A Tulsa nightclub bouncer cleared of manslaughter charges

The court case for one former nightclub bouncer charged with killing a man in a downtown parking garage moves forward, while a second bouncer's court case is dismissed. <br/><br/>A Tulsa County judge

Wednesday, November 30th 2005, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

The court case for one former nightclub bouncer charged with killing a man in a downtown parking garage moves forward, while a second bouncer's court case is dismissed.

A Tulsa County judge decided Wednesday only one bouncer, Jason Nicholson, will stand trial. The other, Clay Spicer, was cleared of all charges. A previous judge had originally decided both men would stand trial for the death of Scott Bolton.

News on 6 reporter Ashli Sims says eight months after he was charged with first-degree manslaughter, Clay Spicer is now cleared.

Spicerâ€™s attorney Clark Brewster: "it looks like this case is over for him and that we prevailed. I think justice did prevail in this case."

Both Spicer and Jason Nicholson were charged in the death of Scott Bolton. In September of 2004, 23-year-old Bolton was taking an intoxicated friend home. Tulsa Police say Spicer and Nicholson followed Bolton and his friend to the parking garage and one of them punched Bolton causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Bolton died five days later.

Prosecutors accused Spicer of distracting Bolton, but Spicer's attorney says Spicer did nothing wrong. Clark Brewster: â€œMr. Spicer didn't do anything that uh any other bystander did. And there's no evidence showing that he did anything. So the charges against him were really unfair."

The judge agreed there was no evidence that Spicer planned or participated in Bolton's death. Clay Spicer: "itâ€™s a relief its hurt my business its hurt everything and I thank my attorneys and thank my family and Iâ€™m just glad itâ€™s over."

It's not over for Scott Bolton's family and friends. Scott Boltonâ€™s girlfriend Teresa Desirey: "a little upset but we're still going to make it and I can't get too upset because we did get one in the bag so to speak and I'm anxious to see what happens at trial." Teresa Desirey just wants people to remember Scott Bolton and the life he won't get to live. "Its not even become about him anymore and everyone knows what happened but they forget about the person who's gone because he's not the one who's talking."

The News on 6 talked to Scott Bolton's mom Debbie Henry on the phone and says she believes the judge did the best job she could, but she's still disappointed and she told me now she has to go to her son's grave and apologize again for not getting him justice.

District Attorney Tim Harris says he may appeal Wednesday's decision. Nicholson finds out his trial date, next month.