The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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March 30, 2012

Enid man gets life sentence for illegal drugs trafficking

By Cass Rains, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — A 71-year-old Enid man was sentenced to life in prison without parole for trafficking in illegal drugs following a three-day jury trial.

K.O. Cooper also was sentenced on five other felony charges — all after convictions on two prior felonies. He was convicted Friday by a nine-woman, three-man jury.

Cooper was charged in 2009 in two separate cases. The oldest case was two counts of distribution of cocaine. The charges resulted from the sale of cocaine to a police informant Sept. 11 and 15, 2008.

The more recent case included charges of unlawful possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, operating a police scanner in the commission of a crime and trafficking in illegal drugs.

Those charges stemmed from a citywide drug sweep conducted by Enid Police Department and multiple law enforcement agencies from throughout northwest Oklahoma. Officers served a search warrant at Cooper’s home during the sweep.

Jurors recommended Cooper serve 15 years and pay a $100,000 fine for both counts of distribution of a controlled substance. They recommended sentences of six years for the charges of possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute, as well as a $25,000 fine on the possession charge. They also recommended Cooper serve four years and pay a $5,000 fine for possession of a police scanner during the commission of a felony.

Assistant District Attorney Tallena McMichael presented the case for the state. Cooper was defended by attorneys Stephen Jones, Johnny Lombardi and April McCurdy.

District Judge Dennis Hladik, who heard the case, ordered a presentencing investigation and set formal sentencing for 9 a.m. May 29.

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