Recent Amarillo Slim news?

[Micturition Man]

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what's your vendetta w/ slim?
i dont know one way or the other what happened w/ him and his grandkids, but i will say that money is the ultimate motivation to do things like that. who knows if its true or not?


Slim could probably not care less about missing out on the poker boom, kid. He's well off- substanitally so. He doesn't need the lime light anymore, and he doesn't pull a stunt like this, either.
Honestly, I think you dont have much character.

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In August 2003 Preston was indicted on three charges of indecency with a 12-year-old child (his granddaughter). The charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault in a plea bargain and on February 10, 2004 he pled guilty to the reduced charges, receiving a $4,000 fine and two years deferred adjudication.

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A lot, and by a lot I mean most that can afford it would plead guilty to a lesser crime if they received a similar punishment. Do you realize how traumatic a trial like this would be for him/everyone else involved?

Some people just want to get on with there lives, and there are plenty of overzealous prosecutors out there who will try to push a case like this with no evidence just for the publicity and political gain.

I donno wtf happened in this instance, but if there was any real possibility of the man being convicted of child molestation he would not have been offered a plea deal this light.

Until someone provides more details in the case why should I accept that a man that plead guilty to assault is a child molester?

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Very good point.

In addition consider that the jurisdiction was probably a Baptist part of Texas that is very hostile to gamblers, and that there are all kinds of possible inheritance or family feud issues that could motivate false or exaggerated testimony.

The fact that they pled the charges down to a misdemeanor looks a lot like the prosecutor tried to save face on a case that he couldn't win, perhaps because the accusation was not credible.

Also FWIW the only story I have heard about the content of the allegation was that he gave girl a pervy hug in the presence of others. No nudity, no penetration... don't forgot how broad a category sexual misconduct is.

Also FWIW I would guess he is a scumbag based on all kinds of anecdotes prior to this... I just doubt he's a child molestor.

[bwana devil]

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n addition consider that the jurisdiction was probably a Baptist part of Texas that is very hostile to gamblers, and that there are all kinds of possible inheritance or family feud issues that could motivate false or exaggerated testimony.

The fact that they pled the charges down to a misdemeanor looks a lot like the prosecutor tried to save face on a case that he couldn't win, perhaps because the accusation was not credible.

Also FWIW the only story I have heard about the content of the allegation was that he gave girl a pervy hug in the presence of others. No nudity, no penetration... don't forgot how broad a category sexual misconduct is.

Also FWIW I would guess he is a scumbag based on all kinds of anecdotes prior to this... I just doubt he's a child molestor.

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it was for three different dates and the original DA was taken off the case because amarillo slim confessed to him.

[Boise123]

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n addition consider that the jurisdiction was probably a Baptist part of Texas that is very hostile to gamblers, and that there are all kinds of possible inheritance or family feud issues that could motivate false or exaggerated testimony.

The fact that they pled the charges down to a misdemeanor looks a lot like the prosecutor tried to save face on a case that he couldn't win, perhaps because the accusation was not credible.

Also FWIW the only story I have heard about the content of the allegation was that he gave girl a pervy hug in the presence of others. No nudity, no penetration... don't forgot how broad a category sexual misconduct is.

Also FWIW I would guess he is a scumbag based on all kinds of anecdotes prior to this... I just doubt he's a child molestor.

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it was for three different dates and the original DA was taken off the case because amarillo slim confessed to him.

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Was that from the Austin news?

[bwana devil]

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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.

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Amarillo Globe News (registration required I believe)

[Micturition Man]

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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.

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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.

[bwana devil]

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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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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.

[UnderThe Gun]

"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.