MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBER SERVICES | SIGN IN SIGN OUT | MY PROFILE PAGE | MY ACCOUNT

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email      Comment Comment      RSS RSS     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark

Ex-lawyer is charged with trying to vote as a felon

SKEPTICAL
Robert E. Frazier III: He calls the case "selective prosecution at its finest."
 
By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer
Published: 10/15/2008  2:10 AM
Last Modified: 10/15/2008  2:21 AM

A former Tulsa lawyer who recently was released from prison was charged Tuesday with swearing or affirming a false affidavit to be eligible to vote, a felony.

The charge against Robert E. Frazier III alleges that he registered to vote last month before completing a felony sentence imposed by Tulsa County District Judge Tom Gillert.

A convicted felon is ineligible to register to vote for a period equal to the time prescribed in the judgment and sentence — four years, in Frazier's case.

"I thought I could still vote," Frazier said Tuesday, adding that he "absolutely" did not intend to violate any voting law.

Frazier, 35, said he thinks it was "selective prosecution at its finest" for the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office to charge him for what he categorized as a mistake.

Frazier was sentenced April 30 to four years in prison after a nonjury trial in which Gillert convicted him of three felony counts of domestic assault and battery as a second offense. Gillert cleared him of feloniously pointing a weapon.

At a Sept 2 judicial review of that sentence, Gillert suspended the remaining three years and eight months, and Frazier was released from prison. He still had a felony record.

Frazier's name had been deleted from the Tulsa County Election Board's voter registration system May 27.

He "admitted to re-registering" to vote Sept. 10, a sheriff's investigator wrote in an affidavit. Frazier also admitted to signing the registration form "without reading the oath section before signing," that affidavit states.

A prospective voter is told to sign an oath indicating that he or she has not been convicted of a felony or, if so, that a period of time equal to the original sentence has expired, an Election Board official said.

The state Supreme Court issued an order in June striking Frazier's name from the rolls of attorneys.

With professional disciplinary proceedings pending, Frazier resigned from the Oklahoma Bar Association. He cannot apply for reinstatement of his law license for five years, the Supreme Court's order says.




Bill Braun 581-8455
bill.braun@tulsaworld.com
By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer

Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email      Comment Comment      RSS RSS     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark

Reader Comments
       Add your comment

17 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Report Comment Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you.  -- Web Editor Jason Collington
 
 
Report Comment
Isaac Parker, Tulsa (10/15/2008 5:10:13 AM)
Frazier was sentenced April 30 to four years in prison after a nonjury trial in which Gillert convicted him of three felony counts of domestic assault and battery as a second offense. Gillert cleared him of feloniously pointing a weapon.

At a Sept 2 judicial review of that sentence, Gillert suspended the remaining three years and eight months, and Frazier was released from prison. He still had a felony
record.
-------------------------------------
Another example of a touchy-feely court ruling in favor of an obviously dangerous felon and an "officer of the court" to boot. Our courts are handing out suspended sentences in exchange for guilty pleas to lesser charges, and it appears to happen frequently. Lazy prosectutors and judges... no wonder there are so many repeat offenses... no accountability for the perps.
Report Comment
C.R. Delough, Tulsa (10/15/2008 5:17:17 AM)
Frazier should read what he signs, one would think a person with lawyer training would know better.
Report Comment
Bluebird48, Sand Springs (10/15/2008 7:12:52 AM)
Where did this man go to LAW SCHOOL!!!
Report Comment
okie ridgerunner, small town (10/15/2008 7:14:12 AM)
Shows we have some crooked and stupid lawyers out there who think they are above the law. lets be careful which one we give our money to. it is easy to pay your way right to jail and not know it.
Report Comment
Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (10/15/2008 8:30:48 AM)
99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name...
Report Comment
Harvester3, Broken Arrow (10/15/2008 8:57:29 AM)
We agree on something!
Report Comment
Ignatz, Broken Bow (10/15/2008 9:18:14 AM)
Next time you folks get nailed for failure to support your children or your meth lab gets raided and you end up in the pokie call your Republican precinct chairman to help you out.
Report Comment
Eagle 4, Tulsa (10/15/2008 9:20:57 AM)
Ignorance is no excuse to break the law, although it seems to be a prerequisite to becoming a lawyer. Where did this man get his law degree, Alaska? (Sorry, Gov, couldn't resist!)
Report Comment
Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (10/15/2008 9:51:13 AM)
Ignatz- I don't think that lawyers are any worse, or better, than anyone else!
Report Comment
Okie Dutch, Tulsa (10/15/2008 10:54:09 AM)
Crying "selective inforcement" is a pathetic whine, especially from a former lawyer who should be expert in reading fine print. Former felons can't vote. Does anyone not know that?

But don't you wonder who's job it is to keep track of voter fraud so closely that they could detect a former felon who lies? Was this a remarkably good example of business as usual regestration checks, or is someone keeping an extra close eye on this guy?

Actually, I'm okay with that either way. Lol.
Report Comment
C.R. Delough, Tulsa (10/15/2008 11:24:05 AM)
I, like Okie Dutch am curious as to who is keeping up with voter fraud...regardless, this guy has NO excuse to not know the law.
Report Comment
Graychin, Eucha (10/15/2008 12:32:17 PM)
Okie Dutch:

I'm with you and CR.
Report Comment
Graychin, Eucha (10/15/2008 12:45:15 PM)
Swami:

That wasn't very nice! Okie Dutch didn't deserve a response like that.
Report Comment
Whirled Peas, (10/15/2008 1:30:24 PM)
This prosecution does seem a bit petty.
Report Comment
oldhippyrebel, tulsa (10/15/2008 1:35:33 PM)
Felons can vote again, it is just in Okla it is different for every person. It is after the length of time of their judgement and sentence.
Report Comment
John BA, Broken Arrow (10/16/2008 10:39:57 AM)
The Republicans are getting really desperate now.
Report Comment
AzaD, (10/27/2008 11:00:15 AM)
Actually, felons can vote after the term of their original sentence has expired - it says THAT on the voter registration form, as well.

Honestly, I don't care what he says, Frazier is just a little punk that can't stop assaulting women because I'm guessing he has control issues. I'd honestly like to know why he can't stop assaulting whoever he's in a relationship with, does it make him feel like "Mr. Big-Man"? Of course, then that begs the question of what kind of loser woman would date or stay with this guy? Look him up on OSCN - he's the only lawyer with an extensive record of Assault & Battery.
 

 
Add Your Comment 
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.

 
  
Post Your Comment
 


Most Popular Stories
Comments made yesterday 2,015
Total Comments 1,033,582
Register to make reader comments

Most Popular Stories




Tulsa World

Home | About Tulsa World | Advertise With Us | Privacy | Usage Agreement | FAQ and Help | Contact Us | Today's Headlines
Copyright © 2010, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.




Advanced Search