OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 12, 2009
Rape Alleged at Okla. Governor's Mansion
Two Prison Inmates Assigned to Work on Mansion Grounds Say They Were Raped by Head Chef and Head Groundskeeper
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The Oklahoma governor's mansion is pictured in Oklahoma City, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Prosecutors are investigating claims that the former head chef and chief groundskeeper raped three female prison inmates assigned to work on the mansion's grounds. (AP Photo)
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Neither man has been charged, but the Department of Central Services fired both of them Sept. 29 for violating departmental policies after a three-month Department of Corrections investigation.
The allegations raise questions about security at the chief executive's residence and oversight of a program meant in part to reward good inmate behavior by allowing them leave prison for the day and work off-site.
The state Department of Corrections believes the former state workers who supervised the inmates at the governor's mansion committed sexual battery, forcible sodomy and rape against the Hillside Community Corrections Center inmates, Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said Monday. The department recently turned its findings over to Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater's office.
Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland said Monday that prosecutors met with Department of Corrections investigators for two hours Friday and that the investigation is ongoing.
According to records obtained by The Associated Press through a state open records request, the fired workers are Russell Humphries, the former executive chef at the mansion, and Anthony Bobelu, the former groundskeeper supervisor.
Neither Humphries nor Bobelu has been charged, and neither responded to repeated phone messages seeking comment. No one answered the door Monday at Bobelu's residence, and Humphries' current address could not immediately be determined. Neither prosecutors nor Janet Roloff, an Edmond attorney for one of the women, knew if either man had an attorney.
The Department of Corrections is interviewing other women who took part in the program, Massie said.
The women, two of whom have since been released from prison, say the assaults happened between March 2008 and January 2009. The Department of Corrections didn't begin investigating until June 1, after one woman came forward following her release, Massie said.
The women said the alleged attacks occurred in a storage building outside the perimeter of the security fence that surrounds the mansion's 14-acre grounds, Massie said. He did not say if the women allege they were assaulted once or multiple times each.
Roloff said Monday that her client endured a "violent, bloody rape" that left her with emotional and physical scars. It's illegal for a supervisor and an inmate to have sex, and Roloff scoffed at the notion that any sex between her client and the state workers was consensual.
"My client was dragged down, held down by one and raped by another. That doesn't sound very consensual, does it?" she said.
Roloff said her client was afraid to report she was attacked until after her release for fear of retribution. She said her client came forward to try to persuade prison officials to stop sending female inmates to the governor's mansion.
The allegations have raised questions about security at the mansion and oversight of the horticulture program, which was suspended after the allegations surfaced but has since resumed.
The accusation that two mansion employees were involved in rape just outside the building's security perimeter came one month after three state troopers assigned to guard the mansion were disciplined for falsifying hours, saying they were working when they were not.
Paul Sund, a spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry, said the Department of Public Safety officials who protect the governor and his family do not believe security at the mansion was ever breached.
"We have full confidence in the DPS security detail. We're not the security experts, they are," Sund said. Aside from Henry, first lady Kim Henry and two of their three daughters live in the mansion.
The 11 female inmates assigned to maintain the flower beds, shrubs and other greenery at the mansion, were chosen for the program because they are considered low security and escape risks, Massie said.
Massie said prison officials train Department of Central Services workers on how to properly supervise state inmates and that no changes are planned in the program.
Roloff declined to provide further details about what her client says happened to her, saying her client fears doing so would make her identifiable to her alleged attackers. The woman, who now has a job, remains fearful and is concerned that the state's investigation is taking too long, Roloff said.
"We are concerned that the perpetrators are still free. My client is trying to live and work in the community," she said.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 28 Comments
- It's Oklahoma and it's GOP country. This doesn't surprise me in the least.
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- Why couldn't the title have read "Chef and Chief Groundskeeper at Governor's Mansion Accused of Rape!"? At least then all the dolts who don't bother to actually read articles before they reply to them can look less...doltish.
Let's go through this step by step for all the first graders reading the headlines only:
1. This isn't about the governor. CBS worded the title in such a way as to pop that into the minds of gullible people, but trust me--it's not about the governor.
2. Governor Brad Henry is a fine man and a fine governor, and btw--he's a DEMOCRAT.
3. Not that it matters--because this isn't about the governor! LOL!!!! - Reply to this comment
- Security was breached when the person cooking meals for the governor and his family was also performing violent rape on the side. To say this is not a security problem is just being ignorant. Why he is not in jail is also a second crime against the women he raped. It shows how there is two standards applied: one for crack-heads, and one for white servants.
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- Prosecute? More than likely the women will be made the criminals because of their past and the men will walk away without so much as a slap on the wrist. Like the County Treasurer dealing drugs out of his office, he got rehab, and the woman he was sleeping with, her husband died, it was labeled a suicide. Justice doesn't happen in the Great State of Oklahoma unless you have the money to buy it.
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- Wow! Sure are a lot of scumbags around that aren't in prison and should be. I hope they can prosecute them and help these women cope and heal from this terrible experience!
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- fss2009,
We are not stupid in this State. We have learned over many years to keep our heads down and not **** off the wrong people, doing so can be dangerous to ones health. - Reply to this comment
- Being from the state of Oklahoma, I can say I am suprised they even investigated. These types of crimes are not uncommon. They are usually kept very quiet and the people(victims)involved suddenly vanish without charges ever being filed. This woman has every right to be scared and she is probably on track when she says this is taking too long. Several Oklahoma counties and cities have needed to be investigated for years, but getting it done is impossible.
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- And I once lived there in Kingston, for about 6 months. I agree. And anyone who HAS lived there knows that Oklahoma is a staunchly conservative state. It's a good ole' boy network there. The only reason this guy became governor is because he is conservative. He plays both sides of the fence - like the bluedogs in Congress. He's a "politician" to be sure.
- Well. That's some work program.
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- The governor of Oklahoma, Brad Henry is a Democrat, not a Republican. Look it up!
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- And furthermore....in this case, there is no "political" story. People on this site will use ANY story and draw some conclusion exalting one party for everything and the other for all that is wrong with the country.
- by stevex47 October 12, 2009 9:57 PM EDT
"Quite possibly the worst piece of reporting ever by CBS."
W.theF. is wrong with you morons who like to blame CBS for "bad reporting"? This story is from the AP! CBS just posted what the AP reported. I think you'll find the same report in hundreds of other media outlets. Why not go blame THEM for "bad reporting"? - Reply to this comment
- Quite possibly the worst piece of reporting ever by CBS.
Um, maybe try getting a comment from the occupant? The governor?
The big quote was from an aide who said security wasn't breached? - Reply to this comment
- Reminds me of when Strom Thumond fathered a child with his black maid. When you cannot say "no" some people would call that rape.
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- Oklahoma is not known for it's high ethical standards. It never has been.
This is probably more common in them parts than we ever hear about. Stupid is a stupid does. - Reply to this comment
- What is with the republican party and all these sex scandals associated with it? Geeesh They really have lost their minds.
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- I'm sorry...Are you trying to connect a Head Chef and a Groundskeeper allegedly raping women and then using that story to forward some kind of political agenda you have?
- Politics aside, what this represent to me, is the FACT of widespread criminality amongst those in positions of authority and control over others!
Assuming these allegations are true, then there are several people that should be going to jail over this!
- Sorry Stuart, but this gov is a Dem, look it up. As far as saying the head chef and chief grounds keeper are Reps is a bit absurd. I have found most blue collar workers are dems, and there is nothing wrong with that. My Dad was a dem most his life, but to say they are Reps because they raped some woman is really showing what a sad state people are in on politicsRape has nothing to do with a persons party affiliation, but it is from their own basic morals, which for any man to rape he has no morals.
Another thing I want to say to you is that you have some perverted political agenda to say what you did. The truth is if these woman were raped and probably were, well it is the men that did this to answer for it. There is no reason to blame anyone else but the perp. Grow a brain please. Find a little common sense while you are at it.
- Henry is a bluedog. The NRA never supported Kennedy or Obama did they. As far as I am concerned, he may as well be republican. He's a rather conservative Democrat. He would have to be to win election in Oklahoma, a staunchly conservative state.
- by stryker54 October 13, 2009 3:14 AM EDT
As far as saying the head chef and chief grounds keeper are Reps is a bit absurd.
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Where did I say that they were republican? I mentioned the republican party, not the chef and groundsakeeper.
Please give up your twisted political agenda that you have and grow a brain. Henry is as conservative as a dem can be. Look at his record before you post your trash. Again, grow a brain.
