Texas firefighter gets three years in gambling case

Judge John Gosset gave Larry Baxter the option of three years behind bars or three years probation and no appeal. A jury convicted Baxter of one felony count of engaging in organized criminal activity and a misdemeanor count of gambling promotion Thursday.

Baxter is planning to appeal because a person convicted of a felony can't be a civil service employee.

After a one-and-a-half year investigation, officers raided Baxter's home and seized playing cards, dice, a craps table, two signs reading "No checks, no credit, cash only," and more than $10,000.

Police said the ring operated for at least 17 months in four locations around San Angelo with as many as 30 people a night showing up to gamble.

Baxter had as much as $25,000 to $30,000 in cash to operate the games and installed a doorman to control who was allowed to gamble, court records show.

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