See a photo of Childers' attorney.
A Cleveland County judge set a $100,000 bail Wednesday for the former student accused of attacking an OU professor last week.
Michael Joseph Childers, 27, appeared at his arraignment Wednesday afternoon via teleconference from Cleveland County Detention Center. He will appear at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Childers is accused of attempting to kidnap Mano Yasuda, his former professor, at gunpoint from Kaufman Hall Friday. A kidnapping conviction would carry a maximum 10-year prison sentence, and a conviction of possessing a firearm while committing a felony would carry a two- to 10-year sentence.
Judge Rodney David Ring set stipulations for Childers’ release, including being barred from contacting Yasuda, from entering OU’s campus and from possessing firearms. He also will be required to wear an electronic monitor and must undergo a mental health evaluation within five days of being released from jail.
Childers said he is currently taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication, but hasn’t been under the care of a mental health professional in two years. He said he owns another weapon besides the one already confiscated, and would surrender it upon his release.
Prosecutors requested Childers receive no bail, citing his five-hour run from the police Friday as evidence he is a flight risk.
Childers’ defense attorney, Tim Kuykendall, asked Ring to set a low bail because the charges were not for capital offenses and he was arrested at his home in Broken Arrow without incident.
Childers said he plans to live at his mother’s house in Broken Arrow once released on bail.
An affidavit filed with the court revealed new details about Friday’s attack. According to Detective Scott Gibbons, an investigation revealed that Childers forced Yasuda, a Japanese language professor, out of her office on Friday afternoon. Brandishing a gun, he grabbed her by the arm and pushed her out of her office, telling her they were going to Yasuda’s car and then her home, Gibbons said.
According to Gibbons, Childers forced Yasuda down hallways and stairs before she dropped to the ground screaming. Childers attempted to pull her back up, but when people in the building came to Yasuda’s aid, Childers fled Kaufman Hall.
Professor files restraining order against Childers
Japanese language professor Mano Yasuda filed a protective order against Michael Joseph Childers Tuesday, according to court documents.
Both are set to appear in court March 2.
The request claims Childers stalked Yasuda via e-mail and Facebook, and that he vandalized her office and home before the incident Friday.
The request also calls Childers a “proficient marksman.”
View Childers' criminal record. View the arrest details from the Tulsa Count courts.
Check out a timeline of events.
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scootermafia 3 years, 3 months ago
His facebook poetry seems to indicate that he had it out for this teacher because he blamed her for some person he knows "disappearing" after taking their class, perhaps going on a foreign exchange. Maybe the person that disappeared was some girl he was after.
Can anyone confirm this?
Bubba 3 years, 3 months ago
Dealing with this guy seems to be a no-brainer. But, will we ever get to hear about the ethics details of this professor's relation with him. He had a record. Did she know it? She knows he's a marksman with a gun. Did this bother her before? Is she a member of the Women's Outreach Center? How old was this guy if and when she was in a relationship with him? What is the University's policy on Faculty/Student relationships. And lastly, where did this guy find parking?
-Bubba