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But Torch Electronics, owned by Wildwood businessman Steven Miltenberger, hasn’t given up on trying to influence Missouri politics in the wake of the charges, filed in March.

Torch on May 23 directed $240,000 to a network of political action committees tied to the company’s lobbyist, Steve Tilley, according to a review of Missouri Ethics Commission records.

The donations were the latest act of resistance by the company as law enforcement — most notably the Missouri State Highway Patrol — and a small group of state lawmakers attempt to encircle it.

Torch, along with Warrenton Oil, last year sued the Highway Patrol in an attempt to convince a Cole County judge to bar the state from seizing machines.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for June 16.

Torch also sued the Greene County prosecutor last year after the Highway Patrol seized multiple Torch games at an AM-PM Food Mart in the county. A hearing in that case is scheduled for June 6.

There were no hearings currently scheduled in an illegal gambling case out of Linn County, where the prosecutor charged Torch Electronics, not Miltenberger, with illegal activity.

In Adair County, Miltenberger faces three counts of possession of a gambling device, a class A misdemeanor.

Possession of a gambling device carries a maximum penalty of one year behind bars and a $2,000 fine if convicted.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for June 9.

Miltenberger’s attorney, Travis Noble, said his client isn’t guilty.

“We maintain that these aren’t gambling devices,” Noble said.

Three probable cause statements provided by the Adair County prosecutor show Sgt. C. Craig, of the Highway Patrol, detailed three instances of alleged illegal gaming by Miltenberger between Sept. 29 and Oct. 5.

The first incident occurred Sept. 29 when Craig played $10 on an “electronic gambling device” at the Ayerco gas station, on the 1700 block of South Baltimore Street, in Kirksville.

The machines “were identified by a sticker on the machine as being owned by Torch Electronics,” Craig said. “The owner or managing officer of Torch electronics was identified as Steven A. Miltenberger.”

The Highway Patrol officer investigated two other stores on Oct. 5.

Craig said officials had received an illegal gambling complaint for the BP Speedmart, on the 1100 Block of South Baltimore Street in Kirksville.

When he arrived, Craig saw eight “electronic gambling devices,” four of which were active, the investigator said.

“The active machines in BP Speedmart were identified by a sticker on the machine as being owned by Torch Electronics,” Craig said.

At a third location, an Ayerco on the 2200 block of North Baltimore Street in Kirksville, Craig found seven “electronic gambling devices” on Oct. 5.

“The machines in Ayerco #29 were identified by a sticker on the machine as being owned by Torch Electronics,” the probable cause statement said.

Torch’s recent donations mirrored a similar spending spree launched last June.

At the time, Torch, along with Warrenton Oil, funneled more than $275,000 to political action committees tied to Tilley, according to a review of ethics commission records.

PAC money then flowed to Missouri politicians.

Attempts to target the unregulated devices have failed in the Legislature.

Torch has argued its machines don’t meet the definition of a gambling device under Missouri law even though players insert money into the devices with the hope of winning more.

Legislation this year would’ve stated clearly that an illegal gambling device is one not regulated by state gambling authorities that involves cash payouts.

It would’ve banned individuals and companies convicted of illegal gambling from participating in any future expansion of legal video gambling in the state.

Posted at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 1.