NORMAN — A Cleveland County assistant district attorney who initiated a policy that denied public access to mug shots from the county jail is no longer working in the office.
County Commissioner Rod Cleveland said he learned about David Batton's employment status from the county's top prosecutor.
Cleveland said District Attorney Greg Mashburn called him at the end of last week and gave him the news. Batton had worked closely with the county's three commissioners as a legal adviser.
“Greg called me on Friday and said he had let Dave go,” Cleveland said. “He didn't elaborate, and I didn't press it.”
Cleveland said he was told by workers who were present that Batton had to be escorted from the county's office building.
The Cleveland County district attorney's office has said little about the circumstances of Batton's departure.
First Assistant District Attorney Mark Gibson confirmed only that Batton was no longer employed by the district attorney.“We cannot and will not comment on any circumstances surrounding Mr. Batton's no longer being with our office,” he said in an email.
