Former sheriff sentenced for poker bribery

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford must spend 15 years behind bars for his conviction on charges related to taking bribes from video poker operators.
   
The 62-year-old Medford was sentenced Monday in federal court in Asheville. He had faced a possible maximum sentence of more than 100 years in prison.
   
A federal jury found Medford guilty in May of charges that included extorting bribes from illegal video gambling operators and money laundering. After hearing arguments from Medford attorney Stephen Lindsay, the judge agreed that the government miscalculated the amount that Medford collected and lowered the total to $304,000.
   
Medford served as sheriff for 12 years, from 1994 until December 2006.
   
Lts. John Harrison and Ronnie Eugene Davis also were scheduled for sentencing, along with volunteer Capt. Guy Penland.