OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The latest in the sentencing of a former Oklahoma City officer convicted of rape and sex assaults (all times local):
2:15 p.m.
A judge says a former police officer convicted of raping and sexually victimizing women while on his beat in a low-income Oklahoma City neighborhood should spend the rest of his life in prison.
Jurors last month convicted 29-year-old Daniel Holtzclaw on four first-degree rape counts and 14 other charges, and recommended he spend 263 years in prison. The judge agreed Thursday and said Holtzclaw will serve those years consecutively.
Prosecutors said Holtzclaw, who is half-white and half-Japanese, targeted black women while on patrol.
Holtzclaw’s lawyer said prostitutes and drug abusers misconstrued his efforts to help, and that many came forward only after police said an investigation showed that they might be victims.
Defense attorney Scott Adams says Holtzclaw will appeal.
The Associated Press last year highlighted Holtzclaw’s case in after an investigation revealed about 1,000 law officers were decertified in a six-year period because of sexual misconduct on the job.
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1:55 p.m.
A judge has rejected a request for a new trial for the Oklahoma officer convicted of raping and sexually assaulting women while on duty.
Oklahoma County District Judge Timothy Henderson ruled Thursday on the request from Daniel Holtzclaw, who had said in his motion that prosecutors withheld evidence from his defense team during his trial late last year.
A jury convicted Holtzclaw last month on 18 charges and acquitted him on 18 other charges. He faces up to 263 years in prison.
The Associated Press highlighted Holtzclaw’s case in an investigation of sexual misconduct by law officers
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1:45 p.m.
A judge is hearing testimony in the request by former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw for a new trial.
Holtzclaw was convicted last month of raping and sexually assaulting women while on duty. He is to be sentenced Thursday, but his attorney filed a request late Wednesday seeking a new trial or evidentiary hearing alleging that prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
At issue is a Facebook post that Oklahoma City Officer Jake McClain says he made after the trial ended. He told the court Thursday that the post was “not entirely” true and that he was never assigned to work on Holtzclaw’s case.
Holtzclaw faces up to 263 years in prison after his convictions on 18 counts, including rape. He was acquitted on 18 other counts.
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12:20 p.m.
The hearing for a former Oklahoma City police officer convicted of rape and sex assault is temporarily delayed as a judge considers the defense’s motion for a new trial.
Former officer Daniel Holtzclaw was set for sentencing at 10 a.m. Thursday, but proceedings were delayed as Holtzclaw and attorneys met privately with District Judge Timothy Henderson in the judge’s chambers.
Holtzclaw’s attorney, Scott Adams, tells The Associated Press that both sides are discussing Holtzclaw’s motion for a new trial, which alleges that prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
Adams says he expects Henderson to rule on the motion later Thursday. Prosecutors declined to comment.
A bailiff cleared the courtroom shortly after noon for a lunch break with proceedings set to resume at 1:30 p.m.
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11:50 a.m.
The sentencing for a former Oklahoma City police officer convicted of rape and sexual assault is being temporarily delayed.
Daniel Holtzclaw’s sentencing was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday. Shortly before noon, prosecutors, Holtzclaw’s attorneys and Holtzclaw still were meeting privately in Judge Timothy Henderson’s chambers.
Several of Holtzclaw’s accusers were in the courtroom, and District Attorney David Prater said at least one was scheduled to deliver a victim-impact statement.
The reason for the delay was not immediately clear.
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10:20 a.m.
At least one victim of former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw, who was convicted of rape and other sexual assault charges, is scheduled to speak before Holtzclaw is sentenced.
District Attorney David Prater says one of Holtzclaw’s accusers will deliver a victim-impact statement Thursday. Other accusers were among dozens who packed the courtroom ahead of sentencing.
Prater says the accusers “have a right to voice whatever opinion they have about sentencing to the court.”
A jury recommended the 29-year-old serve 263 years in prison after convicting him last month on 18 counts, including rape. He was acquitted on 18 other counts.
Holtzclaw’s father, a police officer from Enid, Oklahoma, also was in the courtroom.
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