Case Of A Disappearing Witness

There is still no sign of a key prosecution witness in the trial of former judge Donald Thompson. She was supposed to testify one week ago and there is currently a felony warrant out for her arrest.

Friday, June 23rd 2006, 10:17 am

By: News On 6

There is still no sign of a key prosecution witness in the trial of former judge Donald Thompson. She was supposed to testify one week ago and there is currently a felony warrant out for her arrest.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright tells us who this woman is and why prosecutors called her to testify.

Prosecutors say Angela McClanahan was former Judge Donald Thompson's mistress and that there were sexual photos of her and the judge on his work computer.

Thompson says he and McClanahan are business associates. McClanahan was subpoenaed to testify, but did not show up, so a judge signed a felony warrant for failure to appear for a material witness.

Records show Creek County Sheriffâ€™s deputies went to pick her up Monday after receiving the warrant, but they say she ran out the back door and got away.

Without her testimony, prosecutors dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Thompson for misuse of a state computer, until she can be found. Thompson's attorney had tried to get that charge dismissed, but failed.

Thompson still faces four felony charges of indecent exposure; he's accused of using a sexual device while presiding over four trials in 2002 and 2003.

McClanahan had also been reluctant to testify about this case in front of a grand jury. She did so after a judge told her it was testify or go to jail.

Police reports show a Sapulpa man called police on January 12th after he saw Thompson with binoculars, near a house where McClanahan was visiting. No one was issued a ticket or arrested. The man who called police says he had his tires slashed later that night, but has no way of knowing who did it or why.

The prosecutor asked Thompson's attorney to ask Thompson where McClanahan is, since they'd been seen together twice in the past 90 days. Thompson's attorney refused, saying the prosecution has run amok.

Thompson denies all the allegations against him. His attorney says the device Thompson is accused of using, was a gag gift from a friend for his birthday.

Thompson's attorney says these allegations are a conspiracy by people who wanted him out of office.

His trial continues next week.