Witness: Haywood sheriff took bribes, allowed video poker

The Associated Press

ASHEVILLE, N.C. --

A witness at the federal corruption trial of Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford says thousands of dollars in bribes also went to the Haywood County sheriff.

Jerry Pennington works for a South Carolina company that federal prosecutors say made millions running an illegal gambling operations in western North Carolina.

The Citizen-Times of Asheville reports that Pennington didn't cite Haywood County Sheriff Tom Alexander by name during his Monday testimony. Alexander says he's never met Pennington.

Federal prosecutors have said they are investigating other current and former law enforcement officials. Alexander has not been charged with a crime or listed in any court papers. He's been in office since 1987.

Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com