Former Pittsburg County judge agrees to deferred prosecution
BY Associated Press
Thursday, January 24, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY — Attorney General Scott Pruitt said former Pittsburg County Special Judge William Layden Jr. has agreed to a deferred prosecution in connection with a drug court embezzlement scheme.
Oklahoma's multicounty grand jury indicted Layden for conspiracy to defraud the state in October 2011. He was accused of interfering with an investigation of the Pittsburg County Drug Court.
The drug court's coordinator was indicted for embezzlement and destroying records. She is awaiting trial.
Layden agreed to pay more than $4,700 to cover one-third of the cost of an audit of the drug court and not seek public or judicial office.
In an affidavit, Layden said he took steps to protect the drug court's coordinator that he "should not have taken." His attorney, Rob Nigh, didn't immediately return a telephone call Thursday.
