Free Republic

A Creek County jury late Thursday convicted a former judge who was accused of exposing himself by using a sexual device while he presided over court cases. The panel deliberated more than five hours before returning a guilty verdict against Donald Thompson on all four counts of indecent exposure. The jury had requested a dinner break around 6:30 p.m. and sent a note to the judge at 8:49 p.m. that a decision had been reached. Jurors recommended one year in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count against the judge, 59, who served more than 20 years on the...

BRISTOW, Okla. (AP) -- Former Judge Donald D. Thompson, a veteran of 23 years on the bench, is on trial on charges he used a penis pump on himself in the courtroom while sitting in judgment of others. Over the past few days, the jurors have watched a defense attorney and a prosecutor pantomime masturbation. A doctor has lectured on the lengths the defendant was willing to go to enhance his sexual performance. The white-handled sexual device sits before the jury box for hours at a time. Occasionally an attorney picks it up and squeezes the handle, demonstrating the "sh-sh"...

Former workers say the accused judge's behavior worsened about four years ago. The courtroom behavior of Creek County District Judge Donald Thompson - DEMOCRAT - took a disturbing turn about four years ago, three of his former employees claim. "He's not the same person that he once was," said his former minutes clerk, Dianna Horath Strickland, who began working with the judge in 1983. Dianna Horath Strickland (left) speaks to reporters as Lisa Foster (center) and Zelma Hindman listen. The three women testified before the Council on Judicial Complaints concerning the alleged improper sexual conduct of Creek County District Judge...