Trial ordered for former state Corporation Commission official

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A judge has ruled there is sufficient<br>evidence for Larry A. Schroeder, a former state Corporation<br>Commission official, to stand trial on 25 sex crimes charges<br>involving 13

Friday, August 20th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A judge has ruled there is sufficient
evidence for Larry A. Schroeder, a former state Corporation
Commission official, to stand trial on 25 sex crimes charges
involving 13 young victims.

Prosecutors allege Schroeder, 44, either assaulted or exposed
himself to the victims who range in age from 11 to 15. Nine of the
victims testified Thursday at Schroeder's preliminary hearing with
six identifying Schroeder as their attacker. Two girls said they
couldn't be sure it was Schroeder and one girl couldn't make an
identification but prosecutors said DNA evidence linked Schroeder
to the crime.

Schroeder is charged with rape, attempted kidnapping, child
abuse, burglary, forcible oral sodomy and indecent and lewd acts
with a child. Bond has been denied.

Some girls were attacked in their homes after returning from
school in the afternoon. Others were assaulted as they walked home
from a convenience store or fast-food restaurant.

Police began investigating Schroeder after being given the tag
number for a suspicious vehicle in a northwest Oklahoma City
neighborhood. The vehicle was traced to Schroeder.

Schroeder has resigned from his job as head of the Corporation
Commission's public utility division.