Tim Pope Fined $4,500 For Robocalls

Former State Rep. Tim Pope has been fined $4,500 for placing robocalls in last year's election. Enid attorney Stephen Jones, representing Pope (who was accused of breaking a federal law on the use of pre-recorded telephone messages) plans to appeal the fine levied by U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron.

The judge did agree with Pope and Jones in ordering the fine, which could have gone as high as $10 million if Cauthron had determined Pope was responsible for 20,000 illegal calls, as originally alleged by Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

About half of the calls with a message attacking an Oklahoma County commissioner were answered, according to court papers, so state prosecutors suggested a fine of $100 per call.

Pope and Jones argued that a smaller fine was appropriate, since only nine people complained to the attorney general's office about the January 2006 calls. Cauthron sided with Pope in assessing a $500 fine for each complaint.

Share |