Thursday, December 07, 2006

CHICKASHA, Okla. A Grady County judge rules that District Attorney Bret
Burns can continue prosecuting a case against the county's sheriff and seven
others charged in a gambling case. Special District Judge Ken Harris says he
made the ruling yesterday because he did not have enough information to
remove Burns from the case. Sheriff Kieran McMullen says the judge's
decision doesn't hurt or help his case, but McMullen says he thinks Burns
should be dismissed from the case. McMullen was charged along with five of
his deputies and two Chickasha police officers -- one of which is his
wife -- after a September 6th raid at the Chickasha Elks Lodge by Burns, the
Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission and the Oklahoma Highway
Patrol. Investigators say the lodge had illegal slot machines, poker
tournaments, blackjack games and cash drawings.