Alleged Illegal Gambling Scandal
One suspect pleads guilty
CHICKASHA — The courtroom circus is over for one of the defendants in the Elks Lodge gambling case, after pleading guilty to a felony charge.
Former Chickasha Lt. Jerry Don Tyler, who has appeared this week in district court along side Sheriff Kieran McMullen, former Chickasha Sgt. Helen McMullen, and Deputy Robert Cacy, pled guilty Friday afternoon to the felony charge of peace officer engaged in illegal gambling.
Tyler also pled guilty to the misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty.
“Jerry Tyler is not a bad guy. He was a police officer who made some mistakes,” District Attorney Bret Burns said. “He pled guilty to the Felony crime of being a police officer engaging in illegal gambling and to the Misdemeanor crime of neglecting his duty of office. He has accepted responsibility, had some consequences and can now go on with the rest of his life.”
The former Chickasha officer pled guilty directly after the lunch break in front of Special District Judge Ken Harris.
That morning, the prosecution had elicited testimony from co-defendant and fellow former Chickasha Officer Greg Parks.
Parks had testified that he had seen Tyler both playing the machines at the lodge and receiving payouts for his winnings.
In his plea, Tyler admits to illegal gambling at the lodge. He also testified that the defendant Helen McMullen had asked him to retrieve a copy of a phone call made to dispatch concerning Officer Greg Parks allegedly driving intoxicated away from the lodge.
Tyler stated he held onto the tape for a week before Helen McMullen came to retrieve it.
When asked if he knew the tape was to be used in proceedings at the Elks Lodge to suspend a member, Tyler stated he did not. He said he knew that Helen McMullen was going to have her husband, a Trustee at the Elks Lodge, review the tape, but he did not know any other plans.
“With his guilty plea, he cannot be a police officer anymore,” Burns said. “I respect someone who can step up to the plate and accept responsibility for what they have done wrong.”
Tyler received a one-year deferred sentence for the felony charge and a one-year suspended sentence on the misdemeanor charge.
The nature of the charges also require Tyler to give up his CLEET certification, preventing him from being a peace officer.
- Alleged Illegal Gambling Scandal
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- Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose A District Judge has thrown out the cases of two suspects in the Elks Lodge alleged gambling case.
- Motions filed in Elks gambling case The attorney for Sheriff Kieran McMullen has filed two objections in the ongoing gambling case.
- Sheriff to face trial on felony charge Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen was bound over for trial on one felony and two misdemeanor charges Tuesday.
- Bound over Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen did not get his day in court on Friday, as his attorney, David Autry, was reportedly tied up in court in Oklahoma City. That did not prevent Special District Judge Ken Harris from listening to the rest of the evidence against former Chickasha Officer Helen McMullen and Deputy Robert Cacy, co-defendants in the case involving alleged gambling at the Elks Lodge.
- Another delay The preliminary hearing for Sheriff Kieran McMullen will now stretch into its third month.
- One suspect pleads guilty The courtroom circus is over for one of the defendants in the Elks Lodge gambling case, after pleading guilty to a felony charge.
- Loophole tightens into a noose The same loophole used to protect Attorney Steve Buzin’s client from self-incriminating statements, forced him to testify Friday.
- Testimony continues in gambling case Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen spent the day in District Court Wednesday, the second day of his preliminary hearing.
- Sheriff’s hearing resumes Wednesday Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen back in the courtroom Wednesday.
- Loophole upheld District Attorney Bret Burns will have to take his battle to a higher court in an attempt to charge a local deputy with gambling.
- More Alleged Illegal Gambling Scandal Headlines
