Former Teacher Facing 11 Felony Sex Charges in Oklahoma
Yet another Oklahoma teacher has been charged with sex crimes against his students. While Oklahoma sex crime defense attorneys understand that allegations of sex offenses cross all demographics, when a teacher is accused, it is almost guaranteed to make the headlines. While teachers are no more likely than any other professional to commit a sex crime, anyone who works with minors as a profession may be at increased risk of accusation. Furthermore, because teachers are placed in a position of trust, any alleged violation of that trust is sure to garner media attention and public scrutiny.
Last Thursday, former Atoka High School biology teacher and assistant football coach Casey Hauff, 32, was charged in Atoka County District Court with eleven felony counts related to alleged sex crimes against five female students. Hauff, who resigned during the investigation, was charged with two counts of second degree rape, four counts of solicitation of a minor, two counts of sexual battery, forcible sodomy, showing obscene materials to a minor, and lewd or indecent proposals to a minor under 16.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Hauff asked the girls to text him nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves in exchange for better grades, and allegedly sent nude photos of himself in return. He allegedly began using the cell phone of a student intern to collect images of the girls after his wife began checking his cell phone.
Allegedly, the sex offenses took place in Hauff's classroom, and one alleged victim says that the teacher had her hide in a closet when someone came to the classroom.
Oklahoma sex crime lawyers stress that, although the age of consent in Oklahoma is 16, state law prohibits sex between a student and a teacher, administrator, or employee of the same district. Hauff allegedly told one of the girls that "he usually waited until the girls graduated," but that he would "make an exception" for her. If he had waited until the girls graduated, his actions would not have been felonious, and he would not be facing decades behind bars and lifetime sex offender registration.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a sex offense, it is critical to obtain representation as soon as possible. During an investigation into sex crimes and following any accusation or criminal charges, the rights of the accused are frequently trampled. A skillful attorney can help protect your rights while building a solid defense. To find a sex crime defense lawyer in Oklahoma City, call the law offices of Phillips & Bailey.
Voraxapar Gives Disappointing Results in Merck Trials
Oklahoma City pharmaceutical litigation attorneys monitor developments in the release of new drugs, knowing that many of these drugs are granted FDA approval only to have their adverse affects discovered after being used on a wide population. Two common side effects of dangerous or defective drugs are increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Now, clinical trials for a drug being studied to prevent those two potentially fatal conditions has yielded disappointing results for major drug manufacturer Merck & Co.
Voraxapar is being studied as a blood thinner aimed at preventing heart attack and stroke in patients who were at risk due to hardening of the arteries or a previous heart attack or stroke. The experimental drug was given to half of the 26,000 participants in the trial, and while the drug showed a slight decrease in repeat heart attack or stroke, it showed a marked increase in heavy bleeding.
Of the patients who were given voraxapar, nine percent died of heart attack or stroke within three years of taking the drug; of those who were not given voraxapar, more than ten percent died of heart attack or stroke. This slight benefit may be outweighed by the drug's adverse effects: more than four percent of those taking voraxapar suffered moderate to severe bleeding, including dangerous bleeding in the head. Only two percent of those patients not given voraxapar suffered such bleeding.
The lack of promising results led a physician with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to say, "This is not a drug that I would put in my personal medicine chest."
When the risks of taking a drug or medication outweigh the potential benefits, that drug may be labeled as a "dangerous drug" or a "defective drug." While defective drugs are generally pulled from the marketplace, dangerous drugs often remain available for patient use--they are simply given stricter warning labels. Unfortunately, many patients do not understand the associated risks of a drug, and a defective drug is not identified as such until its ill effects are demonstrated on the general public.
Merck & Co. may be extra cautious in releasing this drug after being embroiled in pharmaceutical litigation and class action lawsuits pertaining to the company's drug Vioxx. Oklahoma dangerous drugs lawyers and attorneys across the nation have represented patients taking Vioxx and their families in personal injury, class action, and wrongful death suits after the drug's dangerous effects became known.
Some experts contend that Vioxx should have been recalled as early as 2000, and others say that documents indicate that Merck knew of the risks associated with the drug. Vioxx, intended to treat arthritis, carried such adverse side effects as increased risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. In fact, research shows that patients who took Vioxx to treat their arthritis were up to three times more likely to suffer heart attack or sudden cardiac death than those not taking painkillers.
When the drugs intended to heal you cause more harm than good, an Oklahoma City pharmaceutical litigation lawyer with Phillips & Bailey can handle your dangerous drugs case. Whether you are seeking financial compensation for your medical expenses or for a loved one's burial expenses, we can help you get the compensation you need for the fullest possible physical, emotional, and financial recovery following harmful side effects of a defective or dangerous drug.
Oklahoma Teacher Arrested after Meeting Student at Hotel
In an offense that Oklahoma rape lawyers are seeing with increasing frequence, another female Oklahoma teacher has been arrested after an alleged sexual relationship with one of her students.
Early Saturday morning, Erin Kathleen Queen, 27, was arrested at the Candlewood Suites in Tulsa, where she was discovered with a 17-year-old student. Queen, an English teacher and ninth grade girls' basketball coach at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, was arrested on a first degree rape complaint after allegedly arranging a hotel tryst with her student.
According to media reports, the student was supposed to be staying at a friend's house on Friday night. His parents went to the friend's home to make sure their son was there, but he was not. When they still had not found him by 4:30 Saturday morning, they called police. Allegedly, the parents discovered their son with Queen at the Tulsa hotel and notified police. Police say Queen admitted to sexual intercourse with the student, and she was arrested on a first degree rape complaint at 5:30 a.m. She was booked into Tulsa County Jail and released on $50,000 bond.
According to the police, sex between the teacher and student was consensual; however, Oklahoma law prohibits a sexual relationship between a student and a teacher or employee of the same district. Oklahoma's age of consent is 16; however, Oklahoma law stipulates certain exceptions to the age of consent. Oklahoma sex crimes lawyers point to the statutes outlining those who are not legally able to give consent. Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes states that rape charges are applicable if ". . . the victim is at least sixteen (16) years of age and is less than eighteen (18) years of age and is a student, or under the legal custody or supervision of any public or private elementary or secondary school, junior high or high school, or public vocational school, and engages in sexual intercourse with a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and is an employee of the same school system." This statutory provision for a rape charge, regardless of consent, includes sex between a person in custody or under supervision of a state, federal, county, or municipal agency and any employer or contractor of that agency.
It is important to remember that there are several stipulations that eliminate a person's legal capability of consent to sexual activity, including age, mental defect, use of intoxicants, legal custody, or legal supervision. If you ignore these statutory considerations in the face of verbal consent, you may find yourself in need of a rape lawyer or statutory rape lawyer in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Juvenile Crimes: Violence at School
Over the past week, local media has brought news of at least three teenagers charged with bringing weapons to school and another teenager who is accused of the forcible rape of another at school.
Oklahoma violent crime lawyers understand that, although the state is generally perceived as gun-friendly, there are still Oklahoma gun laws outlining who can and cannot lawfully own a gun, and there are gun laws prohibiting the possession of weapons in certain locations. Under Oklahoma law, a minor under the age of 18 is not permitted to possess a weapon, except a rifle or shotgun for hunting, sport, or education under supervision. No one except law enforcement officers is allowed to carry a firearm on school grounds. In the past week, two Oklahoma City metro area teens have violated both laws the underage possession of a firearm and possessing that gun on school grounds. Similarly, a third teen was arrested for bringing a knife to school.
On March 2, 2012, Moore police arrested 15-year-old Dillon Ashby after a loaded gun was found in his locker. It was determined that the gun had been stolen from a car during a recent string of automobile burglaries. Ashby was arrested at Moore's Central Junion High on complaints of possession of a firearm on school grounds and possession of stolen properties. Though Ashby is a juvenile, state law requires that the names of youthful offenders be released if the crime with which they were charged would be a felony if committed by an adult. Ashby is suspected in the automobile burglaries and in the theft of four-wheeled ATVs from area homes.
On March 6, another 15-year-old student was arrested for possession of a gun on school property. The Ponca City High school student was arrested when it was determined that he brought a handgun to school. Police declined to say where the gun was found and whether or not it was loaded, but they did say no threats were made. Because the student has not been criminally charged as of this writing, police have not released his name.
Finally, a 14-year-old girl was arrested yesterday for bringing a knife to school in Oklahoma City. The knife was discovered during backpack scanning at Northwest Classen High School. Initially, the girl told authorities the knife must have "fallen into" her back pack, but later admitted she brought it to school because she was having problems with a male student who was bullying her and who threatened to kill her. As of this writing, she has not been charged.
When it comes to violence at school, Oklahoma gun possession is not the only threat. A Norman teenager has been charged with rape and forcible sodomy after a 16-year-old girl told a school counselor that she was forced into a wrestling locker room at Norman North High School and raped. According to the suspect, 15-year-old Ian Patrick Giles Palmerton, sex between the two was consensual and did not occur on school grounds. Police, however, say that physical evidence obtained at the seen refutes Palmerton's claims.
If your child is in trouble with the law, it can be very frightening for you as a parent. You want to protect your child and his or her future. You want to avoid having a foolish youthful mistake haunt your child for the rest of his or her life. Get sound legal counsel and aggressive defense when you hire an Oklahoma juvenile sex crime lawyer or gun possession attorney from Phillips & Bailey in Oklahoma City.
Kardashian Sisters Subjects of Diet Pill Lawsuit
When a significant number of people are harmed by a defective product or dangerous drug, a class action suit may yield better results for the plaintiffs than individual personal injury lawsuits. An Oklahoma City class action lawyer brings a lawsuit against the defendant on behalf of several plaintiffs who have suffered, rather filing several individual claims. The benefits to a class action lawsuit include that it may be a more economical way for plaintiffs to bring suit against a negligent defendant, and the evidence demonstrating the defendant's fault is supported by multiple testimonies and stories of harmful effects. Class action lawsuits commonly include dangerous or defective medications, including diet pills.
Last week, celebrity sisters Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim Kardashian were named in a $5 million class action lawsuit alleging that the Kardashians made "false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims" in their endorsement of QuickTrim, a popular diet pill. Plaintiffs say that they bought the ineffective diet pill based on the Kardashian sisters claims that QuickTrim helped them to lose weight. Kim Kardashian claimed the diet pills helped her to lose 15 pounds and that she was taking QuickTrim to help her get in shape for her wedding to Kris Humphries--a marriage that lasted a mere 72 days.
According to the lawsuit, the claims made by QuickTrim and their Kardashian spokeswomen are unfounded. According to the lawsuit, the key ingredient in QuickTrim is caffeine, an ingredient that the FDA says is neither safe nor effective for weight loss. In fact, excessive caffeine consumption can cause rapid pulse, high blood pressure, and heart arrhythmia.
QuickTrim is far from the only diet pill to come under fire. Oklahoma City class action lawyers and pharmaceutical litigation attorneys have represented those harmed by prescription diet pills and over-the-counter diet supplements including Fen Phen, Meridia, Metabolife, and Hydroxycut. The most dangerous side effects of these diet drugs and supplements include elevated blood pressure, serious heart conditions, and even death.
If you have been physically harmed and suffered a serious medical condition as a result of taking a dangerous diet pill, or if you have been bilked by a company making fraudulent claims about an ineffective diet pill, you may be able to bring a successful lawsuit against those responsible for your physical or financial loss. Whether you have a wrongful death claim, a fraud claim, or an injury claim against the maker or marketer of a dangerous or ineffective weight loss drug, an Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer may be able to help. During your case evaluation, the attorney may be able to determine whether your case is best litigated as a personal injury claim or a class action lawsuit.
In the News: Oklahoma Sex Crimes against Minors
February headlines have been filled with stories of sex crimes against minors in Oklahoma. Child pornography, solicitation of sexually explicit images, child rape, and sexual relationships between teachers and students have all hit local headlines since Valentine's Day. The Oklahoma Criminal Defense blog has already brought you the stories of Putnam City High School teacher Lisa Kays, who was charged with rape after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, and of John Kenneth Calderon Bastro, who was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after soliciting explicit images from a 10-year-old boy in western Oklahoma.
Also arrested on unrelated Oklahoma City rape complaints this week were Eduardo Perez, 34, and Gregory Saul, 64.
Eduardo Perez was arrested in connection with an alleged incident occurring on February 13. The alleged victim, aged 14, told her boyfriend that she stayed home from school and drank alcohol with her mother and Perez. She says that after about five drinks, she went to lie down on her bed, and she awoke to Perez touching her inappropriately. She reported that she told Perez to stop and he left, but came back later and raped her while she was still under the influence of alcohol. The alleged victim told her boyfriend about the alleged rape, and he told his father, who reported it to authorities. Perez was arrested on a rape complaint, and the girl's mother was arrested on complaints of contributing to the delinquency of minors. The alleged victim and her two siblings, aged 10 and 12, were taken into DHS custody. The younger siblings reported that their mother tried to get them to drink liquor, but they refused.
Former Moore Christian Schools teacher Gregory Saul was arrested on several sex crime complaints after a girl told police that her 14-year-old friend was involved in a sexual relationship with Saul. Oklahoma City police arrested the former teacher on complaints of forcible oral sodomy, soliciting a minor child to participate in and distribute child pornography, and five counts of rape. Allegedly, Saul and the student were involved in a sexual relationship beginning in September 2011.
Continuing to make local headlines is the story of a McCloud elementary teacher and a former professor at Oklahoma Baptist University who allegedly created and distributed pornographic pictures of the elementary teacher's students. Retired OBU early childhood professor Gary Doby, 65, waived his extradition hearing. Doby is currently living in Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma authorities have until March 13 to pick him up. Doby and former McCloud teacher Kimberly Ann Crain, 48, are accused of conspiring to make and share sexually suggestive images of her students. Allegedly, Crain photographed girls in her second grade class at school and at her home and sent them to Doby. She is also accused of having her students Skype with Doby, whom she referred to as "Uncle G," during class.
In Oklahoma, no one under the age of 16 is legally capable of consent to sexual activity. Furthermore, Oklahoma law forbids a sexual relationship between a teacher and a student, even if the student is over the age of consent. Those facing rape charges as a result of accusations by a minor should immediately contact an experienced Oklahoma City sex crime defense lawyer as soon as possible for the protection of their civil and constitutional rights.
Man Sentenced for Federal Sex Crime against Oklahoma Boy
A California man convicted of a federal sex crime in Oklahoma was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison. John Kenneth Calderon Bastro, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City following his November plea of guilt to causing distribution of child pornography.
Bastro was accused of soliciting explicit images from a 10-year-old boy in western Oklahoma. In the case, Bastro offered the young boy video game cheat codes in exchange for graphic sexual photographs sent to the perpetrator via text messages. According to court testimony, Bastro and the victim met online playing a video game on XBox LIVE. Bastro invited the boy into a private chat where they exchanged phone numbers. The victim was offered 20 video game cheat codes if he would text explicit photos of himself to Bastro. The boy's mother became concerned and notified authorities after finding text messages from the out-of-state phone number on her child's cell phone.
Child pornography and computer sex crimes in Oklahoma are frequently prosecuted as federal sex offenses. Sexting, soliciting minors online, possession of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography are all sex offenses that are frequently perpetrated over the internet or mobile technology. Because these crimes take place online, they frequently occur across state lines, making federal charges almost inevitable.
Federal sex crimes in Oklahoma are prosecuted by U.S. District Attorneys, presided over by a federal judge in one of Oklahoma's three U.S. District Courts, and defended by Oklahoma federal criminal defense attorneys. The U.S. District Courts and locations in Oklahoma include:
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Oklahoma in Tulsa
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee
The prosecution in a federal case is often supported by investigation conducted by specialized government agencies such as the FBI, ATF, and DEA. Sentencing in federal court is often much more stringent than sentencing by the local courts, with prison sentences to be served in federal penitentiaries rather than state prisons. For these reasons, it is imperative that anyone charged with federal sex offense obtain legal representation from an Oklahoma defense lawyer who is also an experienced federal sex crime defense attorney.
If you have been charged with a federal offense in Oklahoma's Western District following an accusation of child pornography, internet sex crimes, or other federal sex crimes, contact the law firm of Phillips & Bailey for a consultation with a federal sex crime defense lawyer in Oklahoma City.
Spanish Teacher Arrested on Oklahoma City Rape Complaints
A Spanish teacher at Putnam City High School was arrested earlier this week following allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student. Lisa Kays, 46, was booked into jail on Monday on five complaints of rape and forcible oral sodomy in Oklahoma County. She was released on bail the same day. Though the alleged victim was above the age of consent in Oklahoma, it is important to remember that Oklahoma sex crime laws criminalize a relationship between a student and a teacher, administrator, or employee of the school district.
Putnam City Schools campus police were informed of the alleged relationship between Kays and her student when an anonymous tipster sent an email through a program designed to allow individuals to report safety concerns and criminal actions relating to the district's students and employees. After the tip was received on February 7, campus police spoke with the alleged victim and his parents. Initially, the student denied the allegations, saying that, though he had a close relationship with his teacher, so did several other students. After further interviews, however, the student claimed to have had a sexual relationship with the teacher, taking place both on campus and off campus. Interviews with other students seemed to confirm a relationship between the teacher and her student.
Lisa Kays's husband filed for divorce less than three weeks before the anonymous tip was sent to campus police.
Kays is currently on paid administrative leave pending the investigation of allegations of sex abuse. It is always important to remember that any person accused of a sex crime in Oklahoma is to be considered innocent unless he or she is proven guilty. In this case, an Oklahoma City rape defense lawyer may be able to demonstrate that the evidence thus far is based on word of mouth: an anonymous tip, an alleged victim whose story changed after repeated interviews, and the gossip of teenagers at the school. The prosecution may be further complicated by the divorce filing. In some cases, sexual misconduct is falsely alleged to gain the upper hand in divorce proceedings or to seek vengeance in a bitter dispute.
In earlier times, it seemed that sexual relationships or sexual abuse between teachers and students generally dealt with a male perpetrator. Since Mary Kay Letourneau made headlines in 1997 for her relationship with sixth-grade student Vili Fualaau, more and more female teachers have been accused of sexual relationships with students. Sex crime defense attorneys in Oklahoma City and across the nation are seeing more and more women accused of sex crimes against minors. Those accused should seek immediate legal counsel from an experienced attorney to preserve their rights during an investigation and trial.
Charges Mount Against Oklahoma City Criminal Attorney
The Oklahoma City criminal defense attorney charged with helping her boyfriend escape from prison faces additional charges after being arrested for drug possession at a local truck stop. Amy McTeer, 40, of Nichols Hills, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication early Monday morning after she flagged down a Guthrie police officer outside a Love's truck stop, telling him she needed a ride home.
According to police, McTeer was "delirious and unable to perform any simple tasks" at the time of her arrest. She told police that she met an unidentified man at a different Oklahoma City truck stop and that he asked her to travel out of state with him. She claimed that while they were riding in his truck and smoking, he must have "slipped something into her [glass] pipe." McTeer was found to have a pipe containing a white substance in her pocket at the time of her arrest. She is expected to be charged with felony drug possession and two additional misdemeanor offenses in Logan County.
McTeer, an Oklahoma defense lawyer, first made headlines when she was charged with helping her boyfriend, a former client, escape from the Union City Community Corrections Facility in Canadian County. McTeer represented Roy G. Kuykendall, 35, in 2008 when he was charged with possession of methamphetamine while on probation. After Kuykendall escaped from the correctional facility, McTeer was charged with assisting a prisoner escape in Canadian County and with harboring a fugitive in Oklahoma County.
McTeer was also charged with child endangerment earlier this year after she was arrested for filing a false police report and child endangerment in late December 2011. In that case, McTeer allegedly called police to report a home invasion. When police arrived, they found no evidence of forced entry, but found McTeer to be under the influence of crystal meth while caring for several children.
Amy McTeer is facing the suspension of her license to practice law as a result of the criminal charges she faces. The Oklahoma Bar Association has filed a request with the Oklahoma Supreme Court to immediately suspend her law license. McTeer filed a continuance in that case after her own attorney quit.
Ms. McTeer's legal troubles show that no one is immune to the damaging effects of dangerous drugs like methamphetamine. Oklahoma is notorious for its high use of meth, and the case of the Nichols Hills attorney demonstrates just how ruinous meth can be. Once a young criminal defense lawyer in Oklahoma City, McTeer is now a criminal defendant in multiple cases, and she is facing the likely loss of her license to practice law in Oklahoma.
Facing drug charges is a serious matter in Oklahoma. If you have been charged with drug possession or other drug crime, contact an Oklahoma City drug crimes defense lawyer for help.
High Profile Oklahoma DUI Arrests Show No Immunity
Oklahoma DUI lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs. While some people may carry a stereotypical view of an intoxicated driver, the truth is that anyone who drinks and takes the wheel may be charged with DUI or other alcohol related traffic offense. From the college student partying with friends, to the shift worker hitting happy hour for a few beers, to an urban professional having cocktails during a business lunch, anyone who drinks and drives may find himself or herself charged with a criminal offense. Oklahoma DUI is not a crime that is only committed by alcoholics. It may be committed by any person who drives after drinking--frequently, a person who does not realize how few drinks it can take to put one's blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit. In fact, underage drivers can be charged with DUI under 21 with a BAC as low as o.02.
Three Oklahoma DUI arrests in the past week show that DUI is a crime that can affect anyone, including an Oklahoma City councilman, a former assistant police chief, and the former president of a Christian university.
Last Friday, councilman Skip Kelly was arrested for DUI in Oklahoma City when police officers discovered him sitting in his damaged car. Allegedly, Kelly was intoxicated when his vehicle jumped a curb and hit a fire hydrant. Kelly, himself an Oklahoma City DUI attorney, told police that he was not drunk and that he had consumed only a glass of wine before driving. He claims his accident was caused when he took evasive action to avoid a vehicle that almost collided with him. He refused to submit to a breathalyzer test. If Kelly is convicted of DUI, it will be his second Oklahoma DUI conviction within three years. As a second DUI offense, the crime will be charged as a felony, with Kelly facing a fine of up to $2,500 and a maximum of five years in jail. If he is convicted of a felony, he will also be required to forfeit his position as a member of the Oklahoma City Council.
In a separate DUI case, a former assistant police chief with the Moore Police Department was arrested on an Oklahoma County DUI complaint on Saturday afternoon. According to the arresting officer, Gary Wayne Tipps, 55, exhibited slurred speech and poor balance when he was pulled over. Inside the vehicle were a loaded handgun and a cup containing a substance that "smelled like whiskey." Tipps was reported to be belligerent when arrested, kicking out a window of the police car and spitting on a jailer. In addition to DUI, Tipps has been charged with destruction of property, possessing a firearm while under the influence, and throwing bodily fluids on a government employee.
On Tuesday, former Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts was arrested for speeding and DUI near Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was allegedly clocked travelling at 93 mph in a 65 mph zone. When Roberts was pulled over, the arresting officer claimed to smell alcohol and said that Roberts was unable to perform two field sobriety tests to check coordination. A blood alcohol analysis revealed his BAC to be 0.11.
Anyone who consumes alcohol prior to driving may find himself or herself charged with DUI. Not every DUI arrest comes from erratic driving or from a motor vehicle accident. More commonly, a person may be pulled over for a minor infraction, such as a rolling stop, turning into the far lane, or a burned-out headlight. If, during the traffic stop, an officer suspects the driver may be intoxicated, a DUI arrest may occur. Those arrested for DUI should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Oklahoma DUI lawyer.