Former Buncombe County sheriff indicted

RALEIGH (AP) — Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and three former deputies have been charged with taking money to help protect an illegal video poker ring in western North
Carolina.

The indictment unsealed today also names former Lieutenant Ronnie Eugene Davis, reserve Captain Guy Penland and Lieutenant John Harrison.

The men are scheduled to make an initial court appearance today in Asheville.

Prosecutors say the men helped video poker operators by not enforcing laws and in some cases provided grand jury surveillance and other information only available to law enforcement workers.

The indictment states in one case, Penland helped check the license plate number of an FBI agent watching a video poker location. It says Davis warned operators that search warrants were being executed.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)