Former Marlow Police Officer Indicted on 2 Counts of Perjury

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Former Marlow police officer Rodney Richards was indicted on two counts of perjury in Stephens County.

The 40-year-old is accused of lying under oath while handling a drug case last year.

The indictment was unsealed Thursday afternoon in Stephens County Judge Joe Enos' courtroom where Richards appeared with his wife by his side.

Following the unsealing of the indictment, Richards was hauled away in handcuffs.

His bond was set at $10,000.

Richards is set to appear back in court in July.

District Attorney Bret Burns said former Marlow Chief of Police Bob Hill and former officer Randy Johnson were also called upon to testify during the grand jury proceedings.

"It's disturbing and it's sad when we have to investigate police officers for not telling the truth," Burns said.

Burns said it's possible that another indictment against another defendant will be handed up in this case.

The perjury indictments stem from a drug case Richards and Johnson handled outside their jurisdiction. When the case went to court, Burns and the judge agreed to dismiss it because they said the stories from the officers didn't match up.

"Unfortunately, there's been a culture of corruption in the Marlow Police Department for several years," Burns said.

Hill, Richards and Johnson were all fired by the city of Marlow early this year.

In 2006, Richards was indicted for lying to investigators but was found not guilty in that case.

James Kee is the attorney representing the defendants who were the center of the drug case Richards and Johnson handled.

Kee released a statement following the unsealing of Richards' indictments:

"The District Attorney let down the citizens of Marlow and Stephens County. It took more than seven months to obtain a two count indictment against one policeman. There were clearly three and maybe four involved in these corrupt acts. The OSBI investigation was a joke and appears to be clearly a cover up of the facts in this case. Had this office not threatened a Grand Jury in Stephens County nothing would have been done. I am greatly disappointed in this outcome. The investigation done by the OSBI could have been completed in two weeks."

More on News9.com:
- City of Marlow Police Chief Fired
- 2 Marlow Police Officers Fired Following Investigation 
- Marlow City Council Discusses Allegations Against Police Officers
- Authorities Investigate Corruption Within Marlow Police Force
- 3 Marlow Police Officers Placed on Leave
- New Accusations Against Marlow Police Officers
- OSBI Concludes Investigation of Marlow Police Department