Tulsa World: Area Briefs

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Area Briefs

By Staff Reports
Published: 10/17/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 10/17/2009 5:34 AM

Boy, 4, recovering after being shot with rifle

NOWATA — A 4-year-old Nowata boy was in a Tulsa hospital Friday after being shot in the chest by his teenage cousin, authorities said.

Nowata County Sheriff James Hallett said the boy was shot with a .22-caliber Magnum rifle at his grandparents' home five miles east of town about 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

He said the youngster was rushed to Jane Phillips Hospital in Nowata and from there was flown to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, where he underwent surgery.

The sheriff said the bullet apparently nicked the boy's aorta and collapsed a lung.

Hallett said the boy's cousin, a 15-year-old, was playing with the rifle and pulled the trigger once. When nothing happened, he pulled the trigger a second time, discharging the weapon.

The rifle belonged to the grandfather of the younger boy, who lives 100 yards away from his grandparents.

The sheriff did not release the names of the two boys.

Hallett said his office is looking at the shooting as an accident, though the investigation is continuing.

— Manny Gamallo, World staff writer

Former pastor sentenced for lewd molestation

JAY — A former Delaware County pastor was sentenced to 10 years for molesting a 15-year-old girl who attended his church, a prosecutor said Friday.

Joshua Spires, 28, of Odessa, Texas, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 10 counts of lewd molestation in Delaware County District Court in Jay.

He

was sentenced to 10 years on each count and fined $10,000. All the counts will run concurrently, said Bryce Lair, assistant district attorney.

According to court records, the sexual contact assaults occurred every Sunday at the Jay church on Spires' desk or on a couch in his office about an hour before services began.

Spires must serve 8 1/2 years before he is eligible for early release, Lair said.

The victim's family was consulted about the plea agreement, he said. As part of the plea agreement, Spires confessed in court to the sexual misconduct with the teenager, who was once in his youth group.

The sexual contact relationship began in 2007 and lasted until Nov. 15, 2008, when the victim ended it, according to an affidavit. Both the victim and Spires told authorities the relationship was consensual, but Oklahoma law states a 15-year-old cannot consent to a sexual relationship.

— Sheila Stogsdill, World correspondent

Great Dane in attack unlikely to be destroyed

GROVE — A Great Dane that mangled an 11-year-old boy's face and neck at a Grand Lake dog walk Saturday will likely not be destroyed, according to a Grove animal shelter officer.

Troy Helms, of Grove, underwent an hour-long surgery in which he received around 100 stitches after he was bitten and shaken by a Great Dane at Strut Your Mutt dog walk.

The event was event sponsored by the Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake, a private organization.

The boy's parents were not available for comment.

Grove police issued Connie Norris, the owner of the dog, a citation for keeping a dog in an annoying manner and dog bite. She is to appear in Grove Municipal Court on Nov. 12, according to the police department.

She is a former Humane Society president and current president of Angel Paws, a group that visits nursing centers and an elementary school.

The dog "is trained to go into nursing home, schools and hospitals," said Kathy Baker, Norris' attorney.

"This was a total freak accident," said Debbie Tanner, Grove animal control officer.

Whether the attack is provoked determines whether a dog is destroyed, Tanner said.

According to a Grove police report, Helms fell down while trying to catch his own dog, a golden retriever, that had gotten loose. While he was down, the Great Dane attacked him, records show.

The dog remains quarantined for 10 days from the day of the attack.

— Sheila Stogsdill, World correspondent By Staff Reports

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