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Judge Jennifer McCaffrey and District Attorney Doug Pewitt have crafted plea deals that defy comprehension. Court documents obtained from Ottawa County reveal sentences so lenient they seem to mock the very concept of justice for child victims.
The Zero-Day Sentence That Shocked a Community
Zachary Wayne Clinton faced multiple charges related to lewd acts with a child under 16. According to court filings, FBI agents discovered Clinton during a child pornography investigation. When questioned, Clinton initially denied involvement but later admitted he "didn't remember" if he had assaulted the 11-year-old victim, then added "it could have happened."
The probable cause affidavit details how the child disclosed the abuse to a teacher, describing Clinton's actions in her own words. Despite this confession and the severity of the charges, Judge McCaffrey sentenced Clinton to a fully suspended 10-year term. Zero days in jail.
The 90-Day Gift to Another Predator
Canyon Darus Cole received what passes for harsh justice in McCaffrey's courtroom: 90 days. His charges included sexual battery of a child and three counts of soliciting sexual conduct with minors using technology. Four separate victims. Four felony counts. Ninety days total.
The sentencing documents, bearing McCaffrey's signature, show the DA's office agreed to these terms. Handwritten notes on the plea agreement reveal prosecutors actively negotiated these minimal sentences rather than taking the cases to trial.
A Pattern of Judicial Failure
Court records show this isn't an isolated incident. According to the investigation, Judge Sharon Holmes recently allowed multiple violent felons to walk free, including giving zero jail time to a defendant the jury recommended serve 40 years for child molestation.
The pattern suggests a systemic problem in Oklahoma's judicial system where the worst crimes against children result in sentences that would be lenient for shoplifting.
What the Court Files Don't Explain
The documents raise questions that only a deeper investigation can answer. How do prosecutors justify agreeing to such deals? What happens when these offenders reoffend? And why do judges like McCaffrey continue making decisions that prioritize predators over public safety?
The full scope of this judicial failure remains hidden in case files across multiple counties. The complete story of how Oklahoma's justice system fails its most vulnerable victims is still being uncovered.
The investigation into judicial accountability continues. Watch the complete courthouse confrontation and document review to see exactly how these deals were made.
