Tulsa World: McAlester detectives seek bloggers' names

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McAlester detectives seek bloggers' names

By The Associated Press
Published: 8/13/2008 8:52 AM
Last Modified: 8/13/2008 8:52 AM

McALESTER — Police detectives seeking the identities of bloggers who criticized McAlester officials on an online message board delivered a subpoena to the site's operator, who says he won't cooperate with investigators.

Two police detectives delivered the subpoena Tuesday to Harold King, who operates the Web site www.mccooler.net. The subpoena orders him to provide details by Saturday on 35 bloggers posting under pseudonyms on King's site.

King said he researched posts under those pseudonyms and found one common denominator: All had written critically about Pittsburg County District Attorney Jim Miller.

Miller said by telephone: "I can't comment on any investigation, and whether one's going on or not."

An advocate of open government said he's concerned the subpoena could have "a chilling effect."

"It just smacks of trying to chill criticism," said Joey Senat, past president of FOI Oklahoma Inc. and associate professor of journalism at Oklahoma State University.

"We have a right to speak anonymously, especially about political matters," Senat said.

The subpoena is the most recent of King's troubles traced to his Web site. The site focuses on McAlester politics — particularly matters related to former state Sen. Gene Stipe.

In December 2005, King filed a police report claiming Stipe assaulted him. Stipe and his brother Francis filed a stalking complaint, accusing King of harassing them. Gene Stipe also obtained a protective order against King and accused him of libel.

Last weekend, King filed a police report accusing Francis Stipe's son, Wayne, of punching him in the face at a local grocery store.

Miller wouldn't say whether he plans to file assault charges.

By The Associated Press

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	Report Comment Welcome to America !, Claremore (8/13/2008 9:29:08 AM) Don't even go there !
	Report Comment Fruits&Nuts, (8/13/2008 9:31:36 AM) What does the DA possibly think he can do with the names? Wow, what a messed up city.
	Report Comment jestergrl, (8/13/2008 9:43:43 AM) Wow, that is unreal. Maybe we need to think about what we say on these forums about officials and and cities....especially those cities that are corrupt anyway.
	Report Comment jaenosjelantru, Tulsa (8/13/2008 9:57:41 AM) Many Tulsa officials are corrupt and I have the right to say that. I am a webmaster of over 70 sites, I would not submit to this governmental abuse of power if it was requested of me.
	Report Comment LoveTulsa, (8/13/2008 9:57:56 AM) And what the heck is the crime in blogging??? Unless they said they were going to harm someone or something, I don't see the crime in criticizing. If we criticize them on here, are we going to have our identities looked up? Jim Miller SUCKS! Now come get me.
	Report Comment Bullhead, Stilwell (8/13/2008 9:59:57 AM) Fruits&Nuts, (8/13/2008 9:31:36 AM) What does the DA possibly think he can do with the names? He could go punch them in the face!!! heh
	Report Comment Mr. Brown, (8/13/2008 10:23:32 AM) Maybe someone posted a pertinent fact material to solving the case. Maybe they suspect the poster said one thing on the internet, but something entirely different when questioned by investigators in person.
	Report Comment TheFoundOgle, Mid-town (8/13/2008 11:02:15 AM) Mr. Brown, that would not explain why the DA wants info on THIRTY-FIVE different people. This just reeks of Big Brother.
	Report Comment bearway, (8/13/2008 11:27:27 AM) Mr Brown.... And Maybe they want to stop the exposure of the corrupt, dirty little Nazi Democrat Empire they have spent so long building. And to add to the fray Jim Miller Sucks! Come and get me.....
	Report Comment SteveH, McAlester (8/13/2008 11:51:03 AM) Life in McAlester. Always interesting. Wish there was some way we could turn all our corruption and notoriety into some cash to fix a few of the myriad problems that have been here forever. Shouldn't supplying amusement to the rest of the state (and the nation, for that matter) be billable somehow? Maybe a voluntary check off box on your OK tax return? If you admit to reading with humor and amazement about the latest travesty in McAlester, check this box to have $5 of your tax contributed to ensure that we keep the stories coming.
	Report Comment machinist, (8/13/2008 1:33:29 PM) The people of Mcalester should be afraid. Mcalester has a feudal society. Always has, always will. The rights and freedoms of the U.S. constitution and the Bill of Rights that are enjoyed by most Americans, ie: freedom of the press, apply at the discretion of the ruling class there. It has always been that way, and no one has ever seemed to care enough to change things. Until they do, be careful what you say.
	Report Comment okpaul, (8/13/2008 2:08:31 PM) Gene Stipe and his cronies (and it looks as if Jim Miller is one of them) are nothing but crooks. They should all be in prison and their fortunes given back to the state of Oklahoma. The webmaster needs to hang in there! The Feds should be investigating the ones who asked for this information!
	Report Comment okie rigerunner, small town (8/13/2008 2:17:37 PM) Our criminal corupt officals in every city do not want us telling the truth about them. We better be careful they may hit us in the face or sue us. they may even try to frame us.We know they love to play the Blame Game. they think they are the only ones who are free to say or do what they want to. they are power happy. and we are just tax payers who owe them. They Think.
	Report Comment Devilsadvocate, (8/13/2008 2:21:34 PM) Are we still in America, or did something happen while I was sleeping???
	Report Comment Cov, (8/13/2008 2:59:29 PM) While we, the American public, were sleeping much has happened For one the political correctness police
	Report Comment touitsmrs, (8/13/2008 5:17:34 PM) GW Bush has given away all of our rights...thats what happened! Wake up people.
	Report Comment okiefied, (8/13/2008 5:24:26 PM) Since when is it illegal to post an opinion on a blog or whatever....and to touitsmrs...how did GW give away our rights...last time I checked it was the dems that want us to be more like Europe and have gun control...and more gov't run health care and such....the more dependent they make you on the gov't the more your rights will dwindle to nothing
	Report Comment What were they thinking, bixby (8/13/2008 6:11:11 PM) This is scarry, very scarry. Guns Kill people, and Computers and pins critize people in powerfull places. Just for the record, so no one comes to my door, Long live the queen.
	Report Comment touitsmrs, (8/13/2008 7:26:47 PM) Well Okiefied its a known fact that as of dec 07 Bush had broken some 1147 laws just on his own. Under the patriot act and several other laws hes changed it allows our govt to do to its citizens whatever it wants. Try to keep up. Maybe if you didnt just watch Fox news you would be up to speed. We live in a policed state and you dont even know what the current laws are and your actually defending him by not knowing whats going on. Youre a true okie, you have a hook in your ball cap huh?
	Report Comment livinlovely, (8/13/2008 7:42:08 PM) I don't usually respond to these ads but I feel I must this time. I am a redneck and I dont take kindly to someone trying to take away my rights. None of us do. don't let anyone try to bully us from being able to speak our thoughts. All small towns are pretty much the same, some feel they are the priviledged and can bully the rest by not allowing us to have our rights all the while they are nothing but crooks. Thats ok at least I can walk down the street proud and don't have to look over my shoulder and then try to call in favors to keep from going to jail or act crazy so I can stay in a hospital instead of going to prison!!
	Report Comment okiefied, (8/13/2008 8:29:18 PM) touitsmrs... I was actually born and raised in NYC...I moved here 5 years ago...so...now that we have that covered...yeah...maybe the patriot act does infringe a bit on some of our freedoms...but did you have any relatives die on Sept. 11? Didn't think so. You want to go live in a police state...go to Europe...and yes, since my family is fresh off the boat (Ireland and Germany) I do believe I do know what I am talking about. So...if you still think we should be more like Europe...go there to live....I know why my parents came here...sounds to me like maybe you are the true okie there.... schmuck...oh...FYI..I do watch the Clinton News Network and MSNBC as well as Fox...I prefer to be well rounded and make decisions based on all of the information not just what CNN tells me to believe....
	Report Comment okiefied, (8/13/2008 8:31:07 PM) oh...and I have never been fishing in my life...so maybe you should get the fish hook out of your ballcap....and I am female ;-)....fishing just is not my thing...
	Report Comment Mister Snitch!, Hoboken (8/13/2008 9:21:08 PM) If it's trouble with an OK blogger, you can be pretty sure it's either Chaz at Dustbury or Michael Bates at Batesline. Please email for phone, social security numbers, addresses and fingerprints. Only too happy to rat them out - I love our wonderful government.
	Report Comment anotherjamesdean, (8/14/2008 1:34:17 AM) suprise the hole U s a is like this..people have the power..so the law says.hog wash.people claim our rights back. or are you people scared...do you love being controled...we are loseing.our freedom more and more...remmember why our ancesters came here in the first place..
	Report Comment det. bunk, (8/14/2008 9:16:33 AM) stipes and his gang of lawyers,commissioner ect. have been doing this type of corruption for 20 plus years, they should all be locked up

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