Tim Willert
The Oklahoman
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Past articles by Tim:
Norman mayor calls on Stitt to implement mask mandate
NORMAN — Norman Mayor Breea Clark on Friday urged Gov. Kevin Stitt to implement a statewide mask mandate in response to a rising number of COVID-19 infection rates that reached record levels in Cleveland County. Clark, speaking at a news conference that included local health system officials, said a new state epidemiology report found a 109% increase in infections in parts of the state without… → Read More
Ex-day care teacher suspected of molesting child
NOV 12, 2020 - An ex-day care teacher jailed this week is suspected of molesting a 4-year-old girl in a bathroom stall after the child told her parents "Mister Chris" had assaulted her, according to court records. Christopher James Ribertone, 27, was arrested Monday on a complaint of lewd acts with a child. He denied assaulting the girl July 20 at Childcare Network in Oklahoma City, where he… → Read More
Man gets prison time after burning Cleveland County courthouse flags, setting fires at gas station
NORMAN — A man who burned the U.S and Oklahoma flags on the steps of Cleveland County Courthouse in January was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison. Mark McCullough, 24, of Purcell, also admitted to breaking into a closed gas station and setting fires. He pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree burglary, two counts of arson and two counts of malicious injury to property, a… → Read More
Norman man found guilty in OU student's death
NORMAN — Calling it a "very heavy burden," a judge found a 20-year-old Norman man guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a University of Oklahoma student. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman decided the outcome after James Arion Smith requested a bench trial instead of a jury trial. Balkman, who heard four days of testimony, said prosecutors proved beyond a… → Read More
Testimony begins in trial of man charged in OU student's death
NORMAN — Nathaniel Ewing didn't fit the profile of a drug dealer. The north Texas native, a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma, was studying to become a pilot and worked part-time at Walmart. Ewing also sold marijuana on the side to make some money and support his habit, Cleveland County Assistant District Attorney Kristi Johnson told a judge Tuesday. "A gram here and a gram there," she… → Read More
Some on Norman council 'surprised' by mayor's pick to fill vacancy
NORMAN — Two members of the Norman City Council said Monday they were not consulted about the upcoming nomination and appointment of a former colleague to fill the Ward 2 vacancy. The council members, Kate Bierman and Stephen Holman, said they were surprised to learn that Joe Carter had been selected by Mayor Breea Clark to replace the late David Perry on an interim basis. "I had not discussed… → Read More
Unite Norman files court protest over mayor's signature petition
OCT 5, 2020 - NORMAN — Leaders of the group trying to to remove Norman Mayor Breea Clark are asking a judge to decide whether Clark should be on a recall ballot even though a city official did not verify enough valid signatures to support a mayoral petition. Unite Norman co-founders Sassan Moghadam and Russell Smith filed the protest against City Clerk Brenda Hall on Friday in Cleveland County… → Read More
Convicted killer faces jury in Halloween 2001 slaying
OCT 2, 2020 - A convicted murderer accused of beating an Oklahoma City woman to death on Halloween nearly 19 years ago waited Friday for a jury to decide his fate. Willie Lewis Hayden Jr., 47, was charged with first-degree murder after DNA evidence linked him to the death. The victim, Vera Louise Gowers, was wearing a witch costume and had been partying with friends when she decided to walk home… → Read More
Recall group sues Norman over amended mask ordinance
NORMAN — A leader in the effort to recall a city council member is challenging Norman's amended face mask ordinance in court, claiming the measure violates an individual's right to privacy. Attorneys for Unite Norman co-founder Sassan Moghadam filed the petition for declaratory judgement and injunctive relief in Cleveland County District Court on Thursday. They are asking a judge to declare the… → Read More
Judge finds for Braum's in wrongful termination suit
NORMAN — A judge ruled Thursday against a former Braum's manager who claimed he was fired because he requested time off for jury duty. Luis Aragon de Galvez sued the Tuttle-based restaurant chain in 2018 for wrongful termination after 12 years of employment. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman denied a motion for summary judgement by Galvez's attorney, who argued that Braum's fired her… → Read More
Teen watched father beat mother with gun, flag pole, authorities say
SPENCER — A man suspected of beating and killing his wife in front of their children early Wednesday told authorities "he went too far." Joshua Christian Brown, his deceased wife and the couple's three children were inside a home in the 4700 block of Woodland Park Terrace when investigators with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office arrived about 2 a.m. Brown, 34, told an investigator he punched… → Read More
Norman council acts to discourage "unsafe" social gatherings
NORMAN — The Norman City Council, acting to discourage large house parties and other "unsafe" gatherings, voted Tuesday night to approve changes to the city's ordinance requiring face masks and social distancing to include public and private gatherings. The council struggled to agree on the proposed changes during a more than three-hour virtual discussion, but voted 5-3 in favor of amendments… → Read More
Norman council members upset with selection of Ward 2 replacement
NORMAN — Some council members and residents are voicing their displeasure with the process for selecting an interim replacement for Ward 2 council member David Perry, who died unexpectedly after serving less than two months. A council-appointed committee of residents, by a 3-2 vote, recommended Sean Boyd, a Chickasaw Nation executive and former Cleveland County Family YMCA board chairman, to… → Read More
Video shows man holding bat ignored officer's commands before fatal shots were fired
THE VILLAGE — Christopher Poor had been "drinking pretty hard," before he entered the living room holding an aluminum baseball bat and yelled, "where's the g------ police?" Poor's wife was in another room getting some belongings as Chance Avery, a corporal with The Village Police Department, stood guard. "He's just so mean," she told the officer. "I wish I didn't have to do this with this baby."… → Read More
Game day changes planned in Norman after 'unsafe' gatherings'
NORMAN — Mayor Breea Clark, responding to "unsafe gatherings that occurred in our community on game day," said Monday night that necessary changes and additional restrictions will be made before the University of Oklahoma plays another home football game. "Throughout this pandemic, Norman has led the way in our state with proactive measures to protect public health," Clark said. "That standard… → Read More
Police officer faces manslaughter charge
THE VILLAGE — A police officer who fatally shot a man holding an aluminum baseball bat was charged Friday with first-degree manslaughter. Chance Avery, a corporal with The Village Police Department, shot Christopher Poor, 49, three times July 25 inside a a home in the 1600 block of Downing Street, according to court records. Avery was at the home at the request of Poor's wife, who was picking up… → Read More
Police: Man accused in one murder suspected in another
SEP 10, 2020 - A teenager accused of killing a 78-year-old woman in May has been linked to another slaying by fingerprints lifted from a V-8 juice bottle and other items, according to court records. The items were recovered from the home of Ikuko George, 82, whose body was found with lacerations to her torso and neck on March 7, 2016, an inspector reported in a probable cause affidavit for the… → Read More
Oklahoma County judge sets aside murder conviction
SEP 8, 2020 - A judge set aside a jury verdict Tuesday and dismissed the criminal case against a man convicted of felony murder, siding with a defense attorney who argued her client was wrongfully charged. Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai gave prosecutors one hour to file a motion to temporarily suspend her ruling. A judge could grant a stay. The attorney for Anthony Coldiron Rangel… → Read More
Murder defendant avoids trial by pleading guilty to lesser crime
An accused drug dealer charged with first-degree murder pleaded guilty to a lesser crime Tuesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Kendal Laron Richardson, 30, pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge and a avoided a jury trial. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the murder charge. Richardson and three others were charged with first-degree murder in the… → Read More
Norman City Council to vote on replacement
NORMAN — A selection committee of five residents approved by the Norman City Council has recommended an interim replacement for former Ward 5 member Sereta Wilson. The committee's selection, Michael Nash, will be presented for council approval Tuesday night, a spokeswoman for the city said Monday. Nash, an engineer, has lived in Norman for 32 years, including nine years in Ward 5, a largely… → Read More