Dealer In High Stakes Poker Game Pleads Guilty; Forfeits $4,000; Higdon Cases Bound To Grand Jury

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The man described as the dealer in a high stakes poker game in East Brainerd involved in a police raid that ended in a shooting was given diversion after entering guilty pleas on Tuesday.

John Cagle, 58, of 4215 Ealy Road, pleaded guilty to aggravated gambling promotion, possession of a gambling device or record and attempted possession of a controlled substance.

The case can be taken off the record if he gets in no further trouble for a year.

He received a six-month suspended sentence and must forfeit $4,000 of $6,500 that was taken from him during the raid on Gunbarrel Road in mid-April.

Clifford Billups, who was shot after police said he displayed a weapon inside the office building where the gamblers were playing and then pulled it on police after going out a back door, got his case passed until July 10.

The proprietor of the establishment, Kenny Higdon, 43, of  533 Turtle Crossing, Ooltewah, had his cases bound to the Grand Jury without a hearing. He is charged with gambling promotion and possession of a gambling device or record.

The defendants appeared before General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck.


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