Judge Vacates Murder Conviction in 2012 OKC Homicide Case

Oklahoma County district court judge Natalie Mai ordered a murder conviction to be vacated on Tuesday. The conviction stemmed from a 2012 drug deal turned fatal shooting.

Anthony Coldiron-Rangel is one of five men charged in connection with the incident, which occurred near Northwest 27th Street and North Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City.

Rangel was arrested for his connection with the incident in 2018. Miciah Fauteux, Overton Wilson Jr., Mychael Hill, and Marquinez Woody are also in custody for allegedly playing a role in the drug deal.

According to charging documents, Rangel told investigators that he and four others arranged to meet Cody Davis, 21, to buy marijuana. During an interaction, Rangel said someone else in the group shot Davis multiple times and then ran away.

In January 2020, Rangel was the first of the group to stand trial and a jury found him guilty of felony murder in connection with the criminal drug deal that resulted in Davis’ death.

Before he could be sentenced, a higher court set new precedent for the crime of which Rangel was found guilty, distributing a controlled substance.

Joi Miskel, Rangel’s attorney, said the Oklahoma State Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that someone who is buying illegal drugs can’t be convicted of distributing a controlled substance. That decision was made in a separate case in June, arriving after Rangel’s conviction but before his sentencing.

Citing the appeals court’s decision, Miskel asked Mai to dismiss the state’s case against Rangel.

Although she did not dismiss the case outright, Mai ordered Rangel’s conviction be vacated and he be released. On behalf of the state, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Adam Kallsnick immediately said they would appeal Mai’s decision.

Miskel said a precedent for a criminal charge changing between a conviction and sentencing is unusual.

“I’ve been practicing for 15 years, and this is the first time,” she said. “This is actually new law being created right here as we stand.”

“Essentially what it means is that the verdict no longer stands,” Miskel said.

The office of Dan Prater, the Oklahoma County Prosecuting Attorney did not return a request for comment on the decision.

April Davis, the mother of Cody Davis, said Mai setting aside Rangel’s conviction was “devastating.”

“We’ve been fighting a long fight. This is just devastating. Someone is dead,” she said.

Because of the state’s appeal, Rangel will remain in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.