Special prosecutor to decide charges for former gaming investigator

Thursday, April 13, 2000 | 10:23 a.m.

Craig Bridgmon, 49, of Woodland Park, was dismissed last Thursday over alleged violations of state law governing conflicts of interest between employees and the casinos they regulate.

Tom Kitts, director of the gaming division, said the dismissal involved an alleged violation in 1997.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with any casino," Kitts told more than 30 local casino owners and managers Wednesday.

"We don't believe he did anything to affect the regulation or integrity of the gaming industry in Colorado. We're not talking felonies. As far as I know, as far as our investigation has revealed, this is an isolated incident. There's not any kind of pervasive pattern of misconduct. We don't think this has impugned the integrity of what we do down here."

Kitts said the alleged violations involved Bridgmon and two former casino managers not employed in gaming at the time. One of the men let his license expire last year, and the other surrendered his license after the allegations were made. Since the two men are no longer licensed, the gaming division cannot discipline them.

Officials would not elaborate further, saying it was a a personnel matter.

A special prosecutor was appointed Wednesday to determine whether criminal charges should be filed. The case was referred to the 11th Judicial District Attorney's office, based in Canon City, by 4th Judicial District Attorney Jeanne Smith.

Smith said she decided to defer to an outside agency because she and her office have worked closely with Bridgmon in the past few years.

A three-week investigation of allegations against Bridgmon began after lawyers for a casino produced documents suggesting that some of the division's rules had been violated, said Huck Henderson, division chief of investigations.

Larry Lawson, a compliance officer who works for Holland Casino Properties, was surprised by news that Bridgmon was fired.

"Craig was the most honest, fair person I had to work with on a regulatory situation," he said.

The decision to dismiss Bridgmon was necessary to maintain high standards within the gaming division, Kitts said.

"We cannot uphold our mission of ensuring honesty and integrity in the Colorado gaming industry unless we also maintain the same honesty and integrity within our own agency," he said.