Tulsa Judge Removes Herself From Rape Case

NewsOn6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa judge who was supposed to sentence a rapist Thursday instead removed herself from the case.

The Tulsa County District Court judge said she didn't want it to appear that she had been influenced by a News On 6 story about the case.

The News On 6 reported Tuesday that prosecutors filed paperwork saying they were worried the judge was going to cut the rapist's sentence in half.

10/13/2009  Related Story: Prosecutors Worry Judge Will Shorten Tulsa Rapist's Sentence

The jury gave Marvell Norton two 13-year sentences, and prosecutors wanted those sentences to run back to back, for a total of 26 years.

They were afraid the judge was going to order the sentences to run at the same time.

A juror and the victim both told The News On 6 that decision would make them angry.

The judge will ask another Tulsa County judge, who did not hear the case, to sentence Norton.