Store owner charged with possession of poker machines

THOMSON - The owner of a chain of convenience stores has been charged with possession of a gambling device after authorities said they found 39 video poker machines. <br> <br> Joel Bryant, 35, the owner of Bryant&#39;s Food & Fuel convenience stores, was arrested on the misdemeanor charge Thursday. Bryant, of North Augusta, S.C., was joined by Augusta attorney Danny Durham when he surrendered to officials from the McDuffie County Sheriff&#39;s Office. <br> <br> Bryant was released on a $5,000 bond. <br> <br> The machines were discovered in an unused portion of the store last week while state revenue officials were seizing two Augusta and two Thomson Bryant stores for alleged nonpayment of sales taxes. <br> <br> The machines were taken to a storage unit, where authorities will hold them pending a judge&#39;s condemnation order.