Trial of Debbe Leftwich, Randy Terrill, former Oklahoma lawmakers, to advance after delay
After a year on hold, a bribery case against two former Oklahoma legislators soon will move forward to trial.
After a year on hold, a bribery case against two former legislators soon will move forward to trial.
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals heard arguments Thursday on whether prosecutors can add a conspiracy count to the bribery case against former state Rep. Randy Terrill and former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich.
“An opinion will follow in due course,” Presiding Judge Arlene Johnson said at the end of a hearing that lasted about 45 minutes.
The prosecution of the case has been on hold because of the legal issue.
The appeals court is expected to rule against prosecutors, meaning the trial next year will center only on the bribery charge.
“Complex murder cases are handled in less time than this,” Terrill told news reporters after the hearing Thursday.
Terrill, 43, of Moore, is charged with offering a bribe to a candidate to withdraw. Leftwich, 61, of Oklahoma City, is charged with soliciting and/or accepting a bribe to withdraw.
Prosecutors filed the bribery case in Oklahoma County District Court on Dec. 22, 2010.
Prosecutors at a preliminary hearing last year sought to add the conspiracy count to the felony case. Special Judge Stephen Alcorn in November 2011 ruled there was insufficient evidence to support a conspiracy count. The special judge did rule prosecutors had enough evidence for a bribery trial.
A district judge in December 2011 upheld the special judge’s ruling against the conspiracy count. Prosecutors then went to the Court of Criminal Appeals.
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