Sunday, March 24, 2019

Soft on Crime Legislation Passes Senate, SB 252 About to Strip Right to Bail and Worse

 
 
IN THIS ISSUE:
  
 
 
 
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
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An Example of Soft on Crime Bail Bond “Reform”
 
Meet Lisa Marie Webb, beneficiary of the soft on crime agenda. At the end of April of last year her Husband Michael Webb obtained a protective order after an altercation involving their kids, one of the grandmothers, and the couple. The emergency order was granted and on June 18th of that year Mr. Webb asked for the VPO to be dropped as he was trying to get along with the woman as they shared kids.
 
Not a smart move on his part, six days later he was refiling for a protective order. Lisa was stalking her soon to be ex husband, parking in his driveway, making phone calls and texts, even making veiled threats saying he might wake up dead. The VPO is granted but by January of this year Lisa Webb has refused to pay the approximately $360.00 in fines and fees so a warrant is issued for her arrest. She is arrested a few days later and let out on a PR bond, Personal Recognizance, the same thing as an OR or Own Recongnizance bond.
 
Around the sixth of July in 2018, the Mr. Webb files for divorce, which is granted in January of this year. But by August 29th of 2018 Lisa Webb has been bad, an arrest warrant for felony stalking has been issued. Lisa had been seen walking around Mr. Webb's home with a handgun after making threatening text messages. In fact, while the deputy was investigating the mother of Mr. Webb comes over with Lisa on the phone harassing the mother. A few days later Lisa Webb is out on bond. Yet a month later she is given a PR bond for some reason. She is declared indigent by the court and a public defender is appointed.  The most likely reason she went from paid professional bond to a PR bond is that someone told her she couldn't get a public defender if she paid professional bond.
 
Just a few weeks later on the 13th of September 2018 Lisa Webb is arrested with drug paraphernalia and once again is released on a PR bond. In February of this year she is declared indigent and a public defender appointed.
 
In October of 2018 Lisa Webb is again arrested for violating the protective order. She is let out on a PR bond about six days after she is jailed. At the end of November 2018 she is again arrested for violating the protective order and this time she spends 13 days in the McClain County Jail before she is let on on a PR bond. Then again on January 16th 2019 she was arrested again on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Again she is out on PR bond. This is her sixth PR bond in nearly as many months. But by the 23rd of that month she is arrested for failure to appear and is out again on her seventh PR bond.
 
This is important because in the next story you will see a long list of crimes that OR or PR bonds (same thing) are prohibited and on that list are stalking and violating a protective order. And despite the law we see a woman getting seven PR bonds in as many months.
 
Ask yourself if this woman would have continued to break the law had she been paying attorney retainers and bail bondsmen. Would she have straightened up if she had skin in the game, would Mr. Webb's family gone through months of harassment? Would Lisa Webb have thousands of dollars in court fees and fines racked up as a result of the eight arrests or VPO filings? And ask yourself as you read the next story about SB 252 if changing a law that isn't being followed anyway a good thing to do?
 
And the harassment?  It started once again on March 20th....chances are she will have her eight PR bond or she might just take a walk around Mr. Webb's house again.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Comrade Chris Kannady on Russian TV defending terrorists
 
Senator Thompson and Representative Kannady's
Soft on Crime Catch and Release Program
 
And no we are not talking about fishing. Thompson and Kannady's soft on crime legislation SB 252 will gut the professional bail bond industry, cost the state and local governments millions of dollars in new costs, and flood the streets with criminals of all levels by releasing them without bail. It already passed the Senate with a 40 to 8 vote.
 
We are asking everyone to call their state rep and state senator and ask them to fight against this law. The bill will have to make it through the House, into Conference Committee, then back to both chambers for a final vote. A literal legal reading of this law allows bail to be denied to anyone regardless of our Constitutional right to reasonable bail.
 
If this passes the house the legislation will make a number of changes to existing law:
 
Top of page two, when bail should and is denied, proof is required with clear and convincing evidence and that there must be no condition that would that would assure the defendants return to court, and that any risk to the community must be proven with clear and convincing evidence.
 
Right now there is a rebuttable presumption that no conditions of release would ensure the safety of the public and the return of the defendant to court if clear and convincing evidence is given by the prosecutors office. This bill removes that automatic safety to the public.
 
Under the new law bail cannot be set higher than what is required to assure the defendant will return to court and cannot be set so high that it results in the pre trial detention of the defendant. Courts will have to consider the ability of the defendant to pay and must set bail only if the defendant has the present ability to actually pay the bail. That means that a criminal can get out without any cash bond or a very low cash bond if he has no money in the bank or no job. Of course criminals won't admit to having any money....
 
If bail is denied for any reason the court has to now justify why, including a written determination supported by clear and convincing evidence that no condition of release would assure the criminal returns to face justice.
 
On page four the legislation strips the judge of refusing bail to defendants with a history of obeying court orders and inserts the word protective order, in effect a defendant with a history of refusing to show up for court will be released as long as they haven't disobeyed in protective orders. It also changes the height of the bar for those criminals that might be a danger to others, requiring a specific person be endangered if the criminal is released. The new law also strips the judge from considering any alcohol or drug abuse or dependency. Currently if the person was arrested for manufacturing drugs
or for possession of drugs, or if the person committed the crime in order to pay for or obtain drugs for their dependency bail can be denied. The new law literally strips the ability of the judge to deny bail to drug addicts that commit crimes to feed their drug habit.
 
Down on page 7 of the bill we find that an arrested criminal MUST be taken before a judge without delay and within 48 hours of their arrest, inclusive of weekends and holidays, meaning that the longest a criminal will spend behind bars is 48 hours or they are released without bond.
 
New sections are added that require a hearing immediately before the judge or be done within three to five days depending on which party requests a continence and that the state must provide an attorney to the defendant if he can't afford one (or says the same) and that the defendant gets to bring in witnesses and provide testimony and cross examine witnesses. Not only is a mini trial performed, the rules of evidence are relaxed meaning hearsay and evidence unsupported by a custody chain can be used. Normally prosecutors have months to prepare for trial after an arraignment, no more. Shotgun justice can be used by criminals.
 
On page eight the new law REQUIRES that all defendants be released without bail unless they are charged with a violent felony, violation of a protective order, has been charged with stalking, or has been charged with felony attempts to escape jail, prison, or custody. The exceptions other than the former are:
 
  • The OR (Own Recognizance) will not ensure the defendant will show up at court.
  • a previous record of disobeying court orders (but previous sections of the new law said only protective orders).
  • Other pending criminal cases before the court.
  • If the defendant might obstruct justice or threaten or intimidate witnesses or jurors.
  • If the person might engage in conduct that threatens others or himself (earlier removed from existing law)
 
Why strike these existing exceptions from law only to add them under conditions?
 
There are currently 39 crimes that are allowed no bail.
Aggravated DUI (over .15 blood alcohol) and felony DUI
Drug trafficking, if a defendant has a violent felony conviction in the last ten years, Appeal bonds
(after a conviction), arson, assault and battery on a police officer, bail jumping, bribery of a public
official, burglary, civil court contempt cases, distribution of illegal drugs, domestic abuse, DUI
where property damage or injury occurs, felony shooting from a vehicle, felony sex charges, fugitive
bond, immigration charges, kidnapping, juvenile or youthful offender detention, manslaughter,
manufacturing of controlled dangerous substances (drugs), first and second degree murder,
negligent homicide, out of county holds, defendants on pre trial release arrested on new charges,
possession of an explosive device, possession of class I and II dangerous controlled substances
(drugs), possession of a gun during a felony, possession of a stolen vehicle, first and second
degree rape, robbery by force or fear, robbery with a firearm or dangerous weapon, sexual assault
or violent offenses against children, shooting with intent to kill, stalking or violation of a protection
order, two or more felony convictions, and unauthorized use of a vehicle (basically a stolen car or
one taken by force or fear).
 
The problem of course is that few district courts follow the law and allow bail for many of these offenses especially in Oklahoma County where they make their own law.
 
On page twenty of this bill changes are made for bail jumpers. Currently bail jumpers on felony charges have five days after the date for forfeiture to turn themselves in or face a thousand dollar fine and a year in jail. This bill changes that to 30 days grace before criminal bail jumping charges are filed. If the bail was for a misdemeanor charge, current law is the same. This bill changes bail jumping on misdemeanor charges to six months and a $500.00 fine. It also adds exceptions for bail jumping on appeal bonds, remember that courts aren't supposed to give bonds after a conviction.
 
Currently bail bond is a Constitutionally protected right thanks to the U.S. Constitution. This bill strips that right and allows the courts broad discretion to give you bail or not. The Oklahoma Constitution also guarantees bail. People can put up the entire amount in cash with the Court Clerk, post property valued at that amount or greater as long as the bond is added to the property records at the County Clerk office, or people can hire a bondsman to loan them the money for the bond and pay usually a ten percent fee for the risk. OR bonds are allowed under current law, other than that list of 39 crimes posted above, if the judge prescribes conditions to ensure the defendant returns to court to face justice.

But all of this aside, does bail bond “reform” and allowing nearly everyone out of jail without bond work? This video says no, it doesn't work. The video goes over a study of why prisoners were in jail and studied those released on bail, OR releases or pre trial releases. The study found that most people in jail were in jail for serious crimes, 12% murder, rape, and robbery. 12% were there for drugs. Most had prior arrests, an average of 3.2 prior felony arrests and five misdemeanor arrests. Two thirds were released without bail, most of the rest that were released were on commercial bail. Around 15% failed to appear, 25% were rearrested on new crimes, 3% of those were violent crimes.
 
The study found that those that did not use commercial bail had twice as many arrests and convictions, with an average of six felony arrests and four failure to appears. Those out on commercial bail were 28% more likely to show up and 50% more likely to be caught if they didn't show up to court. This is because the bondsmen have bounty hunters looking for the bail jumpers to prevent them having to pay the forfeited bond money. Those that run on OR bonds or pre trial release programs only get caught when they are arrested for another crime or in a traffic stop.
 
Another study out of Florida shows that Florida jails did not have a languishing jail population full of misdemeanor crimes. The study covered 9300 cases from 29 counties across the state between October 1st of 2017 through September 30th 2018.
 
Under 2% were in jail because they couldn't afford commercial bail bond.
 
Sixty percent of those booked into jail were released within three days
 
66% were released within seven days.
 
The majority of the jail populations were serving misdemeanor sentences, on hold for probation, parole, pre trial violation, or transfer to another state or county. There were some in protective custody, immigration cases waiting to be sent to ICE, awaiting federal trial, convicted offenders awaiting transfer to state prisons, and yes, there were some that were in jail because a judge thought they were too dangerous to release on bond due to the gravity of the offense whether they could afford bail or not.
 
Many of these cases were murder, rape, domestic battery, human trafficking, and child related crimes.
 
Of the 9,300 cases, 40% were released on commercial bail bond, 15% were released on unsecured pre trial release programs, 17% were being held for another jail or state, and around 25% were in jail following their conviction and sentencing. Just under 2% were in jail due to the inability to pay commercial bail.
 
Now what that really means is that 2% had families and friends that refused to bond them out of jail if they couldn't afford to pay the bondsman. Usually because the families are sick of bonding out career criminals or drug addicts, sometimes they fear for their family member's safety and prefer them being in jail for safety reasons.
 
Six of the 29 counties in the study had a disproportionate share of inmates with prolonged stays due to pre trial detention and five of those six counties operated taxpayer funded pre trail release programs. In fact, 68% of these people were from the five counties that already had a liberal get out of jail free program in place.
Another study was done comparing New York City and Los Angeles jails. Eric Siddal, a former V.P. With the Association of Deputy District Attorneys in L.A. found a higher number of people held without bail. 91% of these were felonies, 62% were violent crimes against people, weapons charges (felons with guns), and sex offenses. Drug offenders made up 0.7% of pre trial detainees, less than one percent. Misdemeanor crimes made up 1.7% of the detainees.

 
A study done on Rikers Prison in New York was similar. Around 11% were there for murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter, around 20% were there for robbery or burglarly, and 25% were in jail for weapons charges, felony assault, selling drugs, rape, or sexual offenses. The average number of people held on charges of jumping a subway turnstile or smoking weed average 1.5 prisoners per day out of the total population. And the majority of prisoners held were serving out a sentence, had outstanding warrants on other charges, or were awaiting trial for serious crimes.

 
The cost of Florida pre trial release programs in 29 counties was over $95,000,000.00 in 2015, 2015, and 2017. That is $31.7 million per year, $87,000 per day, for operating these non secured pre traial release programs that are paid for by the Florida taxpayers.
A TV station investigated a county in New York state to see how many inmates were languishing in jail without the cash to pay for a bail bond. Seven out of ten inmates were locked up before being sentenced for their crimes according to Gov. Cuomo. News 10 NBC put that to the test and found that far fewer than seven out of ten were languishing in jail.
Out of the 954 inmates on March 15th, 679 had yet to be sentenced for their crimes but only 67 were there for non violent or misdemeanor crimes. If the governor's bail reform passes, 9% would be eligible for release under the new more liberal laws, unless they start releasing violent felonies without bail. The simple fact is that New York Judges are like judges in most of the country, they use digression carefully and do not jail inmates unless it is needed.
 
New Jersey was one of the states that passed liberal soft on crime bail reform several years ago and the outcome has been disastrous according to victims and police officers according to this story.

 
.But what about Oklahoma County jail? We have a reputation for having the most people in jail so surely we are locking up weed smokers and people that have broken petty laws, right?

 
Well no, of the 2444 inmates on February 11th 2016, 2136 were being held on pre trial reasons and 308 were being held for other reasons (awaiting transfer to another county, state, or prison, or immigration holds). Of those 2136 pre trail inmates 90.5% were waiting on felony trials, 5.5% were waiting on misdemeanor trials, and 3.5% were waiting on municipal trials.

 
Of those 308 inmates being held for other reasons than pre trial, 195 were prisoners serving prison sentences in beds leased by the DOC. 61 inmates were in jail serving weekends only and would leave Sunday night. 45 inmates were being held for other agencies, and seven inmates were there on civil court contempt cases.

 
Of the 2136 inmates there for felonies, sixteen were “walk through” cases that spent less than an hour being booked before the bondsman walked them out, 120 of the inmates were there on murder charges, and 100 inmates were there on sex charges.

 
Seventy percent of the inmates being held had violent felony charges and weapons charges after becoming a convicted felon. Around 50% already had a record with the Department of Corrections (DOC), as in ex convicts. Fifty inmates were there to answer local criminal charges and would be returned to other jails or prisons after they were convicted or acquitted of the local charges. Eventually they might come back to serve out their sentences unless a judge allows them to serve concurrent sentences.

 
The point being that less than 9% of all of the inmates were being held on misdemeanor charges.

 
Now lets look at the failure to appear rate for criminals out on pre trial release programs either OR or one of the programs that the prisoners pay as much as $10.00 per day to use. We will look at the easiest court date of them all, the arraignment court date, no attorney needed. Show up, plead guilty or not guilty, or no contest and walk out of there if you are already out on bail or OR or pre trial release.

 
In January of 2019 54% of the pre trial release program and OR bonds refused to show up for arraignment. In February of 2019 57% of the pre trial release program and OR bond program criminals refused to show up for arraignment. As the cases work their way through the justice system the rate of no shows goes up to 70%.

 
But the people behind these soft on crime bail elimination schemes are well meaning, right? No, the biggest proponent was Kris Steele, former speaker of the house, who's golden parachute was a non profit offering services to ex cons. Steele earns a six figure salary running TEEM. TEEM charges $40.00 per visit, some have to visit each week, some once a month, plus each defendant has to perform 100 hours of community service. All of this before they are even convicted.... and they can escape those community service hours by paying TEEM $1000 in cash, check, or credit card. TEEM turns around and sells the community service hours or “gives” them to those that donate to their non profit.

 
The average bail is less than $5000, much is written for $2000 or less. So for ten percent, $500 to $200, paid one time, a bondsman takes responsibility for your showing up for court. Or you can fall for TEEM's program and pay $140 per month plus the 100 hours of community service, and pay each month until you are brought to trial. Other companies charge as much as $300 per month.
You have to hand it to these non profit do gooders. They saw around $35,000,000 per year being paid out in bond forfeitures, around twenty times hat going out in commercial bail bond contracts, around $70,000,000 per year going to bail bond companies which would net the bondsmen around $7,000,000 per year if they were good businessmen and lucky. These charlatans were able to use legislator to begin shoveling some of that cash into their businesses and in the process they get more money than the bondsmen were charging and escaped all responsibility if the criminals runs away. No one forfeits money, no one has to chase down the criminal. Instead these programs rake in hundreds of millions per year and pay out some overhead and cheap labor, usually ex convicts. Few of the programs are audited or accountable to anyone, with their books either hidden in private companies or hidden behind non profit status and delaying filing the tax returns for years by using extensions.

 
In fact my question to bondsmen is why not join the gravy train?

 
The answer is that many are small businessmen, former cops, former military, and they want to see society protected and enjoy their work. They know that jailing criminals prevents criminals from working and their work is breaking into homes or committing other crimes. That is their job and most tend to be good at it till they are caught. Sitting in jail means a reprieve for homeowners and businesses in the area, tough to sell drugs or commit more crimes sitting in county jail. Being out on bail means being able to work for another year, even two years, before being convicted and sent to prison or county jail.
 
 
 

 
The OKGOP leaves yet another bad impression
*editors note: this was written by a freshman GOP House member last week and given to us by an ally. The only thing changed was we added Pam Pollard's name behind the first reference to the State Chair and our source suggested the title to reflect his views on the result of the corruption.
 
Let me explain why I'm extending a frame of reference to those who may come up to the Capitol to talk party politics with some of us in the freshmen class.
 
I freely admit, I jumped into the deep end of politics winning my House race this election cycle and being a part of what I hope is positive change for the state. I've always felt more conservative at the national level but that things need to be local control at the state level. We've been on the wrong track with poor leadership here at home for years. What I have learned so far is that each district has different priorities and ideas, and this is a team effort to move the ball on hard policy. We got a huge amount of bills passed from both chambers and the mood seems good.
 
I was talking with some other Representatives after our Tuesday's freshman lunch and the discussion was about whether the party is a hindrance or benefit to us. What has happened just recently in Coal Co., among others, is a textbook example of why many of my new colleagues have a disdain towards the state party.
 
In Coal County, a by-the-rules GOP county convention was called for on a Friday night with the absolute minimum of notice (I believe Wednesday night it went out, and with the State Chair's (Pam Pollard) full blessing). This set the stage to put the thumb on the scale of the county convention. The State Chair working with a political consultant, was able to seat 15 registered Republicans. I'm assuming it was intended to be an in-and-out to get their agenda done. A local conservative was able to muster enough registered Republicans (17 in total) to show up to put a halt to their acts.
 
The convention went forward, Chair and Vice Chair were voted on, and the county convention adjourned. Now, as I've come to understand, when the county convention ends, it's case closed. However, the State Chair is now refusing to seat the delegates from Coal County because she was defeated. I'm not interested in casting stones all that much, but it's a very poor reflection of character to cheat people of their duly elected representation.
 
 
I'm a Republican with an R next to my district number. But it sure seems very Hillary like to come in, put your thumb on a convention's scales, throw a hissy fit over the result, and then pretend it never happened! Whether it was because the State Chair became upset a personal friend lost, or she was working in cahoots with a pay-to-play consultant; it's just bad form. I know that similar calendar tactics have been done recently in other counties, but I will have to leave that with the readers to infer why someone would play those games.
 
If the state party and it's cheerleaders would like to be friendly with lawmakers; it might help to listen to their own medicine of follow-the-rules, and local control is best control! Maybe the OKGOP will right the ship, but that'll take a real change in leadership and culture.
 
 
T. Russell Hunter
DUI Body Cam Arrest video
 
Lies to Police Multiple Times
 
Pisses in his Pants During Arrest
 
So Drunk he is Lost
on the Way Home?
 
Can't Remember What
Car he is Driving
 
Possible Aborted Attempts to Bribe Arresting Officer?
 
We are re running this story from last Monday as a lot of readers weren't expecting to see a newsletter on Monday night.  New details have came to light, sources are saying that T. Russell Hunter hasn't had the AHA office at 317 East Main since 2016 when the group and Hunter were kicked out by the landlord due to the upsetting graphic images of aborted fetuses that Hunter was prone to post outside his shop.  Leaving us wondering, where was Hunter coming from that night in August and who had he been with?
 
 
Hunter is a notorious abolitionist leader, the founder of AHA (Abolish Human Abortion), a radical group that pickets churches for not fighting hard enough to outlaw abortion. During the picketing the AHA activists call the congregation and pastors pretty much baby killers and worse. They attack any Pro Life leader or group they can with vicious attacks. Some of their members have been convicted of fire bombing other churches in the past and other violent crimes. The group picketed former State Rep. George Faught's own church despite his solid Pro Life voting record.
 
Hunter had been working at his art studio at 317 Main Street in Norman Oklahoma late one Saturday night. He alleges that he was driving one of two places to get some pizza but his route took him South instead of East, right through a residential neighborhood and city park, in a maze of residential streets, anything but a direct way home. No one knows why he was in this neighborhood at 10:30 pm on a Saturday night.
 
Possible reasonable routes from Hunter's studio to his home
 
 
A normal route from studio to home showing where Hunter was arrested
 
 
 
Close up of the warren of residential streets where Hunter was headed is above
 
 
Above is an unlikely but possible route that Hunter appeared to be taking or perhaps he was simply confused and lost and driving around aimlessly
 
 
Hunter was at a stop light at Alameda and Porter. The light was green but Hunter had stopped and remained motionless for five to ten seconds before gunning the vehicle into a wide outside lane turn down Sherwood Ave. One of the arresting officers said he nearly “smoked” the curve onto Reed Street, remaining on the road only because he veered into a residential driveway, swerving away from the street curb right before hitting it. Hunter was doing 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, accelerating like mad in a short stretch of road before the curve. You can hear the officer recounting this to the arresting officer at the one minute mark in the video. Around 1:20 into the video Hunter's eyes were said to be “pinging”, rapid eye movement that indicates a high level of intoxication despite Hunter claiming he had had just one beer two hours earlier.
 
In the video we first see Hunter acting confused, digging through the glove box searching for papers. He tells the arresting officer that he was coming from 317 East Main, repeats a lie about drinking one beer hours earlier, actually repeating that same lie three times in short order. He claimed that he was going to get a pizza and then going back to work. The officer remarks that he has a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and asks Hunter to exit the car around 3:20 into the video. Pay close attention to Hunter's left leg in the crotch area, no signs of urine stains at this time.
 
Hunter fails the first sobriety test, the eye/finger test. His head keeps moving despite instructions not to move his head, only his eyes. He can't follow the instructions, a sure sign of a drunken driver, the cop has to ask him multiple times to stand still and Hunter tries to start the walk and turn sobriety test despite numerous instructions to wait till he is told to start the test. Around 8:20 or so Hunter tries to start the test and is stopped several times before he is instructed to do the test. Hunter wobbles through the test, giving off numerous clues and signs of inebriation. See this article for detailed info on the tests and the actual incident/arrest report.
 
 
Around 10:17 Hunter fails the one leg test. By the count of three Hunter is wobbling and moving his arms to attempt to maintain balance, jamming his right leg out to prevent a fall. On the second attempt he gets to the third count before wobbling and repeating the third count two times, fighting to stay balanced, arms coming away from his side. By count 12 he drops his foot despite instructions to keep counting till told to stop. Around 11:30 he drops his foot, stares at the cop, then continues to attempt to do the test despite being told to stop. At this point Hunter remarks that he “doesn't think he is doing the test right.” Look at his front left crotch area again, no evidence of urine stains at this point.
 
Around 11:42 into the video Hunter is told to put his hands behind his back and becomes highly confused and hesitant. After being told twice to put his hands behind his back Hunter complies and is cuffed. Around 11:54 in the video there is no evidence of urine stains on his pants.
 
Around 12:18 the cop confronts Hunter about the one beer two hours ago lie. Hunter admits to drinking an unknown amount of vodka while working on drawings at his art studio. He confesses to not knowing how much he had drank. The cop asks if he was using a tumbler or a shot glass, Hunter hesitates, confused, before stating that he was using a cup but was unaware of how many times he had refilled the cup.
 
In another video on Facebook Hunter admits to hiding his drinking from his wife.
 
Around 13:18 into the video Hunter says “Can I talk to you?” while being led to the squad car. He claims he was “going to get a pizza, was going to eat a pizza, and I was gonna go home.” Hunter appears to start to ask if he can somehow stop the arrest but the police officer guesses his intention and stops him and says no.
 
Around 13:55 the police officer is attempting to put Hunter into the back of the squad car. Hunter again haltingly asks “...is there any way...” and the police officer finishes the sentence “that I can un arrest you?” Hunter nervously laughs, but again at 14:20 into the video Hunter says “I was just wondering if I can go home and go to sleep....thinking about my wife....”
 
Again at 15:27 Hunter repeats the request in a more direct and desperate manner “I am just wondering... if there is any possibility whatsoever that I could drive home...”. The police officer stops him immediately “No, you can't drive period.” Hunter continues “No, if you could drive me home....”. Hunter stumbles for words and exclaims “No, I am not that inebriated... The police officer replies, “You are pretty intoxicated, you have urine on your pants.” Sure enough, at 15:49 into the video we see that T. Russell Hunter has pissed in his pants. Hunter looks down at his crotch area mystified to see a dollar bill sized urine stain that wasn't there before. Sometimes between his being hand cuffed around 11:50 or so and 15:27 Hunter has pissed in his pants.
 
Meanwhile Hunter is sitting in the back of the squad car with his legs outside, staring at the urine stain on his crotch while the police officer talks about Hunter failing the sobriety tests and showing clues and signs during the tests that indicate high intoxication.
 
Hunter is persistent, around 16:22 into the video Hunter says “Officer Hicks, I am just asking if there is any way possible...” The police officer says “No.” Hunter gets animated and exclaims “I get you man but I am telling you for the sake of my wife and my children is there anyway....I know you probably hear this...” The police officer finishes Hunter's sentence “Lots of people.” Hunter exclaims “I do not disagree about he consequences....I made a bad decision to drive home to get some pizza... I am wondering... I am wondering... if it is at all possible....” . And the police officer, God bless his soul, replies “ It is not.”
 
Hunter of course was headed away from his home when he was pulled over, 90 degrees away from a normal route, through a warren of residential streets that no sober or sane person would use.
 
The long suffering and very polite and respectful police officer asks Hunter to take the State's test for alcohol blood levels. Hunter says “Sure, sure.” while shaking his head no.
 
The rest of the video is uneventful other than more requests to be released and confusion shown by Hunter on the circumstances of his arrest.
 
At 26:45 Hunter has been mumbling in the back seat. You can catch the words “criminal” and “I'm sorry. More mumbling about his wife and unintelligible talking. Around 28:45 Hunter appears to be asking why he was stopped and the police officer repeats that he had been sitting at a green light for a while and how Hunter had gunned the vehicle away from the green light. Hunter says “...crazy because I was driving a Prius.” The police officer corrects Hunter, it was a Kia. Hunter argues “No, it was a Prius. Oh yeah, a Kia... I have a Prius... wife... “ more mumbling... “not a total hybrid.” The mumbling continues till around 29:30 into the video.
 
Somewhere around the 31:00 mark Hunter is mumbling and the police officer replies “Not offended by it.” Perhaps Hunter was mumbling about pissing in his pants or being arrested, hard to understand what Hunter is mumbling. Around 32:05 Hunter is asking about his Kia and is told it will be impounded.
 
Around 34:33 the squad car is waiting outside a gate to be buzzed into the jail parking lot but the buzzer or gate is broken. As they sit there around 35:46 we hear more mumbling from Hunter and the police officer says “What?” More mumbling.... and the cop says “About what?” Then we can hear Hunter clearly again saying “I was just thinking there is nothing you can do about helping me..... “ The police officer stops him and says “I don't know how to answer that, I am not going to not help you... but I can't un arrest you or stop the process... that is what I mean.”
 
Around 36:35 Hunter says”Did I seriously sit at a green light and … “, more mumbling. The cop finishes Hunter sentence “speed off? Yeah” Hunter mumbles something then you can clearly hear “ ….I was on Facebook.... “ around 36:50 approximately.
 
 
Hunter was stopped in a residential area headed away from his home. He changed his story multiple times, claiming he was going for pizza, then that he was going home for pizza, while headed away from his home. See the maps for details of his route and possible routes to and from work to his home. He lied to the first cop that pulled him over, claiming one beer two hours before, then lied three or four times to the arresting officer about a beer and a two hour time frame. Count the attempts to get the cop to turn him loose, at least a half dozen. Only Hunter knows exactly where he was headed at 10:30 on a Saturday night, could be for more booze, could have been headed over for some non marital romance for all we know, or it could just be that Hunter was stinking drunk and was lost.
 
The videos that Hunter's supporter put up tell a vastly different story.  A video that Hunter put out last Saturday we believe,   1    2   and 3  (click on the links on the numbers to watch)  totally contradicts the body cam arrest video from the Norman Police Department. The Hunter supporter videos are actually a cell phone video of a Facebook Live video that was not shared with the general public.  Only a portion appears to be on these three videos of a video.  Despite numerous demand Hunter and his supporters refuse to release the entire Hunter video. And for good reason, it appears he lied to his supporters not thinking the arrest video would come out.
 
Hunter does an excellent job at claiming remorse, including copious sniveling and crocodile tears, claiming that he was glad that he had been stopped so that he could turn his life around. Well, lying to the cops and asking multiple times to be turned loose doesn't fit that narrative. One can also extrapolate with some confidence that the multiple attempts to convince the arresting officer to release him might have well turned into a bribery attempt had the police officer not been as adamant in saying “No.”  The video seems to be more of a rallying cry to push harder against the Pro Life movement.
 
Interestingly enough that "cup" that he was drinking out of turned out to be a Sonic drink cup, probably a Route 44, filled with vodka, ice, and an energy drink.   And the recount of the arrest leaves out the swerving off the road, lying to the cops, and at the very end of the third segement Hunter pretty much admits this was probably not the first time if you listen carefull
 
Hunter's sycophants, cult like supporters, and the some of the John Birch Society leaders claim that Hunter is being unfairly attacked, that this is a personal matter to be dealt with by his family and his church. But odds are neither the family or church knows the truth or has seen this video. What is clear is that Hunter only apologized to his small group of supporters in a private Face book video that they are refusing to share or link to. One supporter has shared a cell phone video or two that are obviously missing large sections of the video. Despite numerous requests Hunter and his supporters refuse to provide a link to the actual video and he refuses to apologize to the citizens of Norman for risking the lives of anyone that was driving around that late August Saturday night.
 
Hunter has viciously attacked the Pro Life movement and is now reaping what he sowed. The abolitionist movement will implode if Hunter goes down or if he doesn't go down as no one will be able to listen to the guy without thinking about the hypocrisy of a man trying to save babies while driving drunk and endangering countless adults and children while driving drunk. One private investigator said it best, few drunks get caught the first time they drive drunk.