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Larry Jones OK’d hidden mikes, Oklahoma City police told
BY NOLAN CLAY | Modified: October 31, 2009 at 10:18 pm
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Published: November 1, 2009
Oklahoman
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Copyright © 2009 The Oklahoman
Police have been told Feed The Children founder
Larry Jones authorized putting hidden microphones in the offices of three top executives,
The Oklahoman has learned.
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Oklahoma law makes it a felony to willfully use or endeavor to use an electronic device "to intercept any oral communication.” It also is illegal to procure someone else to do it or endeavor to do it. Punishment is up to five years in prison and at least a $5,000 fine.
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Jones told others his actions weren’t illegal.
Oklahoma City police became involved Aug. 19 after a private investigator found "remnants of wiretapping devices” in the ceilings of three offices, a police report shows. The private investigator was hired by the charity to sweep for electronic "bugging” devices at the Oklahoma City headquarters.
A police inspector met with Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and his top assistant, Scott Rowland, on Wednesday. Prater said he has asked for further investigation "regarding specific issues.”
Jones and his attorneys declined comment.
At issue is whether Jones intended to record only his own conversations with the executives. In Oklahoma, secretly recording one’s own conversations is legal. Bugging offices to eavesdrop on others is illegal.
Jones has made the Christian relief organization recognized nationwide through his pleas in television commercials for funds to feed hungry children. The charity reports it collects more than $1 billion in donations a year.
The three executives are Jones’ daughter, Larri Sue Jones, general counsel; Travis Arnold, chief operating officer; and Christy Tharp, chief financialofficer.
Jones has been at odds with those executives and most of the charity’s board of directors over who was really in charge of the organization. Last December, Jones had the executives fired. A judge reinstated the executives months later.
Police were told Jones authorized bugging the executives’ offices after the judge gave the executives their jobs back.
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