Acting Cleveland County sheriff requests FBI review, halt to appointment process

Update — Wednesday, June 10: Lauren Brewer, acting public affairs specialist for the FBI in Oklahoma City, gave the Daily an update Wednesday morning on next steps the bureau will take. She wrote:

"The FBI is poised to review an incident if our partners develop information to suggest a violation of federal law. The FBI has the authority to conduct an investigation when it has reasonable grounds to believe that an individual has engaged in criminal activity or is planning to do so. The FBI considers the facts to determine if there is the possibility of a federal criminal violation, and proceed as appropriate, whether by investigating or referring the matter to relevant partners. A review of complaints or referrals does not necessarily result in the opening of an investigation."

Read our original coverage below.

Update — Monday, June 8: Alyse Moore, county director of communications, wrote Monday the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners cannot hold a special election for the county sheriff position. She wrote this is due to Oklahoma State Statute, which states vacancies in county offices shall be filled by appointment.

Read our original story below.

Acting Cleveland County Sheriff Michael Finley has requested the appointment process for sheriff be halted while the FBI conducts an independent review following unspecified information obtained through an open records request.

During the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday afternoon, Finley also asked the board to suspend or forgo the ongoing appointment process for Cleveland County sheriff and to instead hold a special election. Former Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason resigned in late April after pleading no contest to one felony count of embezzlement.

During the meeting, Finley said he became aware of concerns that he believes should be further reviewed, but did not specify what would be reviewed.

“Given the nature of these concerns, I respectfully request that the matter be referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Division for an independent review and determination of whether any violations of law have occurred,” Finley said.

Finley told OU Daily the open records request that prompted his statement was put in by KFOR.

Jacob McHughes, District 2 county commissioner, said during the meeting that  Finley's request will be sent to the District 21 District Attorney's office.

Alyse Moore, county director of communications, told OU Daily nine applicants have been selected to be interviewed for sheriff. 

Rod Cleveland, District 1 county commissioner, previously said the board wants to fill the position within 60 days of Amason’s resignation, which would be by June 29. 

“We will be working to make sure that there's complete continuity, and the integrity of law enforcement in Cleveland County is at its highest that it has ever been and will be in the future,” Cleveland said in April.

McHughes said in April that the board was looking for a large pool of candidates with “good character,” integrity and law enforcement experience. He said the board wants the best candidate, whether that person is already employed at the sheriff’s office or is external.

Amason was given a five-year deferred sentence and must pay $10,000 in restitution to Norman Bible Church.

This story was edited by Reagan Rozzi.