Charges Reduced In Amateur Poker Tour Rattle Snake Murder Plot

Some of the charges against Christopher Steelman in his case that made news earlier this summer as he and Herbert Beck plotted to murder Matt Sowash with rattle snakes over a poker debt have been dropped.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI), Beck was an investor in Matt Sowash’s Amateur Poker Tour for approximately $60,000, Sowash arranged Texas Hold’em games in local bars around Colorado. Sowash learned of the planned murder and went to the CBI who were, ironically, investigating him for possible illegal poker operations in the state of Colorado. 

Two of the charges have been dropped against Steelman, conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping; he still though, will face charges of felony extortion. The bail that was set originally at $500,000 has now been lowered to $10,000 with the two charges dropped. Steelman is scheduled for an arraignment on Oct. 29, 2007 

The preliminary hearing for Herbert Beck starts Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007. 

Sowash is no longer the owner of the tour.

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