Judge Drops One Charge In Tulsa Police Corruption Trial

Lori Fullbright, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The federal judge in the corruption trial of Tulsa police officers Jeff Henderson and Bill Yelton dropped one of the charges Monday.

The judge dropped the bribery count against Officer Henderson due to a lack of evidence. Defense attorneys had asked the judge to drop three other charges, but the judge did not.

08/13/2011 Related Story: Tulsa Officer Accused Of Corruption Takes Stand To Deny Wrongdoing

Three decorated officers testified on behalf of Officer Bill Yelton Monday, saying he is hard working, professional and dedicated. They each said they had never seen him do anything inappropriate or illegal during their years together.

On cross examination, two of them said they have not worked with Yelton since he went into the narcotics unit and didn't know anything about the warrants or affidavits that are at issue in this case.

There was much testimony about Durrell Collins, an informant for several different officers on several different drug and other cases. He was the jail snitch who recently helped uncover the murder plot against Tulsa county District Attorney Tim Harris and retired homicide Sergeant Mike Huff.

Witnesses say at times, Collins tells the truth and, at times, he lies, depending on what will help him the most at the time. They say one of his lies was telling police who shot him, then later recanting his story before trial.

Collins testified last week that Yelton visited him in jail and asked him to beat up another inmate. Yelton's lawyers say that was one of Collins' lies.

The defense for Officer Yelton rested its case today and the lawyers for Officer Henderson began calling their witnesses.