Osage County District Attorney’s Office in Transition

The Osage County District Attorney’s Office is in a state of transition. With the resignation of former district attorney Rex Duncan and the election of new District Attorney Dustin Colby Phillips, the office is searching for a new leader. The next five years are critical to the county, so it is critical to have a dynamic and experienced district attorney who can protect the rights of the citizens of Osage County.

Dustin Colby Phillips

A man accused of domestic assault and violating protective orders is facing trial in Oklahoma. The Osage County District Attorney’s Office waited ten months to bring charges against Dustin Colby Phillips. Phillips has several protective orders against him, and is a member of the Cherokee Nation. He fractured the eye socket of a woman during the incident.

Rex Duncan

In November 2010, Rex Duncan, a former state representative, was elected Osage County District Attorney. But within months, he was notified by the Oklahoma National Guard that he had been activated as a lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan. This conflict of interest caused the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office to rule that his appointment as district attorney was conflicting with his military duties. After returning from Afghanistan, Duncan appointed his first assistant as acting district attorney for Pawnee and Osage counties.

Duncan explained that he had not distributed the money to run his office until after the election. But he did give raises to his employees so they could remain in office until January. However, Fisher called it a violation of public trust.

Louise Red Corn

Louise Red Corn, the Osage County district attorney, is facing multiple charges. One of the charges is that of assaulting a state trooper. Another is that of escaping from arrest. A half-dozen other charges are misdemeanors, ranging from DUI to possession of marijuana and running a stop sign. Gentner Drummond, the cousin of Thatcher Drummond, was representing her during the preliminary hearing. In an effort to keep her client from testifying in the case, Drummond asked for a judge’s order to exclude Red Corn.

Louise Red Corn has lived in Rome, Detroit, Kentucky, Mississippi, and New York City. Previously, she worked as a newspaper publisher for The Bigheart Times. She loves to dig into any subject, including legal issues. She is married to Raymond Red Corn, an Assistant Principal Chief, and moved to the Osage Reservation in 2004. Her family includes a giant dog named Max, an energetic dog named Pepper, and a surly cat named Stinky.

Timothy Faerber

Timothy Faerber, the Osage County District Attorney, testified at a hearing in limine that he had no duty to warn Darnold that his statements would be used against him. Faerber said that he was aware of Darnold’s background, including twenty DUI arrests. He knew that Darnold had no lawyer and had already discharged his sentence, but he had no duty to warn Darnand that his statements could be used against him. Moreover, Faerber knew that Darnold was not represented by an attorney, was not in custody, and did not know if Darnold was being questioned by federal authorities.

In the case, Darnold has also challenged the admissibility of Darnold’s statements and claims that Faerber and Jones violated the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct in their actions. In his motion, Darnold claims that Faerber violated Rule 3.8 (b) and Rule 38.1(c) by failing to disclose material facts and evidence.

Ronald George Powell

The Osage County District Attorney’s office has announced the resignation of Ronald George Powell. Powell had been serving as the district attorney for about four years. Powell’s successor, John McIver, is expected to be a strong advocate for the citizens of the county. Earlier this month, Mr. Powell resigned his position due to his health.

Powell was the first African American to be elected to the office. In the past decade, he had fought for fairness in the county, prosecuting crimes and enforcing the law. He was also a longtime member of the Osage County Bar Association. His service was widely recognized and he was awarded the office by his peers.