Former Okla. sheriff convicted of rape, bribery

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

FAIRVIEW, Okla. (AP) -- A former Oklahoma sheriff was convicted of second-degree rape and bribery Saturday in a case that accused him of coercing sex from female inmates and drug court defendants.

A Major County jury convicted former Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess on 13 felonies, including five counts of second-degree rape and three counts of bribery by a public official. He was acquitted of 23 other felony counts that included second-degree rape, forcible sodomy and rape by instrumentation.

The jury recommended Burgess serve 94 years in prison. He is to be sentenced March 24.

Prosecutors alleged Burgess, 56, used his position as a member of a team controlling a drug court in Custer County to sexually coerce defendants.

Burgess had pleaded not guilty and his attorney maintained the accusers were either lying or that the women consented to sex.

Under state law, an inmate cannot legally consent to sexual relations with a jailer or anyone else who controls the conditions of the prisoner's confinement. Defense lawyer Steve Huddleston contended that drug court defendants were controlled by a judge, not Burgess.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SHERIFF_CHARGED?SITE=MOCOD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-01-17-17-38-00

[John Q. Citizen]

1. I'm glad that Major County looked backward to do justice. Now people can move forward.

[Ian David]

2. Notice they don't mention that he's a REPUBLICAN. n/t

[sheldon]

3. Burgess is a registered Democrat

[Ian David]

4. Then it's all lies! n/t

[keroro gunsou]

5. further proving my point

being a horny idiot is an equal opportunity, non-partisan character flaw.

[brentspeak]

9. Why do I get the feeling you deliberately set that statement up

so that someone would point out the sheriff was a Democrat?

[Ian David]

10. Yep. That's me. I hate Democrats. I'm busted. You like, totally nailed me...

I'll have to sell my car now that the gig is up.

That just sucks, man.

[Hulk]

6. Am not surprised.

Is Oklahoma.

[pleah]

7. K&R GOOD!

I'm sick of these people getting away with rape, abuse, murder and other abuses. Why are there not more stringent criteria for people that go into law enforcement? You'd think with the amount of bad ones out there that they would be more strict with who they hire and train for this kind of work.

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. Too bad this wasnt Sherrif Joe getting busted.