Parole officer to recommend change in Gene Stipe's community service

Friday, March 11th 2005, 1:36 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A federal parole officer will recommend that former state Senator Gene Stipe no longer be allowed to perform court-ordered community service by working with the McAlester Economic Development Service. And Stipe may not get credit for all of the 300 hours of community work claimed at the service.

Stipe must perform 1,000 hours of community service as part of his sentence on federal perjury and conspiracy convictions related to illegal contributions to a 1998 congressional campaign. He's been working as an adviser on economic development issues and some of the hours he's been credited with include dinners to discuss development issues.

Probation officer Kelly Garrett says Stipe hasn't committed any violation, but some of the work he's done isn't as community-minded as it should be.

Garrett's recommendation will be sent to the chief probation officer of the court in Washington, DC, where Stipe was sentenced.