Man Pleads 'No Contest' To Kidnapping, Rape Of 8-Year-Old Tulsa Girl

A Claremore man pleaded no contest in the kidnapping and rape of a child in May 2014.

Michael Slatton faced 10 charges connected to that crime, including first-degree rape, rape by instrumentation, kidnapping and assault and battery on a police officer.

He appeared in a Tulsa courtroom Tuesday and made the "no contest" plea.

Also on Tuesday, Slatton pleaded guilty in subsequent charges - where he was accused of throwing a water pitcher at an assistant district attorney, assaulting multiple detention officers and throwing feces at a jailer.

But, he didn't plead guilty to raping and kidnapping an 8-year-old girl.

Slatton was emotionless walking out of the courtroom Tuesday. He asked the judge for mercy, entering pleas in four cases, side-stepping a trial.

"He needs to be punished for what he did to this little girl,” said Assistant District Attorney Sarah McAmis. “But he can also never be safe in society again; he just can't be." 

Next up will be a pre-sentencing investigation, and then a judge will decide what punishment Slatton will get in April. The maximum sentence he could receive is life without parole.

The child was 8 years old when authorities say Slatton kidnapped her from a playground at Willowbend Apartments in Tulsa. He drove up to the playground, grabbed the girl then ran away, police say. 

McAmis said one second she was playing on the playground at a birthday party, and the next second she was in the hands of a stranger.

"He took her, he imprisoned her and put her in the trunk of his vehicle,” said McAmis. “She was naked, gagged [and] bound. She was sexually assaulted multiple different times in multiple locations. He left her for dead, naked and alone in the woods." 

Related Story 1/12/2015: New Charges Filed Against Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Sexually Assaulting Tulsa Girl

A clerk at a Sapulpa Dollar General grew suspicious when Slatton bought clothing and coloring books at the store, giving police a description of him.  

Officers spotted Slatton at the Whataburger at 1704 South Main Street in Sapulpa. He struggled and was able to get away after injuring an officer.

Sapulpa Police officers and members of the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force gave chase and located Slatton after searching in a wooded area on West Mary Lynn Drive, not far from the Whataburger.

Authorities say Slatton dumped the girl in the wooded area after his encounter with police at the Whataburger. Creek County Deputy Ron Teel received the Medal of Valor for his part in capturing Slatton.  

Slatton is charged with seven counts of rape, along with kidnapping and other charges. Tuesday, he pleaded no contest to everything connected to that case.

McAmis said, "He still has yet to accept responsibility for his actions."

However, he did plead guilty to crimes he's committed while incarcerated.

"He has assaulted numerous deputies, and when he was brought to court he assaulted an assistant district attorney and caused injury to her," said McAmis.

Prosecutors are asking for the maximum sentence, life without parole, and back to back sentences for the other cases.

He'll be sentenced on April 26th.