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Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Charitable gaming defendant pleads guilty
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2008) – A Louisville man charged with diverting charitable gaming funds pleaded guilty Tuesday to one charge and made restitution to the charity, announced Henry Lackey, executive director of the Office of Charitable Gaming (OCG).
Terry Wayne Houtchens, 38, was charged with diverting charitable gaming funds following an OCG investigation. He served briefly as a volunteer last fall at bingo games conducted by Louisville Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3636. Acting on a tip from a post official, OCG conducted an investigation and found $1,479 missing.
As part of a plea agreement disclosed during a hearing in Jefferson District Court, Houtchens repaid the missing funds and pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of attempting to divert charitable gaming funds. He was fined $130 and sentenced to a one-year jail term that the court conditionally discharged for two years.
More than 800 charitable organizations sponsor gaming in Kentucky, with gross receipts totaling $527 million. OCG is charged with ensuring such gaming complies with state laws. Last year, OCG conducted 161 investigations. The office is part of the Department of Public Protection in the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.
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