Gambling cases fold

SANDPOINT — Charges against three businessmen accused hosting an illegal card game at a downtown bar are being dismissed.

The defendants agreed on Friday to forfeit $200 cash bonds in their respective cases in exchange for the dismissals, court records show.

Dustin Jacob Koril, 30, of Sagle; Gary Lee Solis Jr., 29, of Oldtown; and Lex Andrew Sparks, 37, of Wrenco; were charged with violating a state law prohibiting gambling in an establishment where liquor is served, misdemeanor.

The trio was cited after Sandpoint Police happened across a poker tournament in the Spar Bar during routine bar checks in December 2009.

All three suspects pleaded not guilty.

The state’s case appeared to grow wobbly as court trials neared.

The city cited the trio with violating state liquor laws, but the defense argued that the suspects were not the licensees; their corporation was the licensee.

City Prosecutor Lori Meulenberg moved to amend the charges to violations of Idaho gambling laws, but defense attorney Doug Phelps opposed the motion. Phelps maintained that amended charges would violate his clients’ right to due process because the one-year statute of limitations expired four months ago.

Judge Debra Heise heard oral arguments by the state and the defense on Friday.

Heise took the matter under advisement, but by the end of the day the two sides agreed to resolve the cases via bond forfeiture.

“I think the prosecutor recognized there were issues with the case,” Phelps said late Friday afternoon.

Meulenberg had left her office for the day by the time word spread of the bond forfeitures and was not available for comment.

The Spar Bar’s liquor license was suspended and the business was fined, according to remarks Meulenberg made in court on Friday.