Former prosecutor pleads guilty to prostitution charge

Saturday, December 18th 2004, 12:02 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A former Oklahoma County prosecutor received a one-year deferred sentence and a $500 fine after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of trying to hire a prostitute.

Charges were filed at 2:12 p.m. Thursday against Lou Keel, 54, and he pleaded guilty about 15 minutes later, records show.

The 23-year veteran of the Oklahoma County district attorney's office resigned Dec. 10.

Police arrested him Nov. 11 at an Oklahoma City motel after he attempted to offer an undercover police officer $50 in exchange for a sexual act.

Keel helped prosecute Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols on 161 state murder charges.

But a jury deadlocked on whether to sentence him to death. A judge gave Nichols a sentence of life in prison.