ATOKA — Two Kiamichi Technology Center employees are accused of using state computers and printers to illegally print campaign materials in an indictment unsealed Thursday.
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Machele Leigh "Shelly” Callicoat, 37, and Rebecca Ann "Becky” Ward, 33, are charged in the six-count felony indictment issued June 28 by the state's multicounty grand jury and opened Thursday in Atoka County District Court.
Callicoat is an instructor at Kiamichi's Atoka campus and Ward is its student services/adult coordinator.
"The grand jurors allege these employees used their state computer equipment to print campaign material for (Kiamichi) school board member Norman Ranger,” said Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, whose office administers the multicounty grand jury.
"Their actions included asking other staff members to change the ink cartridges on the school's color printers, and then distributing the printed material during work hours in an effort to help Mr. Ranger's candidacy,” Edmondson said. "The alleged value of the printed material is in excess of $500.”
The indictment alleges campaign materials were illegally printed in January and February and included a color brochure and business card-size ads for Norman Ranger. Ann "Becky” Ward, 33, and Machele Leigh "Shelly” Callicoat, 37, are charged with conspiracy against the state, commission of a computer crime and embezzlement. Ward, alone, is charged in three more computer counts. They were released Thursday on their own recognizance. Callicoat's attorney, Warren Gotcher, declined comment.
