By BOBBY HORN JR.
WEST LIBERTY COUNTY– Patrons at the Outlaw Rays Saloon has a big surprise last week when members of the Liberty County Sheriffs Office, Dayton PD and Texas DPS entered the business to search a search warrant. The business is located in the 7800 block of F.M. 1960, halfway between Huffman and Dayton.
According to the Liberty County Sheriffs Office, 64 gambling machines were seized. These included eight-liner machines, video poker and video blackjack machines, an additional $20,000 was also seized.
Christina L. Shrum, of Dayton, was arrested on charges of Gambling Promotion, Keeping a Gambling Place, and Possession of a Gambling Device. Walter Rohus, of Baytown, was arrested for the offense of Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon. Ten other patrons were cited, but not arrested, for gambling.
The sheriffs office said that Outlaw Rays was operating as a private club. With the assistance of the DPSs Criminal Intelligence division, officers were able to conduct the preliminary surveillance which was part of the undercover operation.
Operation of 8-liner devices in Texas is governed by a law commonly referred to as the “Fuzzy Animal Act” which was designed to legalize video arcades which give tickets for prize redemption and crane games that are commonly seen in restaurants and grocery stores and award a winner with a stuffed animal.
The law limits the payout for users of the 8-liners to not more than 10 times the amount charged to play the game or device once, or $5, whichever is less.
