Latimer County Sheriff allegedly had sex, threatened female inmates

Thursday, October 21st 2004, 6:13 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ The Latimer County sheriff made an initial court appearance Wednesday on allegations he coerced three female inmates into having sex with him and threatened the life of one of them.

Sheriff Melvin Holly remained in the Muskogee County Jail on a federal complaint of making a false statement and witness intimidation.

According to an FBI affidavit, Holly forced the women prisoners into having sexual relations with him, served one of them moonshine and told one she would ``end up dead ... floating face down in a river'' if she told anyone.

FBI agents arrested Holly, 63, without incident Tuesday.

Holly denied any sexual contact with Latimer County female jail inmates when he was interviewed Sept. 15 by FBI agents, an affidavit states.

Holly's attorney couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

According to the affidavit, a deputy took a former inmate from her cell to meet the sheriff in March.

She told investigators she was pressured to have sexual relations with Holly in his sheriff's car and several days later on the floor of his office.

After she returned to her cell, he served moonshine to her and her cellmate, she told investigators.

The witness also said Holly threatened her after he learned she wanted to tell other law officers about her experiences with him.