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Attorney general's opinion may boost bid to prosecute Pinellas, Pasco ...

An opinion issued this week by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi may give added muscle to authorities in Pinellas and Pasco counties who have shut down Internet sweepstakes cafes, calling them gambling operations.

Bondi concluded the games being operated by a Bay County veterans group were illegal slot machines and violated the state's gambling laws.

Though there are slight differences in the way the Bay County games and the games in Pinellas and Pasco were operated, Bondi's opinion "could offer some support in suggesting that our machines are bad, too," Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe said Friday.

Internet sweepstakes cafes are operating throughout Florida, including in Tampa Bay counties. Customers of the cafes purchase Internet time, which usually is loaded onto a card that is then swiped at computers in the cafes to access casino-style sweepstakes games. Customers receive their winnings when they leave.

The cafes have ignited debate around the state, with some authorities deciding they are legal and allowing them to operate, and others, like Pinellas Sheriff Jim Coats and Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, raiding the cafes and seizing their equipment.

Bay County State Attorney Glenn Hess asked Bondi to rule on the legality of the games after Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8205 began operating them. Hess made no secret of what he thinks.

"The long and short of it is we have these people from South Florida trying to backdoor gambling into the Panhandle," Hess told the Panama City News Herald.

At the VFW post, members and their guests access games on computers. After swiping a card containing purchased points at the computer, the player wagers the points against the game. When a button is pushed, the screen shows spinning drums, much like a mechanical slot machine. The player can stop each spinning drum one at a time. The player tries to line up the drums. Winners are given Visa check cards that can be used anywhere but the VFW.

"Based upon the information provided regarding the electronic machine in question, such a machine would appear to constitute an illegal slot machine or device," Bondi wrote in Tuesday's decision.

Florida Statute 849.16 states that any machine or device is a slot machine if, after inserting money or any object, a person is entitled "to receive any piece of money, credit, allowance or thing of value."

Bondi also stated that because winning is dependent on an element of chance, the Bay County machines violate state gambling laws.

Domestic assault charge for Florida father that punched infant ...

At the time of an arrest, the police are immediately supposed to inform the suspect of their constitution rights before they are questioned or before they willingly make any statements to the police, prior to consulting with legal counsel. This warning (Miranda rights) is to protect and prevent a suspect from saying anything that could possibly incriminate them before they consult with a defense attorney about the circumstances surrounding their arrest.

Police were called to a property in Santa Rosa, Florida, after receiving reports of a potential domestic violence incident. When officers arrived, a man was standing in the yard in front of the property. According to officers, as they approached the man, he allegedly immediately said to them, "I did it." When the police questioned the man further, he confessed that he had committed a domestic assault against his two-month-old son earlier that day.

The man said that the child had started crying around 7am, awaking him from sleep. He attempted to quiet his son and get him to go back to sleep, but the child continued screaming. Finally, he stated that he punched the baby with his closed fist on the child's back.

Another member of the family present in the household saw that the child was bruised, and questioned the man about the infant's bruises. Not responding to the family members inquiries, he was instructed to leave the home. The man refused to leave. It was then that the family member struck the accused. A physical altercation ensued and it was at that point that the family member contacted the authorities..

Upon examination police officers, did discover a number of bruised areas on the child's back. The bruises appeared to be recent. The child also appeared to have sustained bruising around his nose and mouth.

The child's father was arrested for domestic violence-battery and felony child abuse.

Felony child abuse is a serious charge. As a result, the charge carries severe penalties, including the possibility for a lengthy jail sentence. Those accused may benefit from the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney in order to become informed of their rights and how to navigate through the justice system.

Source: FOX10tv.

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