Former Sheriff Mike Burgess Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Inmates

FAIRVIEW

A Major County jury on Saturday convicted former Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess on multiple counts of sexually abusing inmates and defendants in a county drug court program.

The jury convicted Burgess on 13 felony counts, including five counts of second-degree rape, and recommended he serve 94 years in prison.

The 56-year-old former lawman initially was charged with 36 felony counts, but the jury acquitted him on 23.

"I didn't think he was guilty of anything," said Burgess' attorney, Steve Huddleston. He said he expects Burgess will appeal the convictions.

Huddleston maintained the accusers were either lying or that the sex between Burgess and the women was consensual. Under state law, an inmate cannot legally consent to sexual relations with a jailer or anyone else who controls the conditions of the prisoner's confinement.

Jury Deliberations Begin for Former Sheriff Mike Burgess

Fairview, Oklahoma

Jury deliberations began this afternoon in the trial of former Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess, who is accused of using his power over inmates and drug court defendants to force them to have sex with him.

Deliberations began about 4:30 p.m. In closing arguments, a prosecutor said Burgess' position as a member of a team controlling a drug court put him in position to sexually coerce defendants.

A defense attorney says the accusers are either lying for financial gain in civil litigation, or the sex was consensual.

Burgess has pleaded not guilty to 36 charges of rape, rape by instrumentation, kidnapping, sexual battery and oral sodomy

UPDATE: Former Sheriff Mike Burgess Pleads Not Guilty

Former Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess has pleaded not guilty to 36 charges of forcing female inmates to provide sexual favors.

Burgess entered the plea during arraignment Tuesday in Major County District Court where the hearing was held to accommodate the judge.

Burgess faces charges of rape, rape by instrumentation, kidnapping, sexual battery and oral sodomy of female drug court participants.

Several women testified during a preliminary hearing they were afraid they'd be sent to prison if they didn't give in to Burgess' sex demands.

Trial is set for Dec. 1 in Custer County but defense attorney Steve Huddleston says he'll decide within two weeks whether to ask for a change of venue.

Sheriff Mike Burgess Hearing has Started

A preliminary hearing is under way in Arapaho for a former sheriff accused of running a sex slave operation at the Custer County jail.

Former Sheriff Mike Burgess is charged with 35 felonies including second-degree rape, forcible oral sodomy and bribery.

Former deputy Jennifer Tyler testified today that Burgess groped her several times including before her first day on the job.

Tyler also said Burgess had inappropriate sexual contact with women he oversaw in the county's drug court program.

Prosecutors are also expected to present allegations made in a federal lawsuit by 12 former inmates who say they were forced into wet T-short contests and offered cigarettes for exposing their breasts.

It also claims Burgess told a drug court participant he would have her sent to prison if she didn't agree to his sexual demands.

His attorney says Burgess is eager to get to court and clear his name.

Burgess resigned in April and faces up to 467 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Oklahoma Sheriff Michael Burgess Ran Sex Slave operation From Jail

An Apapaho, Oklahoma Sherriff resigned after an investigation revealed he was running a sex-slave operation from the jail he where he was suppose to be helping individuals straighten out their lives.

Sherriff Burgess resigned after posting a bond Wednesday night. He has been charged with 35 felony counts, including accusations of forcible oral sodomy, kidnapping, rape, perjury, bribery of a public official, indecent exposure, 14 counts of rape in the second degree and rape by instrumentation. Investigators said at one time, Sherriff Burgess oversaw wet T-shirt contests at the Custer County Jail.
(Why does this shit surprise people. It happens all the time, but people are ignorant believing that it doesn’t go on. It does happen people, and it needs to be stopped!)

The Texas County district attorney started looking into Burgess in May 2007 when a participant in the Washita-Custer County drug court program told investigators that Burgess made her have sex with him on a threat of sending her to prison. Because of a conflict of interest, Custer County prosecutors handed the case to Texas County authorities.

According to an affidavit signed by District Attorney James Boring, Burgess compelled a Weatherford woman to travel to Oklahoma City and meet him at the Biltmore Hotel for sex in April 2006. The same woman had sex with Burgess under duress at a Clinton truck stop parking lot and at her home.

Once the investigation of Burgess got going, the former sheriff is accused of having another woman go to the alleged victim's home in Weatherford to remove incriminating evidence against him in exchange for securing her brother's release from prison.

Other accusations outlined in the affidavit include testimony from a former sheriff's deputy, who said Burgess groped her between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, 2005. Burgess also allegedly forced a drug-court probation violator to perform oral sex on him in his county vehicle.

Perjury charges stem from an incident in which Burgess allegedly helped a Custer County woman falsify and secure a protective order against another man. The affidavit states that Burgess directed and coached the woman "as to facts she was to present and which she in fact testified to under oath" with regard to the protective order.

Burgess had been sheriff in Custer County since 1994, and these accusations have the entire region talking. Residents said that if the accusations turn out to be true, it sends a bad message.

"That you can't really trust anybody no matter if they're in power because people in power abuse their power," said Kim Whiteshirt.

If convicted on all counts, Burgess could face a sentence of up to 467 years in prison.
(And I hope the bitch gets raped everyday!!)