Oklahoma Highway Patrol probes alleged favoritism

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is looking into whether a trooper was asked not to appear in court for the drunk driving trial of a lawmaker's secretary.<br/><br/>Oklahoma City attorney

Saturday, August 7th 2004, 6:37 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is looking into whether a trooper was asked not to appear in court for the drunk driving trial of a lawmaker's secretary.

Oklahoma City attorney Gary James says House Speaker Pro Tem Danny Hilliard's secretary Kristi Linn Nelson pleaded no contest to a first-time drunken driving charge.

James represented Nelson and says he's been interviewed as part of the investigation. He says the allegations aren't true and that Nelson got a sentence similar to anyone else.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward says concerns were raised that someone asked the arresting officer not to appear at the trial.

Nelson was fined $100 and paid $1,000 in other court-related costs. She also received a one-year deferred sentence.