Richard Gray Wins By TKO
Richard Gray, former District Attorney for Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties, has beaten the State of Oklahoma at trial on allegations that he embezzled almost $9,000 in seized drug money.
Okmulgee County District Judge Michael Claver, appointed to hear the case against the former district attorney, handed Gray a technical knock out when he dismissed the charges citing concerns he had with the chain of custody involving $9,000 in money seized during drug busts and saying he did not think the state had met its burden of proof.
The action by Judge Claver means that not only does Richard Gray escape trial, it also means that the state won’t be able to refile charges against Gray, who is basically “home free” after being indicted by Oklahoma’s multi-county grand jury.
Judge Claver handed down his ruling after the prosecution concluded its case. The judge indicated that in his 13 years on the bench this was the first time he had yanked a case away from a jury but went on to state that he felt the jury would have come to the same conclusion.
After the ruling Gray indicated that he will begin rebuilding his reputation and does not rule out another run for political office, which in and of itself is a frightening thought for this writer…
