There’s a bill making its way through the state House that would require anyone convicted of accessory to murder in the first or second degree to serve 85 percent of their prison sentence.
House Bill 2946 is named in honor of 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman. The pair were kidnapped from a home in Welch, Okla., in December 1999 and presumed killed.
State Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami) said he filed the bill because the man who pleaded guilty in their case, Ronnie Busick, was released after only a few years.
Related Story: ‘Let’s Get Something Done’: Senate Bill Filed In Honor Of Missing Welch Girls
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Bashore said, at the very least, the bill would ensure criminals like Busick would have to serve more of their actual time and not earn credits toward an early release.
The family of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman pushed for the bill.
Lauria and Ashley’s families say Busick’s early release was like a punch to the gut.
Lorene Bible has never given up fighting for her daughter, Lauria.
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“I started talking about her the minute she disappeared, and I’ve not stopped since,” Bible said.
Related Story: Family Furious After Man Convicted In Welch Girls’ Disappearance Gets Early Prison Release
She has no plans of stopping either, even after the only man convicted in her daughter’s case got out of prison early for what corrections officials call ‘good behavior.’
“When we found out that Ronnie Busick was getting released, that brought up another storm,” Bible said.
A storm they’ve lived through for 24 years.
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Lauria was at a sleepover with her friend Ashley in 1999 when the pair were kidnapped. The teens still haven’t been found.
“All that goes through my mind every day, 24 hours a day if she’s alive, is she eating? Is she cold? Is she freezing to death? How is she being treated,” Bible said.
Something else on her mind these days is making a bigger impact – a change to sentencing requirements. That’s what Lauria and Ashley’s Law would do.
Anyone convicted of accessory to murder in the first or second degree would have to serve 85 percent of their sentence. They also wouldn’t be able to earn any type of credit that would reduce their sentence below 85 percent.
Related Story: DA Calls For Change After Man Convicted In Disappearance Of Welch Girls Gets Early Prison Release
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“We’re out to make sure nothing like this can ever happen again to another family because it’s a nightmare,” Bible said.
Now that the bill has made it out of committee, it is ready for consideration by the full House. If passed, it would go into effect on Nov. 1.
Since Oklahoma became a state, there’s been a law in place to give prisoners credits that reduce their sentences, so they rarely serve their sentences in full.
Prisoners get credit for the time they spent in the county jail and once they get to prison, they get credits for taking classes, having a job, maintaining good hygiene, a clean cell and having a good attitude with staff and other prisoners.
Level 1 prisoners get zero credits. That’s people on death row or who have escaped.
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Most everyone starts at Level 2, earning 22 days of credit a month.
Level 3 earns 33 days a month.
Level 4, 44 days each month.
Enhanced Level 3 is 45 days and Enhanced Level 4 is 60 days credit for every 30 served.
So, if you’re on Level 2 and have a 10-year sentence, you’re released after 5.8 years.
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On the advanced level, for a 10-year sentence, you’re out in 3.5 years.
The Department of Corrections does not consider that early release. It considers it time served based on the law.
If a prisoner has infractions or breaks the rules, they can lose credit.
News On 6 did find some instances of light sentences for accessory.
Tyler Reece was charged with accessory to murder in Osage County in 2020 and pleaded guilty to accessory to a felony and was sentenced to one year in the county jail and 10 years of probation.
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Josiah Sklar was convicted of accessory after murder when a woman was beaten to death in Tulsa County in 2013.
He was given two years probation.
News On 6 found other sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years for accessory to murder.
The legislation at the center of our story has a long way to go before it’s law.
It now goes to the full House and if it passes there the legislation heads over to the Senate.
PFF notebook: What the numbers say about Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma
After defeating LSU on the road in Week 11, Alabama looked like a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff and had the inside track for the SEC Championship. However, two weeks later, the Crimson Tide’s momentum came to a halt as the 5-5 Oklahoma Sooners delivered a shocking 24-3 defeat in Norman, turning a trip to the Palace on the Prairie into a nightmare for Alabama.
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Alabama couldn’t find its footing in any way, shape or form. The Crimson Tide’s typically potent rushing attack was suffocated by a strong Oklahoma defense, while Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold carved up Alabama’s defense with his legs, delivering a standout performance that kept the Tide trailing the whole game. Even Alabama’s special teams had their blunders, with typically reliable punter James Burnip having several self-inflicted errors throughout the game.
“Extremely disappointed. Frustrated,” said Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. “We worked extremely hard, I thought, all week putting a plan together all week. Guys had good energy and were excited to come here on the road. We’ve just got to play better. We’ve got to be better.”
Before we turn the page to the now No. 13 Alabama’s matchup with Auburn in the Iron Bowl here’s a look at the Tide’s Week 13 performance through the lens of Pro Football Focus.
TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
(Player, position — offensive grade)
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Parker Brailsford, C — 70.5
The Washington transfer finished as the highest-graded offensive player in Alabama’s 21-point loss to Oklahoma. Among each offensive lineman who took at least one pass-blocking snap against the Sooners, Brailsford was the only one not to allow a pressure, although he did chart one penalty for the Crimson Tide.
Josh Cuevas, TE — 69.2
Cuevas finished with 40 receiving yards on two receptions, his second straight game hauling in two catches for at least 40 yards, helping him finish with a 71.6 receiving grade against Oklahoma. Unfortunately for the hybrid offensive piece, Cuevas allowed his first pressure of the season as a QB hit.
Jalen Milroe, QB — 67.7
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Although Milroe cracks into the top three, his placement here shows how abysmal Alabama’s offense was against the Sooners. Milroe’s grade was the second lowest of the season for the junior quarterback while simultaneously finishing with his lowest-graded rushing performance this year. In the passing attack, Milroe only charted one turnover-worthy play despite the career-high three interceptions.
Defense
(Player, position — defensive grade)
Tim Smith, DT — 82.5
The fifth-year defensive lineman was Alabama’s most consistent defender in the 24-3 loss to the Sooners, finishing with Alabama’s second-highest run defense grade, 78.0, and charting a lone pressure. Smith finished the day with four tackles on 38 snaps.
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DeVonta Smith — 74.1
Smith had a good game against the Sooners, totaling eight tackles and finishing with Alabama’s third-highest tackle rating (83.1). The defensive back allowed one reception for five yards in coverage,
Malachi Moore — 73.9
Alabama’s defensive leader, Moore, is set to play in his final regular season game for the Crimson Tide in the upcoming Iron Bowl, but had a solid performance in his final SEC road game. Moore finished the day with 10 tackles and a team-leading 74.7 grade in coverage.
Qua Russaw, OLB – 73.5
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Russaw lands in the top four with a consistent performance across the board. The redshirt freshman finished with four tackles and above a 70.0 grade in each overall defense, run defense tackling and coverage.
TOP BLOCKERS
Pass blocking
Jam Miller — 85.5 (10-pass-blocking-snaps)
Tyler Booker — 83.0 (34-pass-blocking-snaps)
Jaeden Roberts — 78.5 (24-pass-blocking-snaps)
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Parker Brailsford — 74.1 (24-pass-blocking-snaps)
Geno VnDeMark — 70.3 (10-pass-blocking-snaps)
Outlook: Alabama’s pass blocking finished with its second-lowest overall grade of the season, 59.0, only behind Alabama’s Week 8 loss to Tennesee. The Crimson Tide blockers allowed 12 pressures in total, with Elijah Pritchett allowing five; this was his fifth time of the season allowing at least three pressures in a game. The unit also totaled four penalties against the Sooners.
Run blocking
Kadyn Proctor — 67.7 (29-run-blocking-snaps)
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Parker Brailsford — 66.8 (29-run-blocking-snaps)
Jam Miller — 64.3 (12-run-blocking-snaps)
Outlook: Alabama’s run blocking also turned in its second-lowest grade of the season, 53.9. The Crimson Tide’s run game was abysmal against Oklahoma, only rushing for 70 yards on 30 attempts (2.3 yards per carry)
PASSING DEPTH
Jalen Milroe
Deep (20+ yards past LOS): 2 of 5 for 62 yards, 1 interception
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Medium (10-19 yards past LOS): 1 of 3 for 15 yards
Short (0-9 yards past LOS): 6 of 12 for 73 yards, 1 interception
Behind LOS: 2 of 4 for 14 yards, 1 interception
Ty Simpson
Behind LOS: 0 of 1
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Outlook: Jalen Milroe delivered his least efficient passing performance of the season against Oklahoma, finishing with an adjusted completion rate of 62.5% and recording his first turnover-worthy play in four games. Despite the interception, Milroe showed flashes in his deep passing game, logging two big-time throws and nearly a third, which was taken away by an illegal touching penalty on Alabama after Ryan Williams caught a fourth-quarter touchdown. Milroe’s passing in the short game was abysmal, finishing with a 50.2 grade on those passes, but three drops from his receivers also impacted his play in the range of the field.
Oklahoma City Thunder (13-4, first in the Western Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (12-4, second in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Golden State hosts Oklahoma City aiming to extend its five-game home winning streak.
The Warriors are 9-3 against Western Conference opponents. Golden State is second in the Western Conference scoring 117.6 points while shooting 46.5% from the field.
The Thunder are 10-4 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City averages 115.2 points while outscoring opponents by 11.3 points per game.
The 117.6 points per game the Warriors average are 13.7 more points than the Thunder give up (103.9). The Thunder are shooting 46.2% from the field, 3.3% higher than the 42.9% the Warriors’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Draymond Green is shooting 43.1% and averaging 8.7 points for the Warriors.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 29.2 points per game and averaging 5.1 rebounds for the Thunder.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 115.5 points, 50.1 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.
Thunder: 6-4, averaging 116.5 points, 40.8 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 11.3 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga: out (illness), De’Anthony Melton: out for season (acl).
Thunder: Chet Holmgren: out (hip), Ousmane Dieng: out (finger), Jaylin Williams: out (hamstring), Nikola Topic: out for season (acl), Alex Caruso: out (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yvonne Kauger’s interpretation of the law and the paths she’s blazed outside the courtroom have shaped the foundation of Oklahoma’s justice system for decades.
When the 87-year-old retires Dec. 1, she’ll collectively be the longest serving Oklahoma Supreme Court justice and staff attorney.
She’ll also be the first Oklahoma Supreme Court justice in state history to not be retained by voters following a dark money campaign that targeted her as a liberal judge and as being too old.
But being first isn’t new to Kauger.
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She was the first female staff attorney at the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Gov. George Nigh appointed her to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 1984, two years after he appointed the first female justice, the late Alma Wilson.
Kauger has spent 52 years working for the state’s highest court as either a judge or staff attorney.
Cases before the court ranged from the constitutionality of laws, taxes, abortion access and tribal issues, to name a few.
The same year as her appointment to the bench, she was adopted by the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma on sacred tribal ground in Colony. Her family has deep ties to the tribe.
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“It’s more of an honorary position, but I was the first person since statehood to be adopted by the Cheyenne Arapaho,” Kauger said.
Kauger has no Native American blood, but always wanted to be an Indian, she said.
In 1987, she co-founded Red Earth, which features Native American culture, art and dancers.
The following year, she founded the Sovereignty Symposium. The national legal conference held in Oklahoma City educates people about tribal sovereignty and government.
She is known for asking tough and direct questions from those who appeared before the court during oral arguments and not letting attorneys off easy when they can’t answer.
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Former Oklahoma Chief Justice Steven Taylor introduced her when she was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
“No living Oklahoman has influenced the course of the law in our state more than Justice Yvonne Kauger,” Taylor said.
He said she guards the institutional foundation of the state’s highest court.
Chief Justice M. John Kane IV said he will be sad to lose her as a colleague.
“Her toughness, her kindness, her vision have been an institution in our court for my entire career,” said Kane, who was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2019.
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Kauger has vivid and mostly fond memories of her childhood in Colony and young adult years. She played basketball in high school. She still has the faded newspapers showing her modeling the latest fashions when she was younger. She lost her sister in a plane crash as a young adult.
Kauger put herself through the Oklahoma City University School of Law, graduating first in her class in 1969.
She was instrumental in creating the online case tracking system for the state’s courts and transforming the old Wiley Post building that then housed the Oklahoma Historical Society into the Judicial Center.
Not being retained has advantages for Kauger, who plans to write at least two books and start a docent program for the Judicial Center, where she was instrumental in picking out the artwork.
“This is the most wonderful building and has one of the best Indian art collections,” said Kauger, who can see the state’s court building from her nearby home across the street from the Capitol. “We’ve told the history of the state through the art.”
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Her Taos Pueblo-style home, including the garage, is filled with art, whether it is paintings or sculptures. She is also an artist.
“I call it a new beginning,” Kauger said. “That iron curtain has dropped. I don’t bear a grudge. Sometimes I think it’s serendipitous because I probably would have never quit.”
Kauger has a tradition.
After every retention ballot, she purchases something for herself.
After one retention election, it was living room furniture. One year it was a car. This year, it was a zero-gravity heat massage chair.
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Kauger said she has no regrets about anything she has done. She said the job of the court is to follow the law based on the facts, regardless of what some might believe.
“Do right. Fear not,” is a motto she lives by.
Despite racking up an impressive list of firsts, honors and awards, Kauger said that is not her legacy.
“My legacy is my family,” she said, referring to daughter Jonna Kirschner, two grandchildren and a great grandson.
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