NEWKIRK Former Kay County Commissioner Dwight “Dee” Schieber was found guilty Friday in Kay County District Court of six counts of willfull violation of the law regulating official conduct. He was found not guilty on a seventh count.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours Friday morning before returning to open court at 11:13 a.m. with the verdicts.
On five of the counts, the jury recommended punishment of six months imprisonment in the Kay County Detention Center and a fine of $500 per count. On Count Five, the jury recommended punishment of nine months in the Kay County Detention Center and a fine of $500.
Jurors were discharged at 11:20 a.m.
Schieber was granted an O.R. bond over the state’s objection and formal sentencing is set for 2 p.m. March 6.
The criminal misdemeanor charges were brought by the Oklahoma State Auditors and Inspectors Office and were filed March 31, 2017.
The charges followed an investigative audit of the Kay County Board of County Commissioners by State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones’ office. Schieber, then 64, of Kildare, and another former commissioner, Tyson Rowe, then 37, of Blackwell, were charged in Kay County District Court in connection with the findings of the audit.
Rowe was charged with 16 felony and misdemeanor charges, including racketeering; embezzlement by a county officer; embezzlement by a public officer; and willful violation of law regulating official conduct.
Rowe pleaded guilty in May 2019 to 15 counts, including three counts of embezzlement of county property; two counts of embezzlement by a county officer; and one count of embezzlement by a public officer; and nine counts of willfull violation of law regulating official conduct. One other count, of racketeering, was dismissed.
Rowe was given a 10-year deferred sentence on conditions that he commit no further law violations, be under supervision of the District Attorney, and serve a 90-day jail term beginning Dec. 1, 2019, on six counts. On nine counts, he was sentenced to one year in the Kay County Detention Center, suspended on the same conditions. All time was to be served concurrently, in addition to fines and restitution.
The audit of the Kay County Board of County Commissioners was requested by Mike Fields, District Attorney for the 4th District of Oklahoma, in connection with allegations of improper bidding and vendor preference.
Payne County Associate District Judge Stephen Kistler presided over Schieber’s trial. The State was represented by Canadian County Assistant District Attorney Austin Murrey. Schieber was represented by attorney Jarrod Stevenson of Oklahoma City.
