Correction: This story was updated at 3:18 p.m. on June 6 to reflect the proper spelling of Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason's last name.
Cleveland County Detention Center wrongfully released an inmate in April, Cleveland County Court Clerk Marilyn Williams told OU Daily Thursday.
Michael Bodnar, 41, was charged with kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and domestic assault and battery by strangulation, according to court records. Detention center employees are tasked with finding Bodnar and returning him to custody, Williams said.
In November 2022, Bodnar was charged with five counts, including porch piracy, public intoxication and receiving or concealing stolen property, according to court records. The records show Bodnar also has a history of vehicle-related counts in Blaine and Oklahoma counties.
“I’ve received the order from Judge (Michael) Tupper that said a defendant was released erroneously and ordered a bench warrant in three separate cases to be issued and served in stanture,” Williams said.
Williams said the situation reflects poor training of the detention staff.
“If the sheriff doesn’t know and understand the booking or the people over them don’t, who do (employees) go to for answers?” Williams asked.
Williams said detention center clerks often call her office to ask questions about situations at the center, but according to Williams, clerks should already be trained to handle those situations.
“It’s not necessarily the place of the court clerk’s office to assist in training of detention staff or the detention clerks,” Williams said. “It’s important for the (detention center) employees to know what they’re doing — to understand what they’re doing.”
During the Cleveland County Budget Board meeting Thursday, Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason protested the amount of funding the board was allotting his office, saying the detention center lacked staff.
“We have been barely surviving,” Amason said. “I am just now getting the detention center staffed, and now this budget will decimate that. I cannot continue to allow this — to let this board affect public safety.”
According to an April 24 press release, the sheriff’s department received the highest funding in county history, but exceeded its budget by $4 million.
State Auditor Cindy Byrd conducted a special audit of the sheriff’s department in April, as requested by the Cleveland County Commissioners. The audit revealed a decrease in detention center employees from 71 in the fiscal year 2020 to 39 in the fiscal year 2024. This decrease was due to the sheriff’s office using deputies to perform detention officer duties, according to the audit.
The audit also found 12 employees had started working for other areas of the sheriff’s office in 2024, but were moved to the detention center. Four employees were also moved from the detention center to other areas of the sheriff’s office.
OU Daily reached out to Amason, but did not receive comment before the time of publication.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Natalie Armour. Madisson Cameron and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
