Pubdate: Wed, 01 Feb 2006
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2006 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Nolan Clay
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SECOND INDICTMENT RETURNED AGAINST EX-PROSECUTOR

WAGONER - Former prosecutor Janet Bickel has been charged in a second 
indictment with methamphetamine possession and evidence tampering.

The state's multicounty grand jury indicted her twice last week. The 
second indictment was made public Tuesday.

"Bickel is accused of taking evidence from a crime scene," said 
Attorney General Drew Edmondson. "Fearing she would be caught, she 
then allegedly obtained more meth and tried to pass it off as the original."

Bickel, 49, of Muskogee is charged with perjury in the first 
indictment, unsealed Monday. Grand jurors accuse Bickel of lying to 
them about her drug buys.

She has denied involvement in drugs.

"She is absolutely not a drug user, and we are going to be able to 
prove that," said her attorney, Donn Baker.

Baker suggested Tuesday she has been set up.

The grand jury is investigating allegations involving the office of 
Richard Gray, the district attorney in Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah and 
Wagoner counties. Bickel is one of his former assistants.

Grand jurors indicted Gray's office administrator, Vyrl Keeter, three 
times last week. Keeter, 74, of Muskogee is charged with perjury and 
attempted subordination of perjury.

Keeter is accused of coaching witnesses on how to deceive the grand 
jury and of lying when confronted about his scheme.

Grand jurors allege Bickel bought meth for her personal use for years.

Grand jurors in the second indictment allege that Bickel, while still 
a prosecutor, took a bag of meth during a Feb. 22, 2005, search. 
Grand jurors allege she denied having it when authorities realized 
the bag was missing.

Her attorney said Bickel later told Gray she found the meth inside a 
glove in her purse. Her attorney said, "Everybody wants to assume 
that she put it in there, but we don't know whether someone else put 
it in there or she inadvertently put it in there."

Grand jurors allege the meth she then turned in was different from 
that at the crime scene.
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