Literature professor continues to teach after being charged

Southeast literature professor Dr. Roger Arpin still is teaching classes at Southeast Missouri State University after being charged with a class "D" felony of violating laws pertaining to riverboat gambling. Arpin was allegedly "capping" bets during a blackjack game at the newly built Isle Capri Casino in Cape Girardeau.

Capping bets is defined by the Missouri Gaming Commission as adding to a bet after the cards have been dealt. Arpin, 66, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Dec. 17.

According to MissouriCase.net, his criminal court date is set for Feb. 6 at the Cape County Courthouse in Jackson. If convicted he could serve up to four years in prison as well as be banned from gambling at river boat casinos across Missouri.

As the Southeast Missourian previously reported, the probable cause statement filed by the Missouri Highway State Patrol's Sgt. Darryl Suhr said that on the night of Dec. 14 Arpin was warned about capping bets by both the dealer and the pit supervisor. He was allowed to finish that hand but did receive a payout.

The statement also said that a half hour after the first warning, Arpin was allegedly seen capping another bet at the same table by the casino's surveillance department. Then, according to the report, the dealer was alerted and Arpin was not given a payout for that hand. He was subsequently arrested at 7 p.m.

According to the Missouri Gaming Commission, 44 other individuals were charged with cheating-related offenses in Missouri so far this year. Arpin was the first arrest at the Cape Girardeau Isle Capri location that opened Oct. 30.

Arpin has been an assistant professor at Southeast since 1979 and has been teaching all his classes scheduled for the spring semester. University President Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, English Department chair Carol Scates and Arpin all declined comment.

Southeast student Victoria Keller is enrolled in one of Arpin's classes this semester.

"He is a very good teacher and from what I can tell an extremely intelligent, professional man," Keller said in an email. "I don't find [him teaching] to be offensive at all."