Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen said it was on the advice of his attorney that he reconsidered his decision to step down at this time.
“With the DA calling for a special audit, my attorney advised me to stay put, so here I am,” said McMullen. “I never got the opportunity to turn in my retirement papers, they’re still here on my desk.”
McMullen first announced he would retire Monday and would be in Tuesday only to “grab my stuff.” Later Tuesday, he told an Oklahoma City television reporter he had some “loose ends to tie up and he would leave soon but “just not today.”
Then the story changed again Wednesday morning when he told a Chickasha radio station that he would be leaving by the end of the week.
By Wednesday afternoon, when he talked to the Express-Star he did not mention a departure date.
McMullen told Grady County Commissioner Jack Porter of his plans for retirement, but then called Porter back to say he would not step down until an exit audit was complete.
“It was my understanding that he (McMullen) would wait for the audit to be finished and then he would leave,” Porter said.
Porter also said that when McMullen does decide to step down, current Undersheriff Larry Crabb would automatically assume the position of sheriff. But, whether he would keep the position until January when the newly-elected sheriff will take over, Porter said “that’s something the board will have to address, but it is what we’ve done in the past.”
After the results of the November election are in and a new sheriff has been elected, the commissioners will have to decide whether he will take office immediately following the election or wait until January, 2009 to step in.
“I think we’ve done it both ways in the past,” said Porter. “It just depends on how much time is left.”
Republican Art Kell faces Democrat Austin Green in the Nov. 4 election to succeed McMullen, who captured only 25 percent of the vote in the July Republican primary.
As for McMullen’s retirement, Porter said, “I understand his thought process about this. I think he’s done a good job and I hate to see him go. But I understand what he’s going through, so if that’s best for him, then I understand totally.”
A hearing for McMullen and three others indicted in the illegal gambling raid at the Elks Lodge in 2006 is set for 2 p.m. Friday at the Grady County Courthouse. It is anticipated that McMullen, his wife Helen, and former deputies Robert Cacy and Delmer Barthelme will agree to a plea deal. Details of any plea arrangement have not been revealed.
Calls to McMullen’s attorney, David Autrey of Oklahoma City, went unanswered Wednesday afternoon.
District Attorney Bret Burns said he will have no comment on any plea deal or the special audit until they are completed.
Local News
McMullen: Lawyer told him to stay
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Food Bank initiates local drive against student hunger
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma invites Chickasha schools and students to participate in the sixth annual Students Against Hunger Food Drive.
Food and fund donations collected from the drive, which runs Sept. 27-Oct. 29, will benefit First Baptist Church in Chickasha.
“We have been low on food,” said one partner agency. “This food drive will help us serve those in need.” -
Homebuyers class on tap for Sept. 18
If you are thinking about purchasing a home in the near future, you will want to make plans to attend the Homebuyers Education class which will be held on September 18, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Grady County OSU Cooperative Extension Service Conference Room. To make a reservation for the class, please contact the Grady County OSU Cooperative Extension Service at 224-2216.
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Director: Prepare for flash floods
Grab the umbrella and stay tuned to weather alerts, Grady County is included in the flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service.
Moisture is streaming into the area courtesy of Tropical Storm Hermine, which is tracking through the state from Texas. Showers began Tuesday afternoon and are forecast to continue through Wednesday night. The NWS warned that some of the rainfall could be heavy. -
County agrees to pay tort claim
Questions linger after a 2-1 split vote by the Grady County Commissioners to pay a tort claim to the Town of Hinton.
The claim is a request for a law enforcement officer's salary in the amount of $7,700 paid by the Town of Hinton while the officer attended CLEET training. The officer resigned from the Hinton Police Department without completing the one-year employment requirement and was hired by the Grady County Sheriff's Department. The officer has since resigned from the sheriff's department, also. -
DOUGLAS EUGENE HENRY, SR.
Funeral services for Douglas Eugene Henry, Sr., of Chickasha, will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, in Epworth United Methodist Church.
Douglas Eugene Henry, Sr., was born May 30, 1939 in Chickasha to Joel and Lessie Inez (Parker) Henry. He passed away on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 ,in Oklahoma City, at 71.
He and Camelia Turnbow were married for 18 years, and later he married Alicia Malicoat Blair on June 12, 1986 in Chickasha. -
HIWANAH JOAN CASSMEYER WOOD
Funeral service for Hiwanah Joan Cassmeyer Wood, 70, of Rush Springs and formerly of Alex, were held at 1:30 p.m, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at the Main Street Church of Christ in Alex.
Hiwanah Joan Cassmeyer Wood was born May 6, 1940 at Alex. She was the daughter of Robert and Annie (Bedford) Stewart. She died Friday Sept. 3, 2010 in Duncan.
She married Anthony “Tony” Cassmeyer; he preceded her in death in 1974.
She later married Wylie Wood. Joan has lived in Rush Springs since 1982.
She was a member of the Alex Main Street Church of Christ.
Her parents and two daughters, Shirley Crosby and Becky Cassmeyer preceded her in death. Four brothers Buford, Leonard, Bobby Joe and Elmer Stewart also preceded her in death. -
ANNA MAE LARGENT
Funeral service for Anna Mae Largent, 33, of Chickasha, is pending with the McRay Funeral Home.
Anna Mae was born on Aug. 29, 1927.
She died on Sept. 7, 2010 in Chickasha. -
HASKELL CURTIS GREENROYD, SR.
Private services were held for Haskell Curtis Greenroyd, Sr., 93, of Minco.
Haskell was born Oct. 15, 1916, at Rush Springs to Sam and Jessie Mae (Taylor) Greenroyd.
He died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Grady Memorial Hospital in Chickasha. Haskell lived in Minco most all of his life.
He served in the United States Army during WWII.
Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home Minco. -
MARLIN EUGENE LAURENS, SR.
Marlin Eugene Laurens, Sr., was born on May 7, 1943 in Snyder Texas. He was the son of Charles and Gussie (Pete) Laurens. He went home on July 24, 2010. He and Linda (Jones) was married August 3, 1963 in Tijuana, Mexico. He was widowed, then he and Jeanne married November 15, 1997. Marlin was a retired truck driver. He enjoyed cooking and family. He lived in Chickahsa off and on for 40 plus years.
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ROSA NUCKOLS/ GUFFEE
Rosa Nuckols/Guffee, 49, left this earth for her heavenly home on September 3, 2010, after loosing her battle with cancer. Rosa was born on March 28, 1961, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to the parents of Calvin and Inez Guffee.
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Food Bank initiates local drive against student hunger
