12-05-2025
Owner of thrift store closed for game machines arrested
Temple, Tx (FOX 44) – The owner of a thrift store in Temple closed in April for running a game room has now been arrested.
Bell County Fire Marshal Shane Geers said Christi De La Cruz was the owner of the store at 1305 West Adams that had the game room set up at the back of the store without a permit. Jail records showed she was being charged with possession of a gambling device or equipment.
The store was closed April 21 and the machines were seized.
Bell County has an ordinance regulating game machines.
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The machines in question at the thrift store were known as fish tables. Fire Marshal Geers said these are not considered one game under the game room regulations. Since they have four stations and they are each considered 4 games.
Fire Marshal Geers said the store location was shut down because it was operating an illegal Game Room with 8 machines separate from its thrift store and advertising as a game room which is also illegal. There were 10 listed Fire Code violations found in the building as well.
Geers said the arrest came later because it took awhile to get the warrant issued due to her not being available for questions.
She remained in the Bell County Jail Monday with her bond set at $2,500.
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