

"His legacy of 12 years (as sheriff) is going to be remembered for this," Duncan said. "I'm sure his family members are very concerned about his health, but if you ask me, did he have to be held accountable? Absolutely."

The Associated Press
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
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