Oklahoma County Jail on Full Alert with New Inmate in Residence

Monday, January 31st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Oklahoma County Jail is on full security alert because of its newest inmate, convicted Oklahoma City Bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols. Marshals placed handcuffs, leg irons and even a bulletproof vest on Nichols before putting him on a plane bound from Colorado to Oklahoma. Authorities brought him into the jail at 1:00AM Monday morning. With Nichols in the jail, Oklahoma County officials have taken precautions against about bomb threats.

Nichols will be in a cell by himself on the top floor of the 13-story building. Deputies will check on him every 15 minutes and a camera will monitor his cell door 24 hours a day. "Mr. Nichols is in a very secure environment,â€ said Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel. â€œWe have heightened security inside and outside the jail. Mr. Nichols will be treated as any other inmate being held on a murder complaint."

Of course, Nichols is no ordinary murder suspect. He's been charged in Oklahoma County with killing 160 people during the bombing of the Murrah Federal building in 1995. Just getting the state charges filed was controversial, because even the bombing survivors can't agree on whether the trial is worth the time, money and effort.

Some of the survivors thought his Federal conviction and life sentence were enough. Others have said they want more. "I don't think it's going to matter if he gets the death penalty or just sits for the rest of his life in jail," said bombing survivor Dennis Purifoy.
"If Terry Nichols gets loose on an appeal and goes to the Philippines, I'm going to be one unhappy survivor," said Dr. Paul Heath.

Nichols will be arraigned before a judge in a few days. A judge from Stillwater will hear the preliminary hearing, but no date has been set. A judge from McAlester will preside over the trial, whenever it might occur. Attorneys will trade motions, attend hearings and argue about everything from evidence to where the trial should be held before a date is set. The actual start date for Nichols trial may be a year away.