Prison Sex-Slave Operation Alleged

Oklahoma Law Man Faces 467 Years In Prison, Charged With Rape, Sodomy And Bribery

(AP)  Authorities have charged a western Oklahoma sheriff with coercing and bribing female inmates so he could use them in a sex-slave operation run out of his jail.

Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess resigned Wednesday just as state prosecutors filed 35 felony charges against him, including 14 counts of second-degree rape, seven counts of forcible oral sodomy and five counts of bribery by a public official.

Burgess, the top officer in the county of 26,000 since 1994, appeared in court Wednesday was released after posting $50,000 bail.

"We are stunned," Undersheriff Kenneth Tidwell said Thursday.

Phone messages left Thursday afternoon at Burgess' home and with his attorney, Steve Huddleston, were not immediately returned.

Among other things, Burgess is accused of having sex with a female drug court participant who was in his custody. The crimes are to have occurred between October 2005 and April 2007.

A federal lawsuit filed in October claims Burgess told one drug court participant he would have her sent to prison if she didn't comply with his sexual demands.

The lawsuit, filed by 12 former inmates, alleges the sheriff's employees had them engage in wet T-shirt contests and offered cigarettes to those who would flash their breasts.

One prisoner alleged she became a jail trusty with more freedom after agreeing to perform a sex act on Burgess, but lost that status when she later refused.

Burgess also faces two counts each of sexual battery, rape by instrumentation and subornation of perjury, and one count each of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses, indecent exposure and kidnapping.

He could be sentenced to 467 years in prison if convicted on all counts, special prosecutor James Boring said, though a lesser sentence would be more likely.

No one else from the sheriff's department appears to be implicated, Tidwell said.

"The circumstances are certainly regretful," he said.

[ranger1948]

This man has really got to be stupid if he did this. How could he not know that these prisoners would turn on him, no matter what he offered them. Did the thought cross his mind internal affairs might be setting him up ? He was trusted to a position of power and trust. He should have upheld his oath to office.

[usmc1968]

I have often said, sadists, are like pedophiles, seek employment and access to their victims, as pedophiles seek work in daycare, schools, play grounds, etc, sadists seek employment in law enforcement, corrections, Arizona has another questionable sheriff, jailer, Arpaio, who has a tendency to put male inmates in pink under-wear, which might do marque de sade blush, I have often questioned why one would doubt sadism existing in law enforcement, corrections, imagine wishing too find employment in human misery, that alone is something most of us would not desire. Arpaio is not only a marque de sade devotee, but a racist, bigot to boot, he has been billed the toughest sheriff in america, but anyone whom thinks pink under-wear on inmates is a form of rehabilitative therapy, diet of bologna is cost savings, tent cities in triple digit summer heat, no heat in freezing desert nights, might qualify for some as non coddling of inmates but many might deem it violation of 8th amendment to the US constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. We live in a day and time sadism is ignored since as long as it is practiced against those deemed not valuable by society, as with racism/bigotry as a long as it is practiced against illegal hispanics, or brown/blacks it is acceptable, but one might view it merely as a excuse to practice a evil, and surely some day god and his son Jesus will call them to task for it, and that will be a awe and shock day for the racist, bigot and ***..

[grandmamu]

I too have often said that these kind of people, know when they start preparing themselves in the job world what kind of job they want to have access to their own personal needs. They are predators, they win trust and confidence and keep their secrets from everyone and after they get that perfect job they are in their own little heaven (Haven) what ever, they have planned this and accomplished this they are evil and worse than the worst.

[trenticus-2009]

Oh, CBS can post the word S*E*X* but we get censored...

[glock4me]

Isn''t a sherrif a member of the law enforcement community that liberals think should be entirely trusted with our safety after all "private" citizens have been disarmed?

Might want to rethink that one, libs.

[idnnsg]

Glock4me asks, "Isn''t a sherrif a member of the law enforcement community that liberals think should be entirely trusted with our safety after all "private" citizens have been disarmed?"

NO, re.****. Your premise, that "liberals" want to disarm all private citizens is FALSE. It is wrong. It is a LIE. It is ridiculous. (I have to say it several times if there''s any hope of getting this point to sink in your tiny little brain!) Also, the idea that "liberals" entirely trust the "law enforcement community" is utterly laughable.

The NRA tells you id.iots that "the liberals want to take away all your guns" and that keeps you all worried and afraid and paranoid, and THAT keeps you buying more and more guns. It''s easy money for the gun sellers.

BTW, for a little entertainment, read "The Gun Seller" by Hugh Laurie. It''s an engaging spy thriller that happens to make an important point about arms dealers that I think you''d benefit from, since that''s who you are working for, whether you realize it or not!

[glock4me]

IDNNSG, looks like I touched a nerve with you... name-calling and everything.

So you are telling me that the democratic candidates do not wish to severely restrict gun ownership? Please, they are scared to even mention the topic because their true stance on that issue would offend the majority of the population. Also, in general, liberals are far more trusting and/or dependent on the government than conservatives... so, yes, they are generally more trusting of the so-called authorities. Sorry, but that is a fair generalization (not true in every single case, but true in a great majority).

I own firearms because the police are NOT responsible for my safety, or the safety of any individual. If some criminal with evil intentions breaks in my house, only I will be able to stop him. You''ve heard the phrase "when seconds count the police are minutes away?" Well it is true for you as well as me.

I guess it should be OK for the Clintons to make $109M, but be enraged that my gun dealer makes $40 per firearm purchased.

[atlanta30326]

Why is anyone surprised at this? Gee whiz? Who would ever think that a person barely above the food chain of a convict themselves would ever empower themselves after strapping on a badge and a gun? The theory I had 35 years ago keeps enforcing itself. Most, not all cops, are/where powerless, unpopular twits in their formative years and want to get even or show society their worth (which isn''t much). Why would anyone want to do their job for those wages? Gratification of "To protect and to serve"? Yeah right! Let Joe Friday tell me that. If any of them had a double digit IQ they would do something other than bully and intimidate!

[ranger1948]

Everyone wants to defame law enforcement. Now you all know they do not go into law enforcement for the great wages. I have met many fine officers in my life and i truly believe they became police officers because they wantedto help their community. Now when we get an occassional bad one you want to label them all as bad. When you have a situation, who so you want to call a liberal or a cop ? Think about it. As foir the sheriff in Arizone he has a record for prisoners not wanting to return to his jail. I applaud him. We coddle the prisoners to much and make life in prison a luxury for them while we still hav to work and earn those priviledges. When convicted a person loses a great deal if their civil rights bwecause they refuse to follow the set laws of society. I have no sympathy for them.

[lemonskink]

This is just the tip of the iceberg in one small place in what once was a great nation. Throughout jails and prisons all across the police state of America, human beings are subjected to unimaginable horrors. I know, I''ve talked to some who were thrown into this unjust system. Things as bad or worse as Abu Ghraib happen on a daily basis in the USA. Remember, the nation with the greatest number of people in prisons. This Sheriff is just a small percentage of the abuse taking place, but who cares. They are only jailbirds. Who are they gonna tell and who will believe them. When you hear we are the best, the greatest, well I got news for you...it''s all a lie. Led by Bush and his band of evil doers, everything this country once stood for has been destroyed, and the populace are too cowardly to do anything about it. More brainwashing....move along...nothing to see here.

[atlanta30326]

I applaud you Ranger1948...I am sure you are a good man. But in my 49 years on this rock, and living with an open mind, I have to say the majority of cops are imbeciles. I know too many of them. I am a business man that has done business with them and it is a running joke about cops and personal credit...90% have horrific credit! That in itself says a lot about cops. An old saying is never extend credit to any profession that starts with a "P"...as in policeman.

[ranger1948]

atlanta30326
It is too bad you fel that way. I am retired military and law enfoircement. I have met many police both professionally and personally and have been impressed with 99% of them. Perhaps if they were given a decent wage their credit would be better.

[rudy654-2009]

Everyone wants to defame law enforcement. Now you all know they do not go into law enforcement for the great wages. I have met many fine officers in my life and i truly believe they became police officers because they wantedto help their community. Now when we get an occassional bad one you want to label them all as bad. When you have a situation, who so you want to call a liberal or a cop ? Posted by ranger1948 at 11:38 PM

A liberal or a cop? Uh huh. Yeah, see, as soon as I scanned your bigoted piece of krap, I plant you right in there with the ignorant, toothless, knuckle draggers. You think that all cops are so-called "conservatives" or republicans? You have this brainwashed idea that all good people think and act like you. Do you think someone like Limbaugh would ever be a cop? Yeah, well of course, there he was buying illegal drugs. BUT oh well, not like cops aint done that before! See, I worked with "cops" and I can''t tell you how many times I seen them flaunting the laws, including driving drunk after parties and nobody caring.

[rudy654-2009]

Hey ranger Ricky,

Next time I have need of a cop, I''ll be sure to ask the cop if he''s a liberal or a cop. If it''s a woman, I''ll tell her to get back to the kitchen. Happy now??

[swwils]

Sick MF''s running our jails,so apparently your not even safe while incarcerated.I don''t need to read the innocent till proven guilty BS either,he wouldn''t have resigned if he hadn''t had something to do with this.Innocent people don''t just up and quit their job.He should be prosecuted to the maximum the law allows.This is another perfect case of corruption within our system.Sickening you can;t even trust your elected officials within our communities.

[swwils]

I agree with ranger1948,we can trust a big percent of them,one bad apple don''t spoil the whole bunch.It just looks bad when a uniform person is caught up in something corrupt,because we expect more out of them.

[ranger1948]

rudy654
I apologize for using the term liberals as i have known police officers fromm all political affiliations. You brtought up Limbaugh, he could never make it as a cop. All i have wever seen him do is run his mouth incessantly. What has he accomplished in life ? As for beng bigoted, i think you are the biggest bigot on here. You label all police as bad. You say you worked with cops, in what capacity, snitch ? You say you worked with police, if you hold them without any respect why would you work with them ? Sounds to me you are right up thgere in the sleaze ball category. I know all people don''t think or act like me, this is a free country where everyone has a right to their opinion. But i do feel we need police to deal with people like you.

[ranger1948]

rudy654
Your disparaging of women poluice officers is uncalled for. Many women serve as police officers and do a fine job. Your analiigy of being sent back to the kitchen does not do these ladies any justice. Your attitude belongs back up in the hillls with your inbred family.

[messiahx4eve]

Sheriff Mike Burgess won''t be hunting wolves with ole buzzard lips this year, instead he will be experiencing prison through a convicts point of view, not being retentive in love giving at all. Don''t worry Burgess, ask bush, he''ll tell you from personal experience from cheney that it stretches to fit after some time and a few stitches. You got lucky, you will get variety EVERY night, ALL NIGHT LONG!!!!!

[ranger1948]

slim1h2o
I guess we should be kind to rudy, he can''t help the case theat he has deep rooted psycholigical problems, is opinionated, bigoted, has inferior felings about his manhood brought on by women who have made successful careers. I would suppose after all these years of working as a janitor in a police station he would naturally develop an inferiority complex, of course i think the population in general would have had the same effect on him.

[buddyandmom]

How other police officers working at this jail not know what was going on is just unbelievable. It''s almost impossible to keep "secrets" in jails such as this. I truly hope that an outside police agency does the investigation into this sick, horrible crime against all women everywhere. 400 plus years is not enough !

[slim1h2o]

Posted by ranger1948 at 07:04 AM : Apr 18, 2008

I agree with your assessment,,He really has nothing to offer, intellectually,, just hate, and vile comments, and for sure,, is morally bankrupt.

[ranger1948]

swswils
Yes it certainly looks bad when a police officver gets caught committing crimes. I am still glasd to see that they get caught. I think this shows other police are doing their jobs. They like the military serve in a thankless committment to the American public.

[bozworth4]

As state a number of times, law enforcement do these things (and even worse) because they can.

[brianbwb-2009]

Abuse of inmates by the officials charged to guard them has been a problem for so long that movies have been made about the subject, going back to the 60s, and even before.

That some were so blatant as to be caught is like the Rodney King abuse, it happens so often that sooner or later someone had to be caught in the act.

Now to be fair, there should be no judge''s discretion in matters such as these, sanctions should be harsh and mandatory, the perpetrators should be incarcerated with the same population that "civilians" would be under the same conditions, but for longer terms, because they know they broke laws that they are guarding civilians for breaking.

[b-easy63]

"No one else from the sheriff''s department appears to be implicated, Tidwell said. "The circumstances are certainly regretful," he said."


The circumstances are indeed regretful. but no one else was implicated? Do they mean the girls performed the wet t shirt contest for an audience of one? If others were present, their failure to report a crime and their knowingly involvement in the contests if not in other things, certainly means more were implicated.

Maybe the girls are only telling on the sheriff, because a bigger, badder and uglier fish wants his job and as usual--they are cooperating to the fullest. Probe deeper...no doubt more than the sheriff are involved.

[ranger1948]

brianbwb
I agree with your statement except about Rodney King. Rodney was a convicted criminal, he was fleeing the police and he assaulted then first before he was beaten. Remember the police officers were acquitted on all charges. The public did not get to see the full tape. Rodney was high on pcp that night. He did receive a mulitmillion doalar settlement which i don''t feel he should have but poetic justice has prevailed. He is broke again today and has nothing to show for his wealth.

[antoniof123]

Oklahoma has now joined the race for the stupidest state in the country.

It has been a close race with Alabama, Mississippi, and Georga leading the pack but now Oklahoma feels it has a shot at victory.

Wasn''t this the state that wants to teach creation in schools and write fictional works and teach as doctrine. Yes, that is right folks they want to dumb down their kids even more so they accept this action as being good.

Welcome to the club Oklahoma you are now entered in the race for dumbest state in the country.

[redstripe11]

Florida deserves a spot on the "stupidest states" list.

[rational-1]

Apparently many of you don''t know the difference between JAIL and PRISON. Jail is where you are held (by the Sheriff) while waiting for a court hearing - BEFORE any trial, and BEFORE and determination of guilt of innocence. Prison is where you are sent AFTER a conviction (felony). The article clearly states these women were held in the JAIL - therefore they had NOT been convicted of anything. Even Journalists get this wrong (see the byline)

According to our consititution and rules of law, everyone is considered INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty. This is a fundamental issue in our country that separates us from the ''others'' we so quickly belittle in the world.

To claim these women were obviously guilty of ''a lot of bad behavior'' and not ''victims'' is prejudicial (judging before the facts) and non-american.

May things can land someone in jail - including missing a court date for a traffic ticket - it could have easily been you. We don''t know if they were good, bad, or otherwise - but regardless, being turned into a ***-slave is not a punishment (for either ***) for any crime in the US. What makes this heinous is it was carried out by a sheriff - and that some of you are so quick to pre-judge. May you be in their shoes next time. Open your eyes.

[rational-1]

Apparently many of you don''t know the difference between JAIL and PRISON. Jail is where you are held (by the Sheriff) while waiting for a court hearing - BEFORE any trial, and BEFORE and determination of guilt of innocence. Prison is where you are sent AFTER a conviction (felony). The article clearly states these women were held in the JAIL - therefore they had NOT been convicted of anything. Even Journalists get this wrong (see the byline)

According to our consititution and rules of law, everyone is considered INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty. This is a fundamental issue in our country that separates us from the ''others'' we so quickly belittle in the world.

To claim these women were obviously guilty of ''a lot of bad behavior'' and not ''victims'' is prejudicial (judging before the facts) and non-american.

May things can land someone in jail - including missing a court date for a traffic ticket - it could have easily been you. We don''t know if they were good, bad, or otherwise - but regardless, being turned into a ***-slave is not a punishment (for either ***) for any crime in the US. What makes this heinous is it was carried out by a sheriff - and that some of you are so quick to pre-judge. May you be in their shoes next time. Open your eyes.

[minnick8-2009]

Probe deeper . . .

Yes, I''m sure they all probe as deeply as they are able.

What news!! We have the underage s e x scandal of the polygamists, the apology by the Pope for the s e x u a l violations perpretrated by Priests in the Catholic Church, and the s e x slavery inside of a Western Oklahoma jail perpretrated by the Sheriff. Amazing!!! Maybe we could run our society like a well managed cattle and dairy farm. We could select a few highly intelligent well-built men for sperm donation for artificial insemination purposes and castrate the rest. It appears there are a lot of men out there who don''t know how to keep it in their pants.

[jetlizhan]

tacky, tacky, tacky - what trash

[vancouverboo]

How do you get a job like that? He had dental, too.

[klingon69]

Sick MF''''s running our jails,so apparently your not even safe while incarcerated.I don''''t need to read the innocent till proven guilty BS either,he wouldn''''t have resigned if he hadn''''t had something to do with this.Innocent people don''''t just up and quit their job.He should be prosecuted to the maximum the law allows.This is another perfect case of corruption within our system.Sickening you can;t even trust your elected officials within our communities.
Posted by swwils at 05:07 AM : Apr 18, 2008
If he bails out, he will probably run.

[klingon69]

May things can land someone in jail - including missing a court date for a traffic ticket - it could have easily been you.
Posted by Rational-1 at 10:22 AM : Apr 18, 2008
Yep. I was arrested and incarcerated for missing a court date, that I knew nothing about. It was for littering my own property over a city ordinance letter. I had corrected and cleaned up the property long before the court date.

[honestabe8]

if this cop is convicted, throw his soon to be poked and prodded arse in with the general population.

[stn_sage]

WOW! This certainly would keep me from venturing into Custer County, Oklahoma! Armed, legalized criminals!

No one else from the sheriff''s department appears to be implicated, Tidwell said. (fm article)

I find it difficult to believe that NO ONE ELSE---deputies, secretary, & spouses knows NOTHING about any of this sheriff''s activities?! How could that be?!
Or,---as is likely---everybody is just ''dummying up'' about it?! In that case, the deputies that to be charged as well!

This is an outrageous abuse of police authority and it demonstrates why citizens must ALWAYS retain the right to bear arms!

[lauriemiami]

Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Back in the early ''60s, my aunt was an RN @ at a women''s prison in Central Fla. & discovered a similar situation. When inmates started showing up in the infirmary showing signs of beatings, sexual assault & STD''s, she tried to get the women to talk. They had been so brutalized & terrorized by the deaths of 2 other inmates (before my aunt began working there) that they refused to talk about the cause of their conditions. My aunt recruited her best friend, one of Florida''s first women attorneys, to help gather information & evidence against the warden, who was running a prostitution ring inside & outside the prison, for presentation to the FBI. After an investigation was opened, my aunt gained the trust of some of the victimized inmates who gave evidence & were immediately removed from the prison to protective custody. After the warden''s indictment, the warden made a death threat against my aunt, & his criminal co-conspirators (organized crime elements outside the prison) put out a contract on her life while the warden awaited trial, because she was a prime witness against him. He was later convicted but my aunt died a couple of years later as the result of kidney failure brought on by high blood pressure owing to the stress of the foregoing situation.

[carpriddler]

The criminal justice system in this country is filled with thieves, conmen, sociopaths, and perverts. Why was this sociopath let out on only $50K bail? So he can terrorize his victims! Where is the outrage from the law enforcement community? Hiding behind the Blue Code of Silence!

[stn_sage]

Why was this sociopath let out on only $50K bail?
Posted by carpriddler at 11:55 AM : Apr 18, 2008
----------------------
My response: Excellent point! You''d think---due to the nature of the charges---and the willful violation of his oath as a law enforcement official---that he would be considered a serious ''flight'' risk!!

I doubt the average citizen would be released! I hope he doesn''t approach any of the witnesses against him and tries to terrorize or hurt them!! Maybe that''s why he was given bail, huh?!

[honestabe8]

There are some things that the cops do that I agree with,and some that I do not. In the latter category is the arrest of people with pot. I will do whatever I can do legally to derail their investigations/arrests of fellow potheads. F them.

[libh8er]

waiting on the videos to pop up on ''Prison Girls Gone Wild''

Posted by Rational-1
Apparently many of you don''''t know the difference between JAIL and PRISON. Jail is where you are held (by the Sheriff) while waiting for a court hearing - BEFORE any trial, and BEFORE and determination of guilt of innocence. Prison is where you are sent AFTER a conviction (felony). The article clearly states these women were held in the JAIL - therefore they had NOT been convicted of anything. Even Journalists get this wrong (see the byline)---

In Oklahoma, persons can be incarcerated in the County Detention Centers (Jails) after conviction and while awaiting "space" and "transfer" to "prisons." Some County facilities use this as a money making venture. In addition it is possible to be sentenced to a year in County.

I hope all eight of his grandchildren become avid geneologists. Of course, another possibility is that with a 467 year term, some of his grandchildren could become his "jailer."

[shthameem]

I really love this country and in it''s system for it is committed for justice and equality. In the other part of the world, it is normal for powerful people do any atrocities and go unhurt. Although the political system here not too good for international community. The home land system is remarkable. I love it.

[culturechang]

I wonder if any were in jail for human trafficking (i.e. *** slavery as the call it)? Seems these women would have had better protection outside the jail. It would be easier to escape.

[raskal_2]

Now this good old boy country Sheiff is going to jail where he will be the *** slave...

[veteran72]

Don''t worry, Sheriff. Bush will pardon you.

[straightmate]

I suggest more investigation into MANY other law enforcement officers throughout the midwest I assure endless dirt. Many decent people doing their jobs but tons of toxic waste just like this punk.