Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Own In Focus: HB 2946 Hopes To Lengthen Time Served For Criminals
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
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.
“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.
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
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Lawmakers are in session until May.
ICE plans to sell or transfer $700m in empty warehouses
US Immigration & Customs Enforcement is reportedly planning to sell or transfer seven unused warehouse facilities that were purchased as part of a major immigrant detention expansion effort.
unbranded – Newsworthy
President Donald Trump announced June 27 he would nominate Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to serve as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“The Senate must CONFIRM Lance, IMMEDIATELY — Do not delay,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, calling Schroyer a “patriot” and asserting he would help carry out Trump’s broader immigration push to detain and deport individuals the administration describes as serious criminal offenders.
The move to fill the position comes months after Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE who oversaw immigration enforcement crackdowns linked to killings in Minnesota and Illinois, resigned as acting director at the end of May.
Schroyer has over 29 years in law enforcement in Oklahoma and is a U.S. Marine, Trump said. Most recently, Schroyer’s spearheaded federal-local immigration enforcement partnerships with ICE, including a program that allows state and local agencies to assist federal immigration authorities.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also praised the selection, saying Schroyer’s background positions him to advance the administration’s immigration enforcement goals and called on the Senate to act quickly to confirm him.
Who is Lance Schroyer?
Schroyer currently serves as senior adviser to the Department of Homeland Security, where he helps coordinate immigration enforcement strategy and interagency cooperation among federal, state and local partners, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
He previously served as a major with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, overseeing emergency and special operations units that handled disaster response, civil disturbance planning, abducted child recovery efforts and tactical operations.
ICE leadership vacancy and broader enforcement debate
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since early 2017 and has largely been led by acting officials.
The nomination comes as the agency continues to play a central role in Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. The Trump administration has expanded detention and deporation efforts as part of the president’s goals to crack down on people entering the country illegally. Immigration rights groups have raised concerns about civil liberties and detention conditions. ICE has faced scrutiny over enforcement actions and deaths in custody, including incidents that have prompted protests and public debate.
ICE’s detention strategies continue to evolve, including adjustments to how custody facilities are planned and utilized. At the same time, immigration enforcement officers are being deployed in more states, pointing to a wider national presence as part of the administration’s enforcement efforts.
Contributing: Reuters
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
Nowata County Emergency Management is urging motorists to avoid several roads across the county as flooding continues following recent heavy rainfall.
Officials reported water over a bridge on County Road 408 south of Road 2, between Roads 2 and 3.
Roads to Avoid
Emergency management officials issued the following road advisories:
- Road 21 between Roads 420 and 419
- Road 419 north of U.S. Highway 60
- Road 420 between Roads 27 and 28
- Road 27 west of Road 421 near Panther Creek
Officials say these roads should be avoided because of flooding.
Road 2 Closed
Emergency management also announced that Road 2 (EW 2) is closed.
Officials said some areas of the roadway have approximately 12 inches of standing water.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid flooded roadways and seek alternate routes until water recedes.
Resources at Oklahoma City’s Animal Welfare are stretched thin after taking in more than 500 animals in an emergency rescue. Police arrested four people and saved the animals on Thursday in a methamphetamine bust at a home near southeast 15th and High Avenue.
FIRST REPORTED: Four arrested after 30 pounds of meth, hundreds of animals seized from Oklahoma City home
Oklahoma City’s Development Services Director Brock Rowe answered questions about the largest animal seizure in the city’s history.
How many animals were rescued and what species were found?
Animal control officers rescued 523 animals. There were about 470 ducks, chickens, pigeons, and peacocks gathered from the property. Officers took 49 dogs, an unspecified number of cats, one horse, and reptiles.
What is the latest on the animals’ health and condition?
The animals were “taken care of pretty good” and did not appear to be severely abused of malnourished. The situation is believed to be animal hoarding, meaning there were simply too many animals on the property. Staff worked overnight to ensure the animals have food, clean water, bedding and proper car.
What resources is the shelter using to care for so many animals?
The shelter is using temporary crates, kennels, and indoor spaces to accommodate the overflow, especially for birds, while larger animals like the horse are kept outside. Animal welfare officials are reaching out to local partners and organizations that specialize in livestock and birds to help house and care for some of the animals. The shelter is running a “name your price” adoption event to quickly move existing animals out and free up space.
Are the animals considered evidence, and when could they become available for adoption or transfer?
The animals are currently on hold as evidence, and adoption or transfer will only happen after the legal process determines when they can be released.
What is the status of the criminal investigation, and are additional charges expected?
Police arrested four men on drug trafficking complaints during the warrant search. No word if the men will face charges for the animals.
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