Oklahoma

Former Oklahoma Judge Resigns After Texting Scandal During Murder Trial

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Oklahoma Judge Resigns After Texting During Murder Trial Traci Soderstrom, a former judge for Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties in Oklahoma, has resigned from her position following a scandal involving her inappropriate use of electronic devices during a murder trial. Soderstrom’s behavior came to light through security footage, which showed her constantly on her phone during the trial of Khristian Tyler Martzall, who was accused of killing his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son in 2018. An investigation conducted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court found that Soderstrom had exchanged over 500 text messages with her bailiff during the trial. … Read more

Oklahoma Man Awarded $25 Million After False Accusations in Racist Basketball Announcer Case

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Muskogee County, Oklahoma – A man in Oklahoma has been awarded $25 million by a jury after he was wrongly identified as the announcer who made racist comments during a 2021 broadcast of a girls’ basketball game. The verdict came after Scott Sapulpa sued the state’s largest newspaper for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury in Muskogee County ruled in favor of Sapulpa, granting him $5 million in actual damages and an additional $20 million in punitive damages. Sapulpa’s attorney, Michael Barkett, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the case, stating, … Read more

Judge Demands State Action: Oklahoma County Inmate Waits 480 Days for Mental Health Treatment

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Oklahoma City – Inmates at the Oklahoma County Detention Center are facing extensive delays in receiving mental health evaluation and treatment. The average wait time at the county jail before being transferred to a mental health facility is a staggering 480 days. Recently, an Oklahoma County judge took action against these prolonged wait times, threatening to impose fines on the state if inmates are not promptly transferred. The judge argued that the jail is not an appropriate environment for individuals with severe mental health needs. In January, KOCO reported that dozens of inmates were waiting … Read more

Kansas City Chiefs Superfan Denied Transfer to Oklahoma for Robbery Trial Due to Prior Escape, Federal Judge Rules

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LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has denied a Tulsa prosecutor’s request to have a Kansas City Chiefs superfan returned to Oklahoma to face charges of robbing a credit union. Xaviar Michael Babudar, also known as the Chiefsaholic, is currently in custody in Oklahoma and awaiting trial on federal indictments of bank robbery and money laundering. The Tulsa District Court had issued a writ of habeas corpus to have Babudar transported to Oklahoma for upcoming court proceedings, but the judge cited Babudar’s previous escape from custody as a reason for denying the request. Babudar, … Read more