Senator Denies Claims That Plan to Change Law Is Grab for Money A state senator has upset law enforcement officers across the state by saying the state's drug money forfeiture law needs to be changed to protect the innocent. "Completely asinine," said the most vocal critic, Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards. At issue is the law as written allows police - in some instances - to seize and keep cash found during traffic stops even when no drugs were discovered and no criminal charges were filed. [continues 709 words]
His Drug Task Force Took Money From Travelers on I-40 but Did Not Make Arrests. HINTON - A district attorney is returning funds in three more cases where his drug task force took money from travelers on Interstate 40 Two of the three cases involved stops where money was seized but no one was arrested. A total of $21,227 is being returned in the three cases. "I was really, really very scared," said Julius S. Crooks, 28, who is getting back $7,500 and a semi-automatic rifle. [continues 769 words]
An attorney was accused Tuesday of coercing a scared defense witness into lying at a meth dealer's trial in a failed attempt to win an acquittal. The Oklahoma City attorney also is accused of putting a faked videotape into evidence. The methamphetamine dealer was convicted anyway. The attorney, Mark Anthony Clayborne, faces a felony charge that could cost him his law license. A former assistant said the attorney was well aware the witness did not want to testify, but "Clayborne continued to encourage her to do so, irregardless," police reported. [continues 181 words]
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. [continues 233 words]
