Jeff Henderson: In his new brief, Henderson admits giving wrong testimony about whom the informant was. But he contends that it was an honest mistake caused by a faulty recollection of what occurred seven years earlier in one of many cases in which he used informants
DENVER - A former Tulsa police officer who is appealing his 2011 police corruption convictions has a new appeal of his more recent conviction for criminal contempt.
Jeff Henderson, in a typewritten brief he signed from prison, contends that he was falsely convicted of contempt in February for perjury in federal court in Tulsa.
Henderson submitted the brief to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, he is awaiting a decision from the Denver-based appeals court on his challenge to the 2011 convictions for perjury and for violating the rights of people he investigated as suspected drug dealers.
He is serving a 42-month term at a federal prison camp - a minimum-security facility - in Yankton, S.D., for the 2011 convictions and a three-month sentence for February's conviction.
A federal investigation of suspected corruption among Tulsa police officers in drug investigations they conducted led to the indictment of Henderson and five other Tulsa police officers and a federal agent.
At least 46 people have been freed from prison or had their cases modified because of civil rights violations or potential problems with their cases as a result of the police corruption.
U.S. District Judge James Payne convicted Henderson of contempt of court, concluding that the former officer perjured himself in June during a hearing on Tony Becknell Jr.'s petition for release from prison.
Henderson had been brought from prison to testify about the informant he used against Becknell during Becknell's 2005 arrest in a drug case.
In his new brief, Henderson admits giving wrong testimony about whom the informant was. But he contends that it was an honest mistake caused by faulty recollection of what occurred seven years earlier in one of many cases in which he used informants.
There were strong similarities between the Becknell case and a prior case that led to his faulty recollection, Henderson contends.
"The misstatement ... was insufficient grounds" for Payne to punish him for contempt, Henderson wrote in the brief.
The appellate judges will not decide Henderson's new appeal before federal prosecutors submit a response brief next month.
Payne said he based his conclusion of contempt for perjury on observing and listening to Henderson more than once. "The court does not believe Henderson's testimony that he made an honest mistake about the identity (of the informant)," the judge said in February.
The appellate judges heard arguments in November on Henderson's appeal of his 2011 convictions but have not issued a decision.
Original Print Headline: Former TPD officer appeals perjury conviction
Grand jury investigation of TPD
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The Rev. Charles Freyder, a chaplain at the prison, said many inmates wanted to help build the chapel and they could hardly contain their excitement.
The storm included heavy downpours, lightning and some strong winds.
