Judge dismisses gambling case against arcade owners, machine distributor
A state judge this afternoon dismissed for the second time a criminal indictment against the distributor of arcade machines, deemed gambling devices by a federal judge, and two former arcade owners.
Circuit Judge Rom Trader dismissed the case against Tracy Yoshimura, Eugene Simeona Jr. and Michael Miller Jr. because the state took too long to take the three men to trial. He also made the dismissal with prejudice to prevent the state from prosecuting the case for a third time.
The three men and six arcade workers were charged in a 414-count gambling promotion, racketeering and money laundering indictment in 2014 that was later dismissed after the two prosecutors on the case admitted presenting false testimony to the grand jury.
The state secured a new indictment against the workers in January and one against Yoshimura, Simeona and Miller in February.
Trader ruled that the 180 days the government is required to take criminal defendants to trial to guarantee their constitutional speedy trial right has already passed for Yoshimura, Simeona and Miller. The three men were scheduled to stand trial this month.
The six former arcade workers are scheduled to stand trial later this month.
9 responses to “Judge dismisses gambling case against arcade owners, machine distributor”
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Is this all the prosecutor’s office has to worry about?
This is a very bizarre case – “sweepstakes” machines.
Prosecutorial incompetence. Just like Deedy case. No talent in the Nei
Attitude reflects leadership
Prosecuting the workers is pretty low class for the Prosecutor.
Bob’s yer uncle………..
Now the state needs to go concentrate on the real criminals,,, like the KEALOHA’S
Speaking of which, the lead prosecutor of this case was, you guessed it, Katherine Kealoha. She was replaced after there was misconduct in presenting the case to the grand jury.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/32046229/exclusive-arcade-owners-re-indicted-as-prosecutors-try-again-to-get-felony-gambling-convictions
What a waste of resources, time to end these stupid morality wars. Let people gamble we do anyway, let consenting adults pay for what ever services they agree to and end the drug war, it is all just a huge waste of police resources.