Okla. trooper accused of sex assault wants charges dismissed
SAPULPA, Okla. -- A man accused of sexually assaulting three women during traffic stops when he was an Oklahoma state trooper is asking for some charges against him to be dismissed.
Eric Roberts appeared in court briefly Tuesday, when he was scheduled to be arraigned on charges including second-degree rape, sexual battery, forcible sodomy and seeking a bribe and embezzlement.
Roberts says the charges should be thrown out because the women who made the allegations against him were never in his custody.
"These people were never arrested, never cuffed," said Gary James, one of Roberts' defense attorneys. James said he and prosecutors have discussed some plea offers but that he wasn't prepared to accept any of them yet. He declined to elaborate on what offers have been discussed.
The allegations came to light last year when a woman filed a federal lawsuit alleging Roberts raped her following a traffic stop. Two more women later made similar allegations.
Before the hearing, Roberts' attorneys filed motions seeking to dismiss most of the charges. Creek County Judge Douglas Golden set a Sept. 17 on motions to dismiss charges in two of the cases. But defense lawyer James indicated after the hearing that the date would likely be rescheduled.
A hearing on a third case pending against Roberts on charges of sexual battery, soliciting an act of lewdness or prostitution and embezzlement is set for Oct. 5.
Roberts was suspended in July 2014, but the allegations didn't come to light until that August, when a woman filed a federal lawsuit claiming Roberts raped her following a traffic stop. Two more women later came forward with similar allegations. He resigned that September, about two weeks after his arrest.
The head of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has said Roberts turned off his dashboard camera during six traffic stops, including two referenced in the federal lawsuit.
He faces a total of 12 charges in the three cases. He's pleaded not guilty to all charges and is free on bond.