MONROE - Werner J. Rast reversed his pleas Wednesday, Aug. 8, on 10 felony charges that he conspired in a local gambling ring.
Until a few days ago, the 51-year-old Monroe man was scheduled to begin a three-day jury trial Wednesday in Green County Circuit Court. Instead, the court convened for less than an hour Wednesday morning, with no agreement between the defense and prosecution on a plea bargain.
Despite no apparent plea bargain, Rast pleaded no contest to all 10 counts before Judge James Beer, reversing his February pleas of not guilty.
After Rast was convicted, defense attorney Hal Harlowe asked the judge for a modification to the pleas. He said he meant to ask earlier but was waiting for a "pause."
Beer denied the request.
Beer held off on sentencing and ordered the Department of Corrections to complete a presentence investigation report on Rast, due in 45 days.
A presentence investigation examines all aspects of a defendant's history, from criminal to financial. It also takes into account personality, mental health and likelihood for recidivism and makes recommendations on a punishment.
"I feel uncomfortable going forward with sentencing," Beer said. "I want a better background. I don't like sentencing people in the dark."
Rast's sentencing is now scheduled at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.
Harlowe presented Beer with letters of support for Rast, including one from Charles Wellington, a Monroe attorney. Witnesses ready to testify on Rast's behalf were also present in the courtroom, but Beer said testimony will have to wait until the sentencing hearing.
Carol Thompson, clerk of court, said her office found out last Friday the three-day trial would be canceled. At that point, "We were ready for the jury trial."
The clerk's office sent out 100 juror questionnaires, she said, and narrowed from this a pool of 40 people available and suitable to sit on the 12-member jury.
The charges against Rast stem from a long-term state investigation into commercial gambling in Monroe that led first to the arrest of Rast and then to the arrest of a local tavern owner Jeffrey "Twitty" Conway, 53.
The investigation began in 2007 and eventually linked Rast and Conway as ringleaders in the gambling operation, which reportedly involved taking thousands of dollars in wagers on college basketball and pro football games from dozens of area people, often under nicknames like "Yogi" or "Thunder," at a fee of 10 percent on all lost bets.
Conway allegedly used his establishment, Old Smokey's Bar, as the exchange location for money won or owed.
Conway pleaded not guilty to eight counts of commercial gambling in May. He still has a jury trial scheduled in December, according to court records.
Until a few days ago, the 51-year-old Monroe man was scheduled to begin a three-day jury trial Wednesday in Green County Circuit Court. Instead, the court convened for less than an hour Wednesday morning, with no agreement between the defense and prosecution on a plea bargain.
Despite no apparent plea bargain, Rast pleaded no contest to all 10 counts before Judge James Beer, reversing his February pleas of not guilty.
After Rast was convicted, defense attorney Hal Harlowe asked the judge for a modification to the pleas. He said he meant to ask earlier but was waiting for a "pause."
Beer denied the request.
Beer held off on sentencing and ordered the Department of Corrections to complete a presentence investigation report on Rast, due in 45 days.
A presentence investigation examines all aspects of a defendant's history, from criminal to financial. It also takes into account personality, mental health and likelihood for recidivism and makes recommendations on a punishment.
"I feel uncomfortable going forward with sentencing," Beer said. "I want a better background. I don't like sentencing people in the dark."
Rast's sentencing is now scheduled at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.
Harlowe presented Beer with letters of support for Rast, including one from Charles Wellington, a Monroe attorney. Witnesses ready to testify on Rast's behalf were also present in the courtroom, but Beer said testimony will have to wait until the sentencing hearing.
Carol Thompson, clerk of court, said her office found out last Friday the three-day trial would be canceled. At that point, "We were ready for the jury trial."
The clerk's office sent out 100 juror questionnaires, she said, and narrowed from this a pool of 40 people available and suitable to sit on the 12-member jury.
The charges against Rast stem from a long-term state investigation into commercial gambling in Monroe that led first to the arrest of Rast and then to the arrest of a local tavern owner Jeffrey "Twitty" Conway, 53.
The investigation began in 2007 and eventually linked Rast and Conway as ringleaders in the gambling operation, which reportedly involved taking thousands of dollars in wagers on college basketball and pro football games from dozens of area people, often under nicknames like "Yogi" or "Thunder," at a fee of 10 percent on all lost bets.
Conway allegedly used his establishment, Old Smokey's Bar, as the exchange location for money won or owed.
Conway pleaded not guilty to eight counts of commercial gambling in May. He still has a jury trial scheduled in December, according to court records.