Chesapeake, Va. – Whether its natural disasters or continued trouble with the law, embattled U.S. Open promoter Barry Behrman just can’t seem to right his ship.

On Oct. 10, a judge found Behrman guilty of violating probation a second time since his conviction last year on illegal gambling charges, according to a report in The Virginian-Pilot.

Behrman was sentenced to six months in jail, but will receive credit for the 72 days he has served since his arrest in July.

“Mr. Behrman abused the court,” Circuit Judge Bruce H. Kushner said during the Oct. 10 hearing. “He took advantage of the court assisting him in making a living. He thinks he can hustle the world.”

Last month, Kushner allowed Behrman to leave jail temporarily so that he could direct the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships at the Chesapeake Conference Center. Behrman returned to jail the day after the tournament ended.

It was an eventful week for Behrman to say the least, as Hurricane Isabel rammed the Virginia coast and forced a one-day suspension in play. According to The Virginian-Pilot, Behrman told the court that he lost $50,000 on the Open.

Behrman also failed court-ordered drug testing during the tournament and thus violated his probation. Behrman, who has failed several drug tests in the past, had told his probation officer that he had used prescription drugs.

Behrman will be on probation again when he is released, and if he fails a drug test, Kushner said, he will be sent to prison to serve about six years that were suspended when he was convicted last year of running an illegal gambling operation, illegally selling alcohol and
failing to file a certificate for a business license.

According to The Virginian-Pilot, Behrman also told Kushner that he has had to sell his $625,000 home and is in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, apparently for unpaid taxes in connection with his business, Q-Master Billiards in Virginia Beach.