Newspaper's records request rejected

(Sapulpa-AP) -- A Creek County judge has rejected a newspaper's request to open possible juvenile records of an Oilton teenager accused of murdering a girl and raping her friend.

Special Judge Russell Miller sustained a defense motion to dismiss the Tulsa World's request to disclose the records of 19-year-old Robert Wayne Rotramel. Miller said that to rule otherwise would be an absolute abuse of his discretion.

Rotramel is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of seven-year-old Christi Blevins and the first-degree rape of her 12-year-old friend on August 19th in Oilton.

The World had requested any juvenile court records and law enforcement records that exist on Rotramel under a 1996 law that allows the release of juvenile records under certain circumstances.

Creek County prosecutors say Rotramel had no previous criminal record as an adult, but sources said Rotramel was a sex offender as a juvenile.