Gazette, The (Colorado Springs): DA offers to dismiss gambling charges

The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office offered Tuesday to dismiss charges against the poker players arrested in an April 26 gambling raid at Palmer Lake's Guadala-Jarra's restaurant, the defendants said.

In exchange, it asked each to make a $50 donation to a nonprofit organization, they said.

Officers arrested 23 people on suspicion of professional gambling, a petty offense, during the raid. Most of the players were residents of the Tri-Lakes area who played Texas Hold 'Em poker there on Tuesday nights for several months. Twenty-one appeared in court Tuesday.

Some of the players said they'll probably take the offer. Others said they still believe they've been dealt a bad hand.

The offer "could have been a lot worse," said Jacinda Fritchel, but she says she's innocent.

"When you get forced to do it, paying $50 to a charity of your own choice is still punishment, and I didn't do anything wrong," she said.

Because the cases are pending, the District Attorney's Office won't confirm it made the offers, said Lisa Kirkman, spokeswoman for the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

"Our office is looking at these cases from a commonsense approach," she said.

Former Monument Police Chief Al Karn leans toward accepting the offer, but like Firtchel, he's unhappy with the situation. The arrests, he said, were unjustified.

"The biggest thing is my reputation. I've spent 30 years trying to establish a reputation and then there's a headline, 'Monument police chief arrested.' If I thought that game was illegal, there ain't no way I would have played."

Restaurant co-owners Jeff Hulsmann and his wife, Peggy Jardon, are to appear in court July 25. They are charged with felony illegal gambling at an establishment licensed to sell liquor, misdemeanor operating a gambling premises and petty offense professional gambling.

Hulsmann said he hopes the offers made to the card players suggest authorities are reconsidering the case.

"I would like to think the DA has seen the light and seen this for the penny ante game it is," he said.

Separate from the criminal case, Hulsmann's Guadala-Jarra's liquor license is under review by the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division. He faces a felony charge of allowing illegal gambling at an establishment licensed to sell liquor.