Fines were handed down against those who entered pleas for the gambling raid on Academy Lane in August that included a member of the County Commission.The commissioner, Wayne Copeland, has already had his case bound to the grand jury and was not among those taking plea bargains before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke. Also not taking a plea bargain was the alleged boss of the gambling house, Margle Otis Ward, who opted to have his cases bound to the grand jury on charges of gambling promotion and possession of marijuana. He is already serving a six-month sentence for violating his probation as a result of the raid.Investigators say Ward had been operating the illegal gambling operation out of the building located at the north end of the city for some time.
Pleas entered from gambling house raid