Ex-Eufaula police chief, wife to stand trial for roles in custody dispute

EUFAULA, Okla. (AP) -- A judge has ordered the former chief of police here and his wife to stand trial on felony charges of child stealing and perjury.<br/><br/>"There is probable cause Mr. (Larry) Osmond

Friday, May 14th 2004, 5:32 am

By: News On 6

EUFAULA, Okla. (AP) -- A judge has ordered the former chief of police here and his wife to stand trial on felony charges of child stealing and perjury.

"There is probable cause Mr. (Larry) Osmond did commit the crime of child stealing and perjury and that Carol Osmond committed the crime of child stealing," Cherokee County Associate District Judge Mark Dobbins said at the end of their preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Dobbins declined prosecutors' requests to add conspiracy charges against the Osmonds, saying there wasn't enough evidence to warrant the counts.

Prosecutors presented evidence that included phone records of calls between Osmond and his stepdaughter, Shannon Luster, who failed to obey a judge's order to bring her daughter to court Aug. 7.

The perjury charge stemmed from Osmond telling the judge he didn't know the whereabouts of his stepdaughter and her then-3-year-old daughter, court records show.

A Texas court terminated Shannon Luster's parental rights and granted custody to her paternal grandparents, William and Lyn Luster.

Shannon Luster, the child and Luster's boyfriend, Dustin Cooper, had been living in the Osmonds' home. Cooper faces a preliminary hearing May 27 on a count of harboring a fugitive from justice.

Defense attorney Chad Richardson presented no witnesses and argued that evidence was insufficient to bind the couple over for trial.

The Osmonds contend that William Luster sexually molested the little girl. Texas Child Protective Services, Texas courts and McIntosh County District Judge Steven Taylor have said, however, there is no verification of the allegations.

A Texas psychologist reported in 2003 to Texas authorities that the child appeared to have been coached to talk about abuse to a former Muskogee County sheriff's deputy, Brenda Ellis.

Ellis was fired Feb. 4 after admitting to Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson that she knew the child's whereabouts, court records show.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into Ellis' alleged role in hiding Shannon Luster and the child.

After questioning by Pearson, she picked up the child from the home of her daughter and brought the little girl to authorities, court records state. Shannon Luster was arrested at the home of Ellis' daughter a short time later.

Dobbins set a May 27 arraignment for the Osmonds.