Hello From Woodward

[Locutus]

Welcome to all of you! 

[seen2much]

I gotta work on that pic tho!

[mageepet]

Seen2, there is myob II on here also.

[Freethinker]

Reporting for duty, McGonser 

[mageepet]

How are you guys getting your avatar pics on there, I am just bumfuzzled.

[mageepet]

I finally got it, say hello to ginger!

[seen2much]

Awwww I see you got Ginger kitty up. 

[mageepet]

Yes, I am going to have to redo a window screen this weekend because i have that window open and ginger has been laying in it.  He thinks I haven't noticed he is slowly tearing the screen out. 

[mcgonser]

Sure glad to see you all here. I still want to know who ticked off the people that pulled the plug on Marthas. Come on fess up!! Love your avatars and its good to see ginger again.

[mageepet]

Judge denies Morton's plea withdrawal

Rowynn Ricks

A judge has denied a motion to allow former Woodward County Sheriff Les Morton to withdraw his Alford plea and reinstate his trial rights.

Associate District Judge R. W. Collier denied the motion in a hearing held Thursday morning at the Woodward County Courthouse. The decision to deny the motion came more than four months after Morton originally entered the Alford plea on Jan. 12.

Through the Alford plea, the court was able to sentence Morton as if he was found guilty of nine counts of embezzlement without Morton actually admitting any guilt. The Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General charged Morton with embezzlement last year after they claimed that an indictment revealed that he had allegedly used a sheriff's vehicle and county fuelman card for personal use.

In the motion to withdraw his plea, Morton claimed that "persons in apparent authority unduly influenced (his) decision to enter the Alford Plea."

He then pointed to a conversation between himself and the judge in judge's chambers on Jan. 12, where he claimed in his motion that "Judge Collier strongly urged him to accept the plea offer because of the possibility of facing a long prison sentence if found guilty at trial."

During Thursday's hearing much discussion was had over that conversation between Morton and the judge.

Collier explained that he simply "took the liberty to express to the defendant prior to the preliminary hearing the court's concern that the defendant understand the potential risk of everything going wrong (at trial)."

"It is common knowledge that sheriffs don't fare well in the penal system in Oklahoma," he said.

Although admitting that it was "unusual circumstances" to call Morton, as the defendant, into chambers prior to the preliminary hearing, Collier also noted that he "has a hard time accepting that a sheriff with 30-plus years of experience is that intimidated by a judge."

But while he was on the stand during Thursday's hearing, Morton argued that being called into judge's chambers and having the judge talk to him about the consequences of incarceration was "something that completely threw (him) off guard."

"I'm sure that it was done with the intent of concern for me and my well-being, which I appreciate. However, that does, I don't care if it's me or whoever it is . . ., that does put a little undue pressure on you when you're brought into judges chambers regardless of the intent of the conversation," Morton said.

But Collier later stated that whatever influence or pressure his comments might have had on Morton had time to dissipate as an hour elapsed between the conversation and when Morton finally agreed to enter the plea after visiting with his attorney Mack Martin.

As she argued against Morton's motion to withdraw his plea, Joel-lyn McCormick, of the Attorney General's office, claimed "this defendant has utterly failed to show that his plea was entered involuntarily, unknowingly, and with duress."

"I believe the record is very clear in how the court very meticulously ensured the defendant understood his rights, was not making a hasty decision and was not being forced into making a decision," McCormick said.

In fact, as she cross-examined Morton during Thursday's hearing, she had Morton verify that while under oath on Jan. 12 he responded to the judge's questions of whether more time was needed to consider the plea by noting that he wanted to enter the plea that day.

Collier agreed, noting "he clearly expressed his intent at that time . . . that he wanted to enter a plea at that time."

"It will be the finding of the court that the defendant was competent and he was not under the undue influence of the court's conversation with him," the judge said before officially denying the motion.

Almost immediately after Collier announced his decision, Martin announced to the judge his intent to appeal.

However, after talking with Morton following the hearing, Martin said that he and his client plan "to give thought and discussion to whether or not we intend to appeal."

"We disagree with the ruling of the court," he said. "But we don't know whether or not we'll appeal it because the timing is such that the deferred judgment (that accompanied the Jan. 12 plea agreement) has now expired."

The defense attorney said that because the deferred sentence has been completed as of March 28, which was one year after he was initially indicted, Morton now has the opportunity to seek "the dismissal of that case and the expungement of those records."

"We don't know if we want to do that or if we would rather have our day in court," Martin said, noting that although Morton "has maintained his innocence," to appeal is "a very long process."

Morton and Martin have 10 days to decide whether they want to appeal the decision.

McCormick said she hopes Morton does not appeal.

"It's our hope that this defendant not be allowed to play upon judicial economy any longer and that we be allowed to move forward in Woodward County," she said.

[seen2much]

Sure glad to see you all here. I still want to know who ticked off the people that pulled the plug on Marthas. Come on fess up!! Love your avatars and its good to see ginger again.

The Venom Gang of course!  But that's only my opinion. 

[mcgonser]

  I think you are right!!

[Sandy Eggo]

There's one (or more) in every crowd

Years ago, our local Martha forum was closed and I made the Zone my home and haven't looked back.

I hope that you guys love it here as much as I do.

[seen2much]

There's one (or more) in every crowd

Years ago, our local Martha forum was closed and I made the Zone my home and haven't looked back.

I hope that you guys love it here as much as I do.

I think once I get used to getting from point A to point B with least amount of effort, it will the perfect place for me!

[mcgonser]

OK, walk me thru it. I am trying to change my avatar and forgot how. Help!