Ky. man forbidden from saying 'bingo' for 6 months

Cindy Schroeder, The Cincinnati Enquirer | USATODAY

COVINGTON, Ky. -- Yelling bingo when nobody has won can get you in trouble with the law.

A Covington, Ky., man who falsely yelled "bingo" last month, was cited for second-degree disorderly conduct.

As part of 18-year-old Austin Whaley's punishment, Kenton District Judge Douglas Grothaus recently ordered him not to say the word "bingo" for six months.

"Just like you can't run into a theater and yell 'fire' when it's not on fire, you can't run into a crowded bingo hall and yell 'bingo' when there isn't one," said Park Hills Police Sgt. Richard Webster, who cited Whaley.

On Feb. 9, Webster was working an off-duty security detail at a Covington bingo hall when Whaley entered the hall with several other youths and yelled "bingo," Webster said.

"This caused the hall to quit operating since they thought someone had won," Webster wrote on his citation. "This delayed the game by several minutes and caused alarm to patrons."

Webster said the crowd of mostly elderly women did not take kindly to Whaley's bingo call.

"At first, everybody started moaning and groaning when they thought they'd lost," Webster said. "When they realized it wasn't a real bingo, they started hooting and hollering and yelling and cussing. People take their bingo very seriously."

Had Whaley apologized for his actions, Webster said he probably would have sent him on his way with a warning. "But he refused to say he was sorry," Webster said.

"He seemed to think he could say whatever he wanted because it was a public building. I tried to explain that that's not the case. Just because it's a public building doesn't give you the right to run into a theater and yell 'fire.' You can't go into a ballpark and yell 'out,' because people could stop the game."

When Whaley appeared in court last week, the judge issued this order: "Do not say the word 'bingo' for six months."

The youthful defendant could have faced up to 90 days in a jail and a $250 fine on the misdemeanor charge. So long as Whaley, who had no prior criminal record, doesn't get into any more trouble within six months, though, the charge will be dismissed.

"He was remorseful in court," Grothaus said. "He was obviously a good kid who hadn't been in trouble before. With all the other things that happen in the court system and the families you're dealing with, you've got to keep a sense of humor."