A Woodward County grand jury is calling for removal of the county sheriff on accusations including filing bogus travel claims and willful neglect of duty,
Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.
Woodward County Sheriff Leslie Morton is named in a 20-count indictment unsealed yesterday morning in Woodward County District Court for allegedly filing false, fictitious or fraudulent claims between July 2003 and February 2005. The grand jury alleges these false claims totaled about $10,000. The indictment includes 20 alternative counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain property by trick or deception, false statements or pretenses.
The grand jury’s accusation for removal, also unsealed yesterday, accuses Morton of corruption in office and willful neglect of duty. Morton is accused of willful neglect of duty for allegedly refusing to address costs incurred for the housing of Woodward County inmates in the Woods County Jail and for conduct “inconsistent with conduct becoming the chief law enforcement officer.” The corruption in office allegations mirror the false claims charges in the criminal indictment.
Morton was elected county sheriff in 1998. Edmondson said:
It is always regrettable when a law enforcement officer is accused of violating the laws he has sworn to uphold. A Woodward County grand jury, comprised of Woodward County citizens, found probable cause to issue the indictment and call for removal. It is now up to the courts to determine the outcome of this case.
The grand jury’s final report was also unsealed yesterday.
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Labels: Drew Edmondson, Leslie Morton
Posted at 3/28/2008 07:53:00 AM
