Lawmaker questions lenient sentence for Stillwater teen convicted of rape

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An Oklahoma lawmaker is calling for an investigation after a Stillwater teenager convicted of multiple violent sex crimes was allowed to walk free with no jail time.

The teen received what critics are calling a light sentence after the court granted his request to be treated as a “youthful offender” rather than as an adult, prompting State Rep. J.J. Humphrey (R-Lane) to raise concerns about how the case was handled.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” Humphrey said. “This is novel stuff. This is a book stuff. This is stuff you write books on and you can’t make it up. And they’re doing it right out in front of everybody.”

The Payne County 18-year-old had originally been charged as an adult in March, when he pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of violent sex-related crimes against two other teenagers.

“If that don’t set you on fire, your wood’s wet,” Humphrey said. “You know what I mean? You’ve got a bad deal. That sets me on fire.”

The teen, who was 17 when the crimes occurred, later reached a deal with the District Attorney’s office to have his status changed from “adult” to “youthful offender.”

A judge signed off on the agreement.

The teen then changed his plea to “no contest.”

The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 78 years in prison.

But, because of the “youthful offender” designation, the sentence triggered a rehabilitation plan instead—one drawn up by the state’s Office of Juvenile Affairs.

That plan recommended no prison time, just daily check-ins, weekly counseling, a curfew, no social media access, and 150 hours of community service to be completed by the time the teen turns 19.

While the “youthful offender” designation allowed the teen to avoid prison time for now, if he violates the conditions of his rehabilitation plan, he could still be required to serve the full 78-year sentence.

Neither the DA’s office nor the judge involved in the case has commented.

Humphrey, however, is raising concerns.

“It looks like favoritism all day long for me,” Humphrey said.

He believes the handling of this case doesn’t align with how Payne County has treated other cases involving allegations of child abuse.

He claims the county has aggressively prosecuted individuals in those cases—including people who reported abuse—sometimes jailing them or denying them hearings.

News 4 has not independently verified those claims.

Humphrey has filed a petition for a grand jury investigation into those cases.

And now, he says, he’s preparing to file another grand jury petition in this case.

“Does it absolutely smack of political favor that you’re going to erase rapes and sexual heinous crimes so that you can give this guy a slap on the wrist and tell these families they don’t matter and that this one important person matters more than their kids being raped, their kids being sexually molested?” Humphrey said. “And again, turn this predator back out on the street to do it some more? You know what I’m saying? Oklahoma, better pay attention. Wake up.”