BAKERSFIELD, CA -- State appellate judges affirmed Friday a Kern County judge's ruling that "sweepstakes cafes" should be shut down.
This ruling is big, according to the D.A. It means that not only will the shops in the case remain closed, the county and all other California counties have the right to shut down sweepstakes cafes.
Over the last few years Internet cafes have popped up across the county, selling Internet and points to customers who play games and win money. But nearby business owners have said these cafes attract crime and the cops, deterring customers.
But Friday the D.A.'s Office announced businesses should fear no longer because now the county has the right to shut down all 15 plus cafes in they're aware of in the county.
"The cases brought by the Kern County District Attorney's Office against these businesses were the lead cases on this issue in the entire state," said Lisa Green, Kern County District Attorney.
In 2012 a Kern County Superior Court granted a preliminary injunction saying the cafes were illegal gambling. Last month some of those cafes appealed that ruling in front of a three judge panel in the 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno, handing down their ruling Friday saying the cafes were likely "unlawful slot machines."
"I am disappointed with the result but I cannot fault the court for all the work they put into the case," said John Weston, the attorney who argued the case on behalf of two Internet cafes.
Weston said his clients, the owners of "Oz Zone" and "A Two Z Cafe" will likely appeal to the State Supreme Court but Deputy D.A. Greg Pulskamp said that will not stop his office from shutting down the cafes.
"We have now been looking at this issue for a good year and a half, a good two years and we have been very outspoken and very confident in our opinion that these are illegal," said Pulskamp.
The District Attorney's Office could not say how or when it will start shutting the cafes down only that it will be soon.
But what about the bill Assemblymember Rudy Salas was proposing that would essentially do the same thing? Salas said Friday he's still pushing that legislation forward.
"I am hoping with this bill, as soon as the Governor signs it, that it will be the final nail in the coffin that will be the final say to bring clarity in state law to make it crystal clear black and white that this is illegal gambling activity and it is not authorized in the State of California," said Assemblymember Salas.
This ruling is big, according to the D.A. It means that not only will the shops in the case remain closed, the county and all other California counties have the right to shut down sweepstakes cafes.
Over the last few years Internet cafes have popped up across the county, selling Internet and points to customers who play games and win money. But nearby business owners have said these cafes attract crime and the cops, deterring customers.
But Friday the D.A.'s Office announced businesses should fear no longer because now the county has the right to shut down all 15 plus cafes in they're aware of in the county.
"The cases brought by the Kern County District Attorney's Office against these businesses were the lead cases on this issue in the entire state," said Lisa Green, Kern County District Attorney.
In 2012 a Kern County Superior Court granted a preliminary injunction saying the cafes were illegal gambling. Last month some of those cafes appealed that ruling in front of a three judge panel in the 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno, handing down their ruling Friday saying the cafes were likely "unlawful slot machines."
"I am disappointed with the result but I cannot fault the court for all the work they put into the case," said John Weston, the attorney who argued the case on behalf of two Internet cafes.
Weston said his clients, the owners of "Oz Zone" and "A Two Z Cafe" will likely appeal to the State Supreme Court but Deputy D.A. Greg Pulskamp said that will not stop his office from shutting down the cafes.
"We have now been looking at this issue for a good year and a half, a good two years and we have been very outspoken and very confident in our opinion that these are illegal," said Pulskamp.
The District Attorney's Office could not say how or when it will start shutting the cafes down only that it will be soon.
But what about the bill Assemblymember Rudy Salas was proposing that would essentially do the same thing? Salas said Friday he's still pushing that legislation forward.
"I am hoping with this bill, as soon as the Governor signs it, that it will be the final nail in the coffin that will be the final say to bring clarity in state law to make it crystal clear black and white that this is illegal gambling activity and it is not authorized in the State of California," said Assemblymember Salas.