Panel for cop’s trial tangled up by Tulsa ZIP code stretch

Shannon Kepler

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Jury selection for the trial of a former police officer’s murder trial was fouled up because some of Tulsa’s ZIP codes stretch into neighboring counties.

Shannon Kepler was set for trial Monday; he is accused of killing his daughter’s boyfriend. The Tulsa World reported (http://bit.ly/2kjrwf1 ) court officials discovered Friday it took a week to realize that some potential jurors weren’t eligible because they didn’t live in Tulsa County.

Court Administrator Vicki Cox said the problem is not uncommon because some Tulsa ZIP codes cross county lines. District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said he was “extremely frustrated” that some people shouldn’t have been summoned.

Osage County officials last month said the jury management system didn’t include its residents who live in Tulsa and Skiatook. State court administrators say the problem was fixed.