Local News
Accuser’s mother takes the stand
By ELLIS GOODWIN
Staff Writer
Several key witnesses sat on the stand Wednesday in the rape and maiming trial of a Chickasha man.
The accuser's mother, a jail-house informant, and an investigator testified against Terry Don Bumpus. Prosecutors focused on the maiming case on Tuesday, but they switched the focus to the rape charges on Wednesday.
Bumpus sat quietly and showed little emotion during the testimonies against him.
The accuser's mother took the stand first. She described what is alleged to have happened to her daughter on Sept. 23, 2008, and the pain it caused not only her daughter, but also her family.
Police and prosecution say Bumpus told a 15-year-old girl he was going to "break her like the other dogs" and then pushed her to the ground and burned her chest three times with a ring heated by a lighter.
Mother's
Testimony
The accuser's mother told jurors she did not notice any burns or physical trauma on her daughter the night in question, but she said she could tell something was wrong.
The mother said the accuser did not immediately go to her or the police for help. Eight days passed before she reported the crime to police, and four months passed before she said she had been raped.
The defense attorney Stacy L. Smith told jurors there is no physical evidence of a rape. He asked the mother what happened to the clothing worn by her daughter on Sept. 23, 2009. The mother said she thought the clothes had been thrown out, and by the time a report was filed with the police, it was too late to conduct a rape kit test.
"I never seen them again," the accuser's mother said, talking about the clothes her daughter wore that night.
Jessica Taylor, a forensic interviewer with the Mary Abbott Children's House in Norman, interviewed the accuser about the crime in January. Taylor has a degree in psychology and some 180 hours in child abuse and psychology training.
Taylor said the victim took months to report the rape because she felt ashamed. She was embarrassed and scared, but she felt she needed to tell the story, Taylor said.
During Taylor's testimony, she said the accuser told her that Bumpus and his friend Matthew Lane approached her from behind in Lane's orange truck. Taylor testified that Bumpus then reportedly began harassing the accuser, pushed her down and then pulled her toward him. Taylor said the accuser told her that Bumpus then heated his ring with a lighter, straddled her, and pressed it to her chest. Taylor testified that after burning the accuser, Bumpus began removing the accuser's clothes and then raped her.
Davis Testimony
One witness came forward from within the Grady County Jail Wednesday.
Jason Davis, 36, is in custody awaiting a felony trial for second-degree forgery. Davis was housed with Bumpus in the jail.
Davis told jurors that one day at the gym, Bumpus admitted the crime and described how it happened.
Davis was able to tell jurors the details of the case but would have had few, if any, chances to see Bumpus's case file.
Davis said Bumpus had told him what happened, but Bumpus believed he would get off because he threatened the accuser and an old man who supposedly saw the crime committed.
Davis does not have any plea deal with the district attorney. He said he came forward with the information because he felt Bumpus might commit a similar crime.
"I just did it so he won't get out and do it again," Davis told the court. "I know he will."
The defense alleged that Davis stole a look at Bumpus's case file while in jail and decided to create this story after the two men had a fight in jail. Davis denied the fight and any alligation that he has a deal or is looking for one.
Davis spoke confidently and directly. He glanced at Bumpus multiple times during his testimony, but Bumpus showed no signs of emotion.
The trial continues today and numerous witnesses must testify, including Bumpus.
Due to the lack of physical evidence, the case has become a matter of he said, she said. Bumpus has not been convicted of any similar crimes and is expected to call multiple witnesses who corroborate his alibi.
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What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
