Pubdate: Fri, 17 Apr 1998
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/?ed-writeus
Website: http://www.oklahoman.com/
Author: Mark Hutchison Staff Writer

SHERIFF, PROSECUTORS END TIFF; DRUG MONEY'S FATE UNDECIDED

SULPHUR -- A tiff between a southern Oklahoma prosecutor and sheriff
apparently has ended after a two-hour meeting.

Still undecided, however, is whether Murray County Sheriff Marvin McCracken
will relinquish $11,000 in forfeited drug money to District Attorney Gary
Henry.

The two and their assistants met Wednesday. When asked Thursday if he'll
give Henry the money, McCracken said, "We're discussing it. We'll take care
of it ourselves."

Henry, meanwhile, said McCracken told him he'd give the money to the
district attorney's office.

"Things went real well in the meeting. We are going to be working together,
as we should be"

A months-long dispute between Henry and his assistant, John Walton, and
McCracken took an unusual twist Monday when McCracken asked county
commissioners if he could hire an attorney to advise him.

The sheriff complained prosecutors wouldn't work with him on criminal cases.

McCracken thinks part of the animosity is because of Henry's and Walton's
friendship with former Sheriff Ed Bristol, whom McCracken defeated in the
1996 election.

Henry admitted endorsing Bristol but denied working against McCracken.

The district attorney said he even gave McCracken equipment when he took
office as a "show of good faith."

The situation deteriorated last year when the county collected forfeited
drug money from a 1996 case.

Henry said he had a contract with Bristol to equally split drug forfeiture
money.

That deal was struck in May 1996 after the two offices helped bust a drug
ring. The investigation led to charges against six men and seizure of about
$83,000 in cash.

McCracken took office in January 1997. The district attorney's office in
June 1997 was awarded an $11,541.40 forfeiture from the case and split it
with McCracken.

Two months later, McCracken's office retrieved $21,576 in forfeiture money
from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration office in Oklahoma City.
Since then, Henry has tried unsuccessfully to get his office's share.