Bubbaworld

On January 12, 2009 former Woodward County Sheriff Leslie Morton, shown above, appeared in Woodward County District Court for a preliminary hearing on 9 counts of embezzlement. It was alleged that Morton, while sheriff, used his county-issued vehicle and fuel card for personal use.

At that time, Morton entered a no contest plea to five of the embezzlement counts and as part of the plea deal, the state dropped the remaining four embezzlement counts.

At that hearing and in order to enter the no contest plea, Morton waived his right to a jury trial, was found mentally competent to do so, was advised of his rights and without admitting guilt Morton agreed to accept the punishment called for in the plea deal.

Under the terms of the plea deal with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, Morton received a one-year unsupervised deferred sentence, was ordered to pay $878.66 in restitution and was prohibited from seeking or accepting employment in law enforcement until after 3/27/09.

In addition, Morton was ordered to pay court costs and deferred fees.

On January 22, 2009, a mere ten days after cutting what some might consider a “sweetheart deal”, former Woodward County Sheriff Leslie Morton apparently decided that the deal wasn’t as sweet as he originally thought.

On that date, Morton filed a motion to withdraw his earlier no contest plea and restore his trial rights.

In March, Morton filed an application for count appointed counsel. After reviewing the application and hearing Morton’s testimony and state’s cross examination the judge denied Morton’s application for a free lawyer.

In May, a court hearing was set for June 4th on Morton’s motion to withdraw his no contest plea and restore his trial rights.

On June 4th, the hearing on Morton’s motion to withdraw and proceed to trial was heard and that motion was denied. At that time, counsel for Leslie Morton gave oral notice of intent to appeal.

Morton’s appeal was thereafter filed with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, where it is currently pending.

According to court records Morton, who was defeated in his 2008 bid for re-election, owed the State of Oklahoma $6204.00 in costs and fees as of 07/31/2009.

This post will be updated as new developments occur.