Secret recording captures conversation with volunteer deputy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Secret recording captures conversation with volunteer deputy
By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press | April 28, 2015 | Updated: April 28, 2015 4:23pm



OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Embroiled in a legal battle over the sale of his insurance company, Robert Bates met a former colleague at a restaurant to discuss the court case over drinks.

But Bates, the volunteer Tulsa County deputy now facing a manslaughter charge for shooting an unarmed suspect, did not know the 2012 conversation was being secretly recorded by his companion, Bryan Berman, the company's new president.

During the exchange, Bates boasted of his connections in the sheriff's department and the U.S. attorney's office and suggested he could make life miserable for the plaintiffs.

The audio recording, obtained by The Associated Press from the court file of a federal case that was later dismissed, reveals the corporate executive as a man who bragged about using his position in the sheriff's office to help powerful friends and whose work as a reserve deputy added a spark to his life.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Secret-recording-captures-conversation-with-6228778.php

[Stuart G]

1. He got a spark in his life...and he will find another.

He killed someone, and he may go to jail if justice really does prevail.. The other inmates may give him another "spark"

[uppityperson]

6. is that necessary? eom

[DRoseDARs]

11. Well a bullet would be poetic justice, but he's not in Utah so no firing squad.

Is what necessary?

[Stuart G]

19. In response to this comment..

The spark that I was referring to was the kind of treatment a new prisoner gets when he enters. He gets pushed around and called things by the old timers. Certainly a total change, than the nice life he now has. The word "spark" was a repeat of what the link talked about. Kinda like a total change in life to awaken him to what he did.....I did not think about "prison rape"...If people took it the wrong way..I am very sorry...

Stuart G

[uppityperson]

20. thanks for clarifying, fwiw I did not alert but waited for a clarification.

It seemed odd for you, I wanted to check it out first.

[Blue_Adept]

18. Jury results

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

prison rape is a crime that should be wished on NO ONE. makes du suck.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Apr 29, 2015, 10:51 AM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Agree with alerter. I share the anger toward this guy but I don't see the appeal of prison violence.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Hiding it doesn't help. Engage in the conversation and turn it there. Don't ask the jury to be your voice. Be your own voice.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: agreed
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I will take the alerter's word that "spark" refers to rape, but more info from alerters to jurors would be helpful sometimes.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I don't think he meant rape. I think he meant ass kicking. It happens to nearly everyone in prison at one time or another. He will be no exception, most like.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Politicalboi]

2. He reminds me of The Dick Cheney

That same old Mr. Potter look.

[maindawg]

3. No remorse

It was just a black guy. Hes worried about his own ass. He is so arrogant that he believes he will walk. And you know what, he just may. But he he may not. And he should not.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Looks like he might have been a few more laws..did you catch this:

On the recording, Bates suggests he did favors at the sheriff's office for Brewster, his attorney in the federal case.
When Berman asks Bates about his legal costs, Bates responded that he had not yet received a bill.

"I haven't paid him yet," Bates said, then chuckled. "Let's say, I mean, he knows I've done some s--- for him at the sheriff's office for some of his clients."

Wonder how many pies his chubby fingers have been in?

Oh...here it tells us:

Bates was stopping vehicles on his own without the proper training
and then
Bates stopped an off-duty state trooper in 2013 on the Creek Turnpike, which is outside the jurisdiction of the sheriff's office

The guy is a moving land mine, waiting to go off.

[MaggieD]

5. I love when jerks like that get busted

It's a character flaw in me, but I love it.

[jaxind]

7. To Maggie D

It's not a character flaw in you...it's the decent human being in you! They are the ones with the character flaws...not you! A decent human being doesn't want a non-decent human being to get away with stuff because of that person's character flaws (arrogance, righteousness, etc).

[mountain grammy]

8. It's Oklahoma.. he'll be acquitted

he'll probably be allowed to skip the trial, you know, if he has a vacation planned.

This is disgusting. It's murder and this man should be in custody awaiting trial.

[gopiscrap]

14. No kidding

[tabasco]

9. Fucking dirtbag

I hope he gets convicted.

[madamvlb]

10. He looks like Dick Chenys cousin!

[madokie]

12. Lets have a trial

and after the conviction lets lock his ass up and throw away the fucking key

[24601]

13. I realize the cases aren't directly related. But are the secret recorders, e.g. Linda Tripp and

Bryan Berman, the good guys or the bad guys.

And are the unwitting recordees, e.g. Monica Lewinsky and Robert Bates, the victims or the evil conspirators?

[mopinko]

17. i have to wonder if the recording is legal.

in most states it would not be.
prepare to see this thrown out.

[24601]

21. My understanding is that it was from a past case that was since closed. n/t

[SkyDaddy7]

15. Seriously, this guy will NEVER...

be convicted by a Tulsa, OK jury for killing an African American. Best they will get is a hung jury & then the prosecution will refuse to try him again.

Just being real.

[olegramps]

16. Then he will get OK's most cherished citizen award for bravery.