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Nov 19, 2008 3:39 pm US/Eastern
Official Pleads No Contest To Rigging Bingo Game
N. BELLE VERNON (KDKA) ―
A fire department president accused of rigging a local bingo game pled no contest today to the charges against him.
Roger Nogy, 53, of the North Belle Vernon Fire Department, was accused of calling bogus bingo numbers so he and a friend could split the $1,500 jackpot.
Nogy says that never happened.
He told KDKA that he pled no contest because the move will clear his record and he doesn't want to drag on what he calls a "bogus" case on any longer.
Nogy also said that the allegations cost the fire department about $20,000 over the last five months because less people have been coming to the bingo.
Nogy is hoping that today's resolution will encourage people to come back to the bingo.
However, sisters Desiree Christner and Daneen Watson believe that Nogy's no contest plea meant that he was guilty.
They said if he was not guilty if he would have fought the charges.
Nogy will serve 18-months of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. He will also have to pay $1,500 restitution.
Also, he says the $1,500 jackpot was paid to the woman who won it.
Nogy says he'll be returning to his fire department's bingo next week.
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