Radio host faces gambling charge

An Augusta-area radio personality was arrested during the weekend in Columbia County on a felony charge of commercial gambling.

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Ashley Brown says he wasn't profiting from games at his business. Special

Ashley Brown, 33, of the 4700 block of Perry Mill Circle in Grovetown, was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center on Saturday night and released Sunday morning on a $7,600 bond. The arrest occurred at Collectors Advantage, a business Mr. Brown owns at 257 Bobby Jones Expressway, Suite 1.

Mr. Brown is host of the sports talk show AB's Sportsline on WRDW 1630, which includes a segment called Break the Bookie. He also writes a sports column as a correspondent for The Columbia County News-Times, which is affiliated with The Augusta Chronicle.

Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said Mr. Brown controlled a commercial gambling operation, but he would not give details about how much money the operation involved.

"This was a (six-week) investigation resulting in his arrest, and the investigation is ongoing,'' Capt. Morris said. "Additional arrests are possible.''

Capt. Morris said the investigation stemmed from a complaint. He said he could not discuss whether the case was connected to one in Richmond County in which $95,000 was seized and five men were arrested on commercial gambling charges Jan. 28.

Mr. Brown said Monday that the incident Saturday involved some of his family members, a few friends and co-workers and that he doesn't think it rises to the level of commercial gambling. He said police found only about $300 in his business and he wasn't profiting from the games. He also said only four games had been held at his business since December.

"They are so far off base, it's just ridiculous, really,'' he said.

Capt. Morris said Georgia law states that commercial gambling occurs when a person "intentionally operates or participates in the earnings of a gambling place.''

He said Mr. Brown could face up to five years' imprisonment and be fined as much as $20,000.

Reach Preston Sparks at 868-1222, ext. 115, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Tuesday, February 22, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle