Thursday, January 25, 2007

A continuance was granted by Municipal Court Judge Timothy L. France for a
trial against a local gas station/convenience store owner who was charged
with allowing gambling. Rich Pica, owner of High Caliber Pit Stop on
Chestnut Street, was charged with the first-degree misdemeanor on Nov. 17,
2006, after plugging in his six Ohio Skill Games' Tic-Tac Fruit machines.
Pica and other game operators in the county were notified to shut down the
games or face charges and confiscation after Attorney Jim Petro issued an
opinion in November that the games were illegal. His trial was to be held
Friday, Jan. 26. On Friday, France granted Prosecutor Robert Skelton's
request for a continuance and set the new court trial for 11 a.m. Friday,
Feb. 9. According to Pica's attorney, Eric Yavitch of Columbus, the reason
for Skelton's request was "the state needs additional time to attempt to
locate an expert in the field of gambling."