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  #1  
Old 11-22-2007, 01:00 AM
Micturition Man Micturition Man is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

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Was that from the Austin news?

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The Amarillo Globe-News

A Randall County grand jury indicted legendary poker player Amarillo Slim Preston in connection with allegations he inappropriately touched a child.

The three indictments against Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston Jr. for indecency with a child by contact list three dates when he allegedly touched the child - Jan. 1, March 13 and March 14.

Jurors met for nearly three hours Friday with Oldham County District Attorney Don Davis, and the indictments were returned about noon.

Davis was appointed to the investigation July 29 when Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren recused himself because Preston "made admissions" to Farren regarding the allegations against him, said Robert Love, a Randall County assistant district attorney.

Farren and Preston's wife, Helen, are listed on the indictment as testifying before the grand jury.

[...]

Amarillo Globe News (registration required I believe)

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This actually works against your argument.

Which is more likely:

A. Amarillo Slim told the prosecutor "Well you got me, I am a child molestor, but let's just let bygones be bygones."

or

B. Amarillo said something like "Look I'll level with you, I hugged her a little closer than I should have because she's kind of hot. You seriously going to send me to jail for that?"


If he had actually made a serious confession to the prosecutor, the prosecutor would have testified against him and they wouldn't have even offered a deal.
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  #2  
Old 11-22-2007, 01:18 AM
bwana devil bwana devil is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

[ QUOTE ]
This actually works against your argument.

Which is more likely:

A. Amarillo Slim told the prosecutor "Well you got me, I am a child molestor, but let's just let bygones be bygones."

or

B. Amarillo said something like "Look I'll level with you, I hugged her a little closer than I should have because she's kind of hot. You seriously going to send me to jail for that?"


If he had actually made a serious confession to the prosecutor, the prosecutor would have testified against him and they wouldn't have even offered a deal.

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so the hypothetical confessions you make up to support your argument have him flat out admit to being a child abuser or admit to inappropriate contact w/ the girl because of his sexual feelings for her. lol.

the DA did testify against him in front of the grand jury. it's generally in the best interest of the state to offer plea bargains even if they feel they have a solid case.
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  #3  
Old 11-23-2007, 03:47 PM
UnderThe Gun UnderThe Gun is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

"the DA did testify against him in front of the grand jury. it's generally in the best interest of the state to offer plea bargains even if they feel they have a solid case."

Is it "generally in the best interest of the state" to offer a plea bargain that hardly amounts to a slap on the wrist when they have a self-confessed child molester dead-to-rights? What part of that makes sense to you? Why, exactly, do you believe they made Slim the deal they did if there's so little doubt he's guilty?

I know people in Amarillo who've known Slim all their lives and aren't shy about bad-mouthing him. They'll tell you he's a snake-oil salesman and you have to be a fool to believe a word he says. When I asked if Slim had any history of child molestation they were quick to tell me not only that he didn't, but that anyone who understood the relationship between Slim and his son knew the charges were concocted to pressure Slim for money. The supposed confession amounted to something like, "yea, I slapped my granddaughter on the butt a couple of times, so?"

Also, anyone who has even a passing understanding of west Texas morality understands that the last thing Amarillo Slim should want to do is put his life in the hands of a jury comprised at least in part of people who have been mortified for years that one of the world's most famous gamblers came from their small town. Slim may have been something of a celebrity in the country as a whole, but in west Texas he was just the local gambler who embarrassed the Hell out of every preacher and church deacon in a town were half the population is either a preacher or church deacon.

If Slim had really been guilty of the charges there is no way the prosecutor would have given him the deal he gave him. He would have happily send him to the pen and started making his plans to run for congress. Instead he gave him a walk. You do the math.
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  #4  
Old 11-23-2007, 08:21 PM
bwana devil bwana devil is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

[ QUOTE ]
"the DA did testify against him in front of the grand jury. it's generally in the best interest of the state to offer plea bargains even if they feel they have a solid case."

Is it "generally in the best interest of the state" to offer a plea bargain that hardly amounts to a slap on the wrist when they have a self-confessed child molester dead-to-rights? What part of that makes sense to you? Why, exactly, do you believe they made Slim the deal they did if there's so little doubt he's guilty?


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im not a lawyer and dont know how a similar case would be handled as far as disposition and length. Two years deferred seems short but i dont know if that is unusual under these circumstances. perhaps someone with direct legal experience may speak up on the issue.

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I know people in Amarillo who've known Slim all their lives and aren't shy about bad-mouthing him. They'll tell you he's a snake-oil salesman and you have to be a fool to believe a word he says. When I asked if Slim had any history of child molestation they were quick to tell me not only that he didn't, but that anyone who understood the relationship between Slim and his son knew the charges were concocted to pressure Slim for money. The supposed confession amounted to something like, "yea, I slapped my granddaughter on the butt a couple of times, so?"

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where did you hear his confession? was it from friends and people in the poker community who know him and heard it second and third hand or do you have privileged information from the grand jury testimony?

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Also, anyone who has even a passing understanding of west Texas morality understands that the last thing Amarillo Slim should want to do is put his life in the hands of a jury comprised at least in part of people who have been mortified for years that one of the world's most famous gamblers came from their small town. Slim may have been something of a celebrity in the country as a whole, but in west Texas he was just the local gambler who embarrassed the Hell out of every preacher and church deacon in a town were half the population is either a preacher or church deacon.

If Slim had really been guilty of the charges there is no way the prosecutor would have given him the deal he gave him. He would have happily send him to the pen and started making his plans to run for congress. Instead he gave him a walk. You do the math.

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i grew up in amarillo and lived there almost 20 years. i have a pretty good idea what it's like. i can speak to the public's general perception of him up until the charges and generally speaking people were proud of him and glad someone would name himself after their rather obscure texas city.
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  #5  
Old 11-23-2007, 11:10 PM
flopped da joint flopped da joint is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

under the gun made the most sense, they had the the d.a. ready to testify that he himself heard the confession, yet slim gets a walk and a penny-ante fine. makes no sense. im just sayin'
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  #6  
Old 11-24-2007, 05:53 PM
betgo betgo is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

[ QUOTE ]
under the gun made the most sense, they had the the d.a. ready to testify that he himself heard the confession, yet slim gets a walk and a penny-ante fine. makes no sense. im just sayin'

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He got a very good deal, and there is no way anyone would turn it down. It could be partly due to his age and possible weakness of the case or lack of seriousness of the alegations. But people with wealth or influence often get off.
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  #7  
Old 11-24-2007, 04:17 AM
UnderThe Gun UnderThe Gun is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

" grew up in amarillo and lived there almost 20 years. i have a pretty good idea what it's like. i can speak to the public's general perception of him up until the charges and generally speaking people were proud of him and glad someone would name himself after their rather obscure texas city."

As I think my post made clear, I'm talking about "preachers and deacons," not the guy who sold you pot when you were in high school.

And if your point was you believe there were churches that were supportive of Slim, here's my response: NAME ONE. Then give them a call and ask if you're right.

Unless you're talking about some random Unitarian who stayed there for a couple days when his car broke down I'm confident they'll be happy to spend as much time as you can stand explaining to you where you're wrong. ...chapter and verse.

By the way, my point isn't that they're evil people, it's just that they're people with real convictions and they don't include gambling for a living. They might even have been willing to set Slim free, but my point was I don't believe he can be blamed for not wanting to bet his life on a jury at least partly comprised of people who actually believe you're entire life has been devoted to sin.

What part of that is hard to understand?
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  #8  
Old 11-24-2007, 07:02 PM
bwana devil bwana devil is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

[ QUOTE ]
" grew up in amarillo and lived there almost 20 years. i have a pretty good idea what it's like. i can speak to the public's general perception of him up until the charges and generally speaking people were proud of him and glad someone would name himself after their rather obscure texas city."

As I think my post made clear, I'm talking about "preachers and deacons," not the guy who sold you pot when you were in high school.

And if your point was you believe there were churches that were supportive of Slim, here's my response: NAME ONE. Then give them a call and ask if you're right.

Unless you're talking about some random Unitarian who stayed there for a couple days when his car broke down I'm confident they'll be happy to spend as much time as you can stand explaining to you where you're wrong. ...chapter and verse.

By the way, my point isn't that they're evil people, it's just that they're people with real convictions and they don't include gambling for a living. They might even have been willing to set Slim free, but my point was I don't believe he can be blamed for not wanting to bet his life on a jury at least partly comprised of people who actually believe you're entire life has been devoted to sin.

What part of that is hard to understand?

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you also said that half the town were preachers and deacons. i assumed that was hyperbole on your part. if it wasnt i apologize for giving you too much credit.

you think there was some public witch hunt of slim where a town of baptist ministers were not going to give a well-known and well-liked gambler a fair trial and there's nothing i can say to change your mind.

your third hand information that originated by the man accused of the crimes probably isnt as reliable as you believe.

if you ignore the facts and rely upon third hand, unreliable information i can see how you draw your conclusions.
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  #9  
Old 11-25-2007, 12:48 AM
UnderThe Gun UnderThe Gun is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

"you also said that half the town were preachers and deacons. i assumed that was hyperbole on your part. if it wasnt i apologize for giving you too much credit."

Congratulations, you recognize hyperbole when you read it. So how come you can't understand the underlying point?

"you think there was some public witch hunt of slim"

"Sigh" Since I clearly said that in the version of events I heard the charges were instigated by Slim's son and not by some "public witch hunt" should I give you credit for being intentionally obtuse or just lacking in reading comprehension skills?

Believe whatever you want. I wanted to put the side of the story I heard out there and I've done that. If you're so absolutely certain it can't be true then I wonder why you're not arguing with the prosecutor that gave him the slap on the wrist instead of me.
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  #10  
Old 11-24-2007, 02:15 AM
Daliman Daliman is offline
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Default Re: Recent Amarillo Slim news?

[ QUOTE ]
"the DA did testify against him in front of the grand jury. it's generally in the best interest of the state to offer plea bargains even if they feel they have a solid case."

Is it "generally in the best interest of the state" to offer a plea bargain that hardly amounts to a slap on the wrist when they have a self-confessed child molester dead-to-rights? What part of that makes sense to you? Why, exactly, do you believe they made Slim the deal they did if there's so little doubt he's guilty?

I know people in Amarillo who've known Slim all their lives and aren't shy about bad-mouthing him. They'll tell you he's a snake-oil salesman and you have to be a fool to believe a word he says. When I asked if Slim had any history of child molestation they were quick to tell me not only that he didn't, but that anyone who understood the relationship between Slim and his son knew the charges were concocted to pressure Slim for money. The supposed confession amounted to something like, "yea, I slapped my granddaughter on the butt a couple of times, so?"

Also, anyone who has even a passing understanding of west Texas morality understands that the last thing Amarillo Slim should want to do is put his life in the hands of a jury comprised at least in part of people who have been mortified for years that one of the world's most famous gamblers came from their small town. Slim may have been something of a celebrity in the country as a whole, but in west Texas he was just the local gambler who embarrassed the Hell out of every preacher and church deacon in a town were half the population is either a preacher or church deacon.

If Slim had really been guilty of the charges there is no way the prosecutor would have given him the deal he gave him. He would have happily send him to the pen and started making his plans to run for congress. Instead he gave him a walk. You do the math.

[/ QUOTE ]

My god, I can't believe this has been bumped AGAIN! Look, if you have lived in Texas, especially near Amarillo, for a long time, you would know that Slim is a favorite son of the whole state of Texas, and ESPECIALLY the area of Amarillo. Now, would you think it would be a career-savvy move for a DA to nail a favorite son to the wall? Also, I'm not a lawyer, but is there EVER a criminal case that a DA would not cut any deal whatsoever and would only take it to trial? Seems to me even in the most open-and-shut cases, they'll take a plea over a trial any day of the week. With Slim's rep and other factors, giving a sweetheart plea deal seems like a pretty good result for a DA.

Also, I'd like to know how THIS conversation went;

UTG: So you know Slim pretty well?
Tex: Hell yeah, he cheated me outa tons of $$$ at more than one kinda table.
UTG What do you know about him molesting children?
Tex: Hell no, he never did any of that. Why, I have somone tailing him 24/7 just to make sure he would never do anything untoward to anyone, and obviously, if he wuz gunna do any molesting, it'd be where we all could see it anyways, cuz he's known for not having much in the way of street smarts.
UTG: Much obliged, pardner.

[img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

For me, it's pretty simple; he hasn't given any kind of solid statement as to what actually happened, and considering he was the biggest media whore in the history of poker BEFORE poker was big, if he didn't have this gigatic, stinking albatross around his neck Doyle might be little more well-known than Sailor Roberts. To this day, his name STILL might be the most synonymous with poker in the world. If you think he'd miss out on the payday he could have had just to keep things quiet and not cause trouble, well, you don't know much about Slim.
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