BULLS GAP — The commander of the Bulls Gap Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9683 was charged with possession of gambling devices last week during the underage beer sting that also resulted in a post bartender being cited for underage sale of beer.
The Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and state Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted a joint underage beer sales sting throughout the county on Friday, including the Bulls Gap VFW club located off of Highway 11-E.
An underage confidential informant was allegedly able to purchase beer at the VFW, after which HCSO Detective Scott Castle entered the VFW to issue a citation to the bartender.
“While inside the VFW I observed a couple sitting at what appeared to be video poker machines,” Castle said. “I also noticed what was known to me to be tip board cards.”
Castle said he asked to speak to post Commander Lester Long, 66, 206 Beech Grove Road, Bulls Gap.
“I asked Mr. Long if he was aware that this was considered to be a form of gambling,” Castle said. “I asked Mr. Long for permission to look through the outbuilding for other types of gambling devices. While looking through the rest of the building, I observed lots of boxes of unsold tip boards.”
Among the items seized from the Bulls Gap VFW were 24,480 unopened pull cards; 22 100-count tip boards; 35 50-count tip boards; three 40-count tip boards; two “Mega-Touch” video poker machines; $1,612 from a football tip-board; and $656 in cash from the video poker machines.
Long was cited on the single count of possession of gambling devices and is scheduled to appear in Hawkins County Sessions Court on Monday.