Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

A Coshocton man has waived his right to a speedy trial in anticipation of what's happening in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Rich Pica, owner of High Caliber Pit Stop on Chestnut Street, entered a not guilty plea in Coshocton Municipal Court on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of allowing gambling on his premises in November 2006. Pica contacted the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 17, 2006, letting them know he'd plugged in his six Tic-Tac Fruit machines located at the gas station/convenience store. Earlier that month the State of Ohio Attorney General's Office had issued an opinion the machines were illegal, and local authorities had notified operators to unplug their machines or face charges. Pica's jury trial was initially scheduled for Friday, Jan. 26, but Judge Tim France granted a continuance after the prosecutor asked for time to locate an expert in gambling. The trial was then rescheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. However Pica's attorney, Eric Yavitch, asked the trial be postponed to await a declaratory judgment in a case of Tic-Tac Fruit manufacturers and distributors against the Department of Public Safety that should take place in the next couple of months in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. "Rather than litigate this over and over, the prosecutor, our office and Mr. Pica just feel it's a better use of resources to see what happens in Franklin County," Yavitch said. "Once a ruling is issued, the prosecutor will revisit the case and make his own evaluation."