HARRODSBURG — The owner of a convenience store where police confiscated video gaming machines in March has been indicted by a Mercer County grand jury on 16 felony counts of first-degree promoting gambling.
Edward J. Johnson, 50, of Lawrenceburg, proprietor of Pioneer Market on U.S. 127 near Bright Leaf Resort, was charged with one count for each of the 16 stand-alone electronic gaming terminals that police discovered in two back rooms at the store. According to the indictment, Johnson “knowingly profited from setting up and operating” each of the “gambling devices.”
Harrodsburg police raided the store after an undercover officer went to the store on more than one occassion to play the machines, allegedly using marked bills to purchase e-tokens that could be loaded with cash and inserted into the machines. The officer allegedly received payouts from store employees after each gambling session.
Promoting gambling is a Class D felony, which carries a sentence to one to five years in prison.
Johnson’s bond was set at $20,000.
Harrodsburg police Lt. Chad Powell testified before the grand jury.
Others indicted were:
- Jeffrey Armstrong, 23, 595 Bruners Chapel Road, two counts each of burglary and theft more than $500 for allegedly breaking into the dwellings of Cheryl M. Collett and Laurie Nevius Jan. 4 and Jan. 5, respectively, and taking personal items. Bond was set at $40,000.
Deputy Scott Elder testified before the grand jury.
- Austin Ty Hungate, 20, 685 Newby Road, first-degree burglary and theft more than $500 for allegedly breaking into Jonathan Elliot’s home and stealing firearms and other items April 15. Bond was set at $30,000.
Deputy Matt Swaby testified.
- Ericka Drury, 22, 276 Carson Court, receiving stolen property for allegedly having items belonging to Jonathan Elliott April 15. Bond was set at $5,000.
Swaby testified.
- Corey L. Hopper, 22, Ashley N. Richardson, 22, and Leamond J. Hill, 20, all of Lawrenceburg, burglary and theft more than $500 for allegedly breaking in to a building owned by Mark Shelbourne May 9 and taking copper wire. Bonds were set at $10,000 each.
Trooper Frank Thornberry testifeid.
- Tammy M. Ryan-Moore, 35, 701 Hildeen Drive, theft for allegedly taking more than $500 from Kroger deposits for her own use Sept. 4 and Oct. 15. Bond was set at $5,000.
Trooper Rodney Wren testified.
- Wayne Downs, 65, 419 Harrods Court, alleged possession of a firearm by a convicted felon April 26. Bond was set at $5,000.
Harrodsburg officer Thomas Fournier testified.
- Chelsea B. Dulovic, 32, 155 Hunter Drive, bail jumping for allegedly failing to show up for a pretrial conference in Mercer Circuit Court on May 8. Bond was set at $5,000.
Commonwealth’s attorney Cindy Hammond testified.
