Post by KC on Jul 15, 2006 19:50:19 GMT -5
July 15, 2006 - A Sequoyah County Sheriff's deputy has been suspended with pay after a local woman accused the deputy of sexually assaulting her.
Sequoyah County Sheriff Johnny Philpot said Thursday that an allegation was made Wednesday morning against one of his deputies, and as a result his office requested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) come in and investigate the allegation.
Philpot said the accused deputy, Randy Gann, has been placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
"We received the initial report shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday," Philpot said.
Before the OSBI was called, Philpot said he instructed another deputy to get preliminary information to see if further investigation was warranted. After receiving the information, Philpot said his office contacted the OSBI, an outside agency, to conduct an investigation since the allegation involves an employee of the sheriff's office.
"Once we received the information we responded in an appropriate manner," Philpot said, adding that he felt like calling the OSBI was the best way to handle the situation.
Jessica Brown, OSBI public information director, said Thursday that the OSBI was contacted Wednesday about the alleged assault. She said no arrests have been made, and that investigators are in the "extremely early stages of the investigation."
She said it could take weeks or months to gather all the information for the report, which will then be submitted to the Sequoyah County District Attorney's Office, who decides whether charges will be filed.
Brown released limited details about the circumstances prompting the investigation. The incident reportedly occurred early Wednesday morning north of Muldrow. Brown said her understanding was that the deputy was allegedly called to assist the woman in some way.
"Her (the alleged victim's) vehicle was there and so was his," Brown said.
Whether the deputy will be arrested will have to do with what the OSBI finds in the coming weeks and months, Brown said.
She emphasized that the deputy has not been charged.
Philpot would not elaborate about the details of the allegation since the case is now in the hands of the OSBI. But Philpot did say that the woman who made the allegation "is not unknown to law enforcement."
According to Sequoyah County District Court records, the alleged victim has a criminal background. In May, she was charged with endeavoring to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance and resisting an officer in Muldrow. In that case, a warrant for her arrest was issued on June 26 for failure to appear in court as part of her community sentencing. She was released from the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw on July 1, according to jail records.
The alleged victim was also charged in November 2001 and March 2003 with various drug and other felony charges. In December 2003 she was charged with false impersonation and escape from lawful custody, but those charges were later dismissed.
Philpot said Gann has been suspended with pay at this point. Changes in the suspension hinge on the result of the OSBI investigation. He noted that the investigation could result in the deputy's "exoneration, or termination and/or prosecution."
"We'll see what the evidence says," Philpot said, noting that his office is fully cooperating with the OSBI. "An allegation has been made. Nothing has been substantiated."
www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/articles/2006/07/14/news/front3.txt
Sequoyah County Sheriff Johnny Philpot said Thursday that an allegation was made Wednesday morning against one of his deputies, and as a result his office requested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) come in and investigate the allegation.
Philpot said the accused deputy, Randy Gann, has been placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
"We received the initial report shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday," Philpot said.
Before the OSBI was called, Philpot said he instructed another deputy to get preliminary information to see if further investigation was warranted. After receiving the information, Philpot said his office contacted the OSBI, an outside agency, to conduct an investigation since the allegation involves an employee of the sheriff's office.
"Once we received the information we responded in an appropriate manner," Philpot said, adding that he felt like calling the OSBI was the best way to handle the situation.
Jessica Brown, OSBI public information director, said Thursday that the OSBI was contacted Wednesday about the alleged assault. She said no arrests have been made, and that investigators are in the "extremely early stages of the investigation."
She said it could take weeks or months to gather all the information for the report, which will then be submitted to the Sequoyah County District Attorney's Office, who decides whether charges will be filed.
Brown released limited details about the circumstances prompting the investigation. The incident reportedly occurred early Wednesday morning north of Muldrow. Brown said her understanding was that the deputy was allegedly called to assist the woman in some way.
"Her (the alleged victim's) vehicle was there and so was his," Brown said.
Whether the deputy will be arrested will have to do with what the OSBI finds in the coming weeks and months, Brown said.
She emphasized that the deputy has not been charged.
Philpot would not elaborate about the details of the allegation since the case is now in the hands of the OSBI. But Philpot did say that the woman who made the allegation "is not unknown to law enforcement."
According to Sequoyah County District Court records, the alleged victim has a criminal background. In May, she was charged with endeavoring to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance and resisting an officer in Muldrow. In that case, a warrant for her arrest was issued on June 26 for failure to appear in court as part of her community sentencing. She was released from the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw on July 1, according to jail records.
The alleged victim was also charged in November 2001 and March 2003 with various drug and other felony charges. In December 2003 she was charged with false impersonation and escape from lawful custody, but those charges were later dismissed.
Philpot said Gann has been suspended with pay at this point. Changes in the suspension hinge on the result of the OSBI investigation. He noted that the investigation could result in the deputy's "exoneration, or termination and/or prosecution."
"We'll see what the evidence says," Philpot said, noting that his office is fully cooperating with the OSBI. "An allegation has been made. Nothing has been substantiated."
www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/articles/2006/07/14/news/front3.txt