Oklahoma Couple Fearful Of Ex-Con Neighbor

A Kellyville couple says they're in danger from their neighbor, who's an ex-convict on parole. They say he's threatened and harassed them for the past year. News On 6 crime reporter Lori

Tuesday, August 14th 2007, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

A Kellyville couple says they're in danger from their neighbor, who's an ex-convict on parole. They say he's threatened and harassed them for the past year. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports the couple do not understand how the man keeps violating his parole, but hasn't been sent back to prison.

Doug and Lindsey Baldwin live near Kellyville. He works for a Tulsa car dealer and she's a realtor. They say their trouble with their ex-con neighbor hasn't let up and in fact, is getting worse.

Doug and Lindsey Baldwin say the story began in the fall of 2006 when someone stole their four-wheeler. They say they asked the neighbor boy if he'd seen anything, and the next thing they knew a man was yelling at them, telling them to stop harassing his son.

"Don't know the guy from Adam, never seen him before," said Kellyville resident Doug Baldwin.

They learned he was Mark Patterson, a man who'd spent time in prison for crimes committed in Tulsa County and Okmulgee County, who was released on parole. Records show Patterson has burglary, escape, embezzlement, stolen property and stolen car convictions. Around December, Doug realized Patterson was driving a stolen truck and called police. Patterson was arrested and charged with the crime.

According to court records Patterson attended all his court dates until a judge ordered him to stand trial, then he didn't show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Patterson was taken into custody and allowed to bond out. This summer a warrant was issued for him for not paying restitution to his victim in Okmulgee County. A woman gave the court $100 on Patterson's behalf and the warrant was dropped.

Doug and Lindsey have been calling Patterson's parole officer and the Okmulgee County District Attorney to discuss the parole violations. They say Patterson's harassing behavior recently turned from threats to action, when he approached Lindsey at home.

"He's just coming, just barreling across the field, yelling," Lindsey Baldwin of Kellyville said.

"I exactly heard what he said. He said, â€˜you're not sending me back to prison. I will kill you first,â€™ as he was running up to here. He didn't see me, didn't know I was there," said Doug Baldwin.

The Baldwinâ€™s say they are stressed, and scared and can't understand what it takes to put a parolee back behind bars.

"We're hoping you can help, it's really frustrating," Doug Baldwin said.

"You think after all this they could put him back in prison," said Lindsey Baldwin.

The parole office told The News On 6 their hands are tied until the Okmulgee County District Attorney files paperwork to revoke Patterson's parole.

News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright did receive letters the parole office sent to the district attorney. The parole office requested in February Patterson be sent back to prison. The letters say Patterson admitted using drugs six times while on parole and he failed a drug test. The letters also state Patterson missed three visits with his parole officer and wasn't living where he said.

The Okmulgee County District Attorney and News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright have been playing phone tag, so The News On 6 was not able to talk to him.

Patterson's stolen truck charge from last December still hasn't been settled, the next step for him is a competency evaluation.

Meanwhile, the mother of Patterson's son, who lives next to Doug and Lindsey says the couple is mad over a property dispute with her. She also said the parole violations were misunderstandings that have now been cleared up.

Watch the video: Couple Wants Ex-Con Neighbor Back Behind Bars