Corrections employee faces new drug charge

[Informer]

Corrections employee faces new drug charge

McALESTER -- An Oklahoma State Penitentiary lieutenant was back in court last week for a hearing on drug charges filed recently, plus an additional felony charge filed Thursday.

Marion Bess, 43, of Savanna, pleaded not guilty to the new charge, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, methamphetamine. He appeared in court Friday with his attorney, and remained free on the $5,000 bond.

Felony charges of conspiracy to deliver/manufacture/ possess CDS and unlawful use of a communication facility, plus a misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia also were filed.

Bess, who started with the Department of Corrections in July 1987, was arrested at the prison July 5, according to DOC spokesman Jerry Massie.

Massie said Bess had been the subject of an internal investigation.

At Bess' initial appearance on July 6, his attorney did not enter a plea.

Another preliminary hearing conference in the case is set for Aug. 3.

Bess is on unauthorized, unpaid leave from the prison, according to the Department of Corrections.

[Von Nanega]

How is he on unauthorized leave? The prison wants him on duty?

[Crosstimbers Okie]

How about a link to the article?

[Cory]

That is related to THIS THREAD

[Dawg]

I tell ya it looks like they are trying everything they can to try and hang Bess. Will wait and see what happens the first part of next month. Keep us in the know on this if you would Cory.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

From what I hear he's a very popular supervisor. But, he may need hanging.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

The latest...

McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK - Former OSP officer bound over for trial

Published: November 08, 2007 11:21 am

Former OSP officer bound over for trial

By James Beaty
Senior Editor

A former lieutenant at Oklahoma State Penitentiary has been ordered bound over for trial on drug-related charges in Pittsburg County District Court.

Marion Bess, 44, has been ordered to stand trial on charges of conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, methamphetamine; bringing contraband into a state penal institution and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

DOC Internal Affairs investigators had arrested Bess at the prison on July 5 and booked him into the Pittsburg County Jail. Investigators later linked the arrest of Bess to that of other individuals, many of whom had been arrested during a drug crackdown in April, according to allegations in court documents.

While serving as a lieutenant at OSP, Bess had been a shift supervisor on the prison’s H Unit, which includes death row and administrative segregation, said DOC spokesman Jerry Massie

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Marion is back in the news... McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK - Former prison guard faces multiple suspended sentences

Former prison guard faces multiple suspended sentences

By James Beaty
Senior Editor

August 09, 2008 03:23 pm

— A former lieutenant at Oklahoma State Penitentiary has avoided going to prison himself after pleading guilty to a series of felony drug charges.
Marion Bess, 44, of Haywood, had faced life in prison on one of the charges filed against him.
Now, he faces multiple suspended sentences.
Other charges have been dismissed on motions filed by District 18 District Attorney Jim Bob Miller’s office, according to court documents.
Bess, represented by McAlester attorney Warren Gotcher, entered the pleas before District Judge Thomas Bartheld at the Pittsburg County Courthouse. He had been scheduled to face trial on the August jury docket.
Among the charges to which Bess pleaded:
• Possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. The charge had accused Bess of possessing methamphetamine on Feb. 1. Bartheld set a five-year suspended sentence and ordered Bess to complete a drug program.
The prosecution dropped charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, driving in a manner not reasonable and proper, and operating a motor vehicle with an expired tag.
• Conspiracy to deliver/manufacture/possess a controlled dangerous substance — which carries a sentence of from seven years to life — and unlawful use of a communication facility, meaning a telephone.
Those charges had been filed on July 5, 2007. After Bess pleaded to the charges, Bartheld sentenced him to 10-year suspended sentences on both counts, with the sentences to run concurrently, or at the same time, and with the first two years supervised. This sentence also carried a requirement that Bess enter a drug treatment program.
• Possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. This charge accused the former correctional officer of possessing methamphetamine on June 10 of this year. The judge set a five-year suspended sentence.
The prosecution dropped charges of driving with license suspended, failure to signal on turning and failure to pay taxes due state.
Bess was also ordered to pay the cost of incarceration and court costs on the charges to which he pleaded.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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