Attorneys For Two Indicted Tulsa Police Officers Accuse Federal Prosecutor Of Misconduct

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Two Tulsa Police officers are asking a judge to throw out their indictments and accusing the U.S. Attorney in charge of their case of misconduct.

Attorneys for Bill Yelton and Jeff Henderson say special prosecutor Jane Duke is acting unethically in her efforts to investigate corruption in Tulsa's drug unit.

They filed a motion Monday, requested a hearing. The motion accuses Duke, the U.S. Attorney for eastern Arkansas, and her team have a making a fair trial for both officers "irretrievably impossible." It goes on to say she has "distorted the truth-finding process" and "compromised the integrity of the trial."

Read the motion

They say she has threatened to prosecute any Tulsa officer who tries to help the indicted officers, is using the grand jury to intimidate officers and has threatened to send one of her own witnesses to prison for 10 years if that witness doesn't testify against one of the indicted officers.

Last week, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan issued a directive forbidding Tulsa Police officers from talking to anyone but federal investigators regarding the investigation.

8/5/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Police Chief: No Talking To Anyone But Federal Investigators

Yelton and Henderson were indicted last month. They're accused of everything from drug possession to intent to sell to tampering with federal witnesses and perjury.

Yelton and Henderson both remain behind bars.

8/6/2010 Related Story: Two Indicted Tulsa Police Officers Denied Bond