Buncombe County assistant manager's husband cited with running illegal gambling house

ASHEVILLE - North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement has cited the husband of a Buncombe County public official with running an illegal gambling house near the VA Hospital in East Asheville — the same location where Madison County’s Board of Elections director was recently cited with gambling, according to court records.

For at least two years, Ardemis Wesley Jr., 49, of Arden, operated an illegal gambling house for playing poker games at 1145 Tunnel Road, according to officer notes on his citation issued April 8. He “and other defendants provided alcoholic beverages” and advertised the games over text message, the citation said.

Wesley is listed in property records as the husband of Dakisha (DK) Wesley, an assistant county manager for Buncombe County. DK Wesley has held that position for five years , according to previous Citizen Times reporting. She earns a salary of just over $204,000, according to county spokesperson Lillian Govus.

However, Ardemis Wesley told the Citizen Times July 22 that he was wrongfully cited and never ran the gambling place, but only visited there “once or twice.”

“I have played poker there before but that’s about it. I don’t understand what’s going on with all this. It’s public humiliation,” Wesley said.

He faces misdemeanor gambling, misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house, possessing alcohol for sale without a permit, keeping a gambling table and possessing or consuming spirituous liquor, according to court records.

Though he was cited in April, Wesley’s citation states the offenses occurred in July 2023. Wesley has a disposition hearing set for Sept. 6. The Citizen Times reached out to his attorney, Gene Ellison, who declined to comment.

County spokesperson Lillian Govus told the Citizen Times over email July 22 that "this is a personal matter for an employee and as it's not related to the County, we don't have any comment or additional information to provide."

North Carolina law prohibits most forms of gambling except for casinos on reservation land. Online sports betting became legal earlier this year under House Bill 347, also known as the "Sports Wagering Bill."

However, N.C. law under General Statute 14-292 makes it illegal for any person or organization to operate a game of chance or to play or bet on any game of chance that involves winning money, property or anything of value.

Let's add in here what the law says, since Gene brought it up - others might be confused, too.

Madison County official also cited for gambling

Madison County Board of Elections Director Jacob Ray was recently charged with playing poker at an illegal gambling house listed at the same address, 1145 Tunnel Road, according to his citation record. The citation was issued May 9. He also faces a charge of driving while impaired in Madison County.

"As soon as the Board of Commissioners was able to confirm the accuracy of the charges, we strongly urged the Board of Elections to take swift and stringent disciplinary actions to ensure the credibility of the Madison County electoral process going forward,” Madison County Board of Commissioners Chair Matt Wechtel said regarding Ray’s charges.

More: Madison County Board of Elections director Jacob Ray charged with DWI, gambling

"It is critical for everyone to understand that the Madison County Board of Elections is a State sanctioned Governing Board. As such, the exclusive responsibility lies fully with them to make recommendations to hire, fire, and as they see fit, discipline the County Board of Elections Director and as such, make the appropriate recommendations to the State Board of Elections Executive Director."

The Citizen Times reached out to Alcohol Law Enforcement for more information on the citations but did not receive a response before press time. ALE is the lead enforcement agency for North Carolina's laws on alcohol beverage control, lottery and tobacco, including any issues that arise with ABC-licensed and illegal establishments.

More: Buncombe County's internal audit department lacked full-time employees for months

More: Buncombe County agrees to half-million-dollar settlement with ex-manager Wanda Greene

The Citizen Times does not routinely report on misdemeanors except in cases of people of prominence, elected officials, members of law enforcement and in certain other circumstances.

In December, the Citizen Times reported that then-Asheville Police Chief David Zack’s wife, Mary Clarissa Hyatt-Zack, was arrested and charged with a DWI. She pleaded guilty to the charge in March.

In 2014 the Citizen Times reported that then-City Council member Cecil Bothwell was arrested and charged with DWI. He later pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor.

In 2013 the Citizen Times reported that then- Asheville Police Chief William Anderson's son, Chad Anderson , was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice after leaving the scene of a crash. Chad Anderson was also charged several months later with a DWI in a separate incident.

More: Former Asheville police chief's wife pleads guilty, sentenced for driving while impaired

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe County assistant manager's husband cited with running illegal gambling house