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In the lakeside town of Eufaula, Oklahoma, explosive footage has surfaced showing City Judge Gregory Stidum drinking multiple alcoholic beverages during lunch breaks before driving back to preside over municipal court. The scandal has already claimed one high-profile casualty: City Manager Jeb Jones, who resigned after defending the judge's behavior and obstructing public records requests.
The Footage That Started Everything
Concerned citizens provided Guerrilla Publishing with shocking surveillance footage from Tulip and Table restaurant. The videos, captured over multiple days, show Judge Stidum consuming alcohol during lunch before getting behind the wheel and returning to court. What makes this particularly disturbing is that Stidum serves dual roles as both Eufaula's municipal judge and the county's district attorney, meaning he could be impaired while handling cases in either capacity.
The footage also reveals Stidum opening car doors for a female work colleague, raising questions about professional conduct despite his married status. Citizens began asking why this judge was being protected by city leadership and why the previous judge, Teresa Pratt, had not been allowed to return after medical leave.
The Records Battle and Cover-Up Attempt
When journalist Ron Durbin arrived at Eufaula City Hall to inspect public records under Oklahoma's Open Records Act, he encountered immediate resistance from City Manager Jeb Jones. Despite claiming he didn't have the requested documents ready, Jones falsely insisted the law gave him 10 days to produce records that were clearly already compiled and in the city attorney's possession.
The Oklahoma Open Records Act requires only "prompt, reasonable access" and limits delays solely to the time needed to retrieve documents. When confronted about Judge Stidum's drinking and driving, Jones repeatedly refused comment, eventually retreating to his office to avoid further questions about why the city was allowing this behavior to continue.
The Stunning Defense Letter
Documents eventually obtained through the records request revealed the depth of Jones' loyalty to the embattled judge. In an official city communication, Jones dismissed citizen concerns about Stidum's drinking and driving as merely "personal time" issues, writing: "What an individual does in their personal time is not our business."
Jones went further, suggesting the photographic evidence might be part of a smear campaign related to controversial wind turbine projects that had divided the community. His position essentially argued that city employees could engage in any off-duty behavior, including illegal activities, without consequences as long as it didn't happen on city property.
The Pressure Builds and Officials Fall
Former Judge Teresa Pratt broke her silence after learning that Jones had accused her of being behind the allegations against Stidum. Her refusal to stay quiet, combined with growing public outcry fueled by social media exposure, created mounting pressure on city leadership.
The scandal that began with wind turbine controversies had evolved into something far more serious: questions about judicial integrity, government accountability, and whether different rules apply to those in power. Citizens demanded answers about why their tax-funded officials were protecting behavior that would land ordinary residents in jail.
The Resignation That Raises More Questions
Under intense scrutiny, Jeb Jones abruptly announced his resignation. The city council voted to accept it during an executive session, but Jones' resignation letter conspicuously omitted any mention of the scandals that brought him down. Instead, he praised his tenure and the city staff's accomplishments, leaving residents wondering about the real reasons behind his departure.
The resignation represents a clear victory for Eufaula citizens who demanded accountability from their government. But it also raises deeper questions: Why did Jones work so hard to protect Judge Stidum? What other behavior has been overlooked or covered up? And most importantly, what consequences will the judge himself face?
The investigation into Judge Gregory Stidum's conduct continues, and the full documentary footage reveals even more disturbing details about this small-town corruption scandal.
