Pope Pleads Guilty In Rinehart Probe

Former Republican Rep. Tim Pope (at left in photo with Rinehart), the manager of former Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart's 2004 campaign, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Oklahoma County District Court to a misdemeanor campaign finance violation.

Prosecutors, documents show, agreed to dismiss multiple felony counts if Pope pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting a contributor in exceeding the statutory limit for campaign contributions.

The deal carries a three-year deferred sentence, a $500 fine and other costs.

As part of the deal, Pope also will end challenges to a federal civil judgment in a separate case.

The attorney general sued Pope for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Pope had challenged a $4,500 judgment in the case.

Pope also agreed to testify truthfully if called during Rinehart's trial, which is scheduled to begin in November.

Rinehart is charged with multiple felonies, including fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors claim he accepted campaign contributions over the legal limit from several contributors who have all pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in the case. Rinehart has denied any wrongdoing.

Image courtesy The Oklahoman.

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Rinehart To Be Investigated...Again

Former Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart is going to be investigated again.

This time, District Attorney David Prater wants to know the details behind an uncashed, two-year-old check for $71,185 found in a credenza in offices Rinehart vacated. The check was written by an auctioneer after surplus property was sold by Rinehart’s District 2 office nearly two years ago.

Prater sent a letter this week asking the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the state auditor to investigate whether Rinehart or his staff are guilty of any wrongdoing, according to records that were obtained by The Oklahoman. Prater also asked state authorities to look into what happened to a computer and two monitors discovered to be missing during an audit when Rinehart left office.

Rinehart was defeated in the Republican primary last year as he sought reelection. He already faces a legal battle over charges filed earlier.

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IRS Says Rinehart Violates Judge's Order

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart has not turned over all of the corporate records for his heating and air business, Unta Bent Inc., to federal investigators, an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service says in a court filing that seeks sanctions against him.

Rinehart claims he has turned over all records in his possession. A federal judge now will decide whether Rinehart has violated his July 31 order to produce all corporate records requested by the IRS, which had asked U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton to fine Rinehart or send him to jail for not turning over records as he was directed in an earlier court order.

Heaton denied a motion to find Rinehart in contempt after a hearing last month, but he ordered the embattled commissioner to surrender all 2003 records for is company or explain why they are not available.

Rinehart had said some records were taken by investigators from other agencies. He is awaiting trial on campaign finance charges in Oklahoma County District Court and also had been investigated by the FBI.

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Rinehart Ordered To Surrender Records

U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton today ordered Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart to surrender any 2003 tax records for his Unta Bent Inc. to federal investigators by August 11 or submit a sworn statement indicating that the requested documents do not exist or are in the hands of another government agency.

Heaton said he would find Rinehart in civil contempt of court, as requested by government attorneys, if a report due August 15 indicates he does not comply with today's order.

Rinehart, defeated Tuesday in his attempt to win a second term, has been under investigation by the IRS since November 2006. He also faces trial on campaign finance charges.

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Maughan Came Close To Clear Win

Republican Brian Maughan came close to a clear primary win in today's voting for Oklahoma County commissioner, getting 4,230 votes, or 47.4 percent, against J. D. Johnston and incumbent Brent Rinehart.

Rinehart was given the boot by voters; he got only 1,900 votes and 21 percent. Johnston got 2,808 votes, or 31.4 percent.

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Campaign 2008: Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Comic Books, Bottled Water

Thus far in the primary election season, we've seen ice cream trucks by Rep. Randy Terrill's GOP challenger, Curtis Bruehl, a street-side hot dog/hamburger cookout by south Oklahoma City Rep. Mike Reynolds, a "comic book" from Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart and now, Terrill is out with bottles of water labeled "cool, refreshing and conservative" left on doorsteps. The note on the right from Terrill reads, "It's not an ice cream cone. Sorry."

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Insiders: Brent Rinehart Is History

Political insiders and observers are unanimous in their assessment of Tuesday's Republican primary for Oklahoma County commissioner: Incumbent Brent Rinehart is history.

That harsh assessment of the controversial Rinehart's chances of winning renomination comes from all of those The McCarville Report Online asked about the race and that includes consultants, county officials, county politics-watchers and political insiders.

Has Media Barrage Boosted Johnston?

A recent TvPoll for KWTV-Channel 9 found Rinehart running second behind challenger Brian Maughan (left) and slightly ahead of challenger J. D. Johnston. That poll, however, concluded before a Johnston media barrage, funded in large part by Johnston's own money, that almost all agree has boosted him in the race. The poll put Maughan at about 35 percent, Rinehart at about 20 percent and Johnston at about 18 percent.

"This is a classic," one observer said. "You've got an incumbent in trouble. You've got a grass-roots, door-knocking guy in Maughan and you've got a top-down candidate in Johnston, who is dominating in the paid media."

'He's toast.'

Said another: "Whatever Rinehart had in the way of support a month ago, he's got today. It probably hasn't shrunk, but it sure hasn't grown. He's toast."

Rinehart's Problems

Reflective of Rinehart's difficulties this time around is the amount he's been able to raise to fund his reelection bid: Just $28,000, compared to the $216,000 he raised in 2004. Rinehart says the investigation into his 2004 campaign donations scared off donors this time around. Rinehart still faces criminal charges as a result of that investigation, which he has blamed on political enemies in both parties. He faces trial in September on felony campaign corruption charges. He also faces an Internal Revenue Service examination of his personal and business tax returns for 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Ground Game vs. Advertising Barrage

Those in the know say Maughan has worn out his shoes knocking doors in the commission district and supplemented that effort with what most describe as effective direct mail pieces. Thus far, he's had no advertising that's been visible.

Johnston, however, has relied on advertising and done little door-to-door contact. Sources say the former Bethany mayor made a decision to restrict his time away from home since his wife suffers from cancer. One supporter said that while he admires Johnston's support of his wife, his failure to "personalize" his campaign with direct voter contact weakens his candidacy.

Rinehart, most say, has done little campaigning and there's been no advertising thus far. "He doesn't have the money" for advertising, said one observer. Rinehart has placed signs in the district, but he's been matched by Johnston and Maughan, so there seems little advantage for him there.

One of those familiar with the campaigns of all three candidates says he sees Tuesday's result as "Brian and J. D. in the high thirties and Rinehart in the twenties" in the vote totals. That outcome would result in a Johnston-Maughan runoff as Democrat Jim Dickinson, Harrah construction firm owner, waits for the GOP to pick its nominee. Dickinson is expected to best opponents Bob Boyster and Charles Saunders.

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Sheriff's FOP Dumps On Rinehart

By John Estus/The Oklahoman ~ Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart received a vote of no confidence this morning from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Fraternal Order of Police.

The vote stems from Rinehart’s history of disagreements with Sheriff John Whetsel, but “the straw that broke the camel’s back” was the controversial comic book released by Rinehart’s re-election campaign last week, FOP President Larry Grant said at this morning’s weekly board of county commissioners meeting.

Grant told Rinehart, the District 2 Commissioner, that the fallout from the comic book is negatively affecting Oklahoma’s national perception and that Rinehart has a personal agenda and is not conducting himself professionally.

The comic book attacks homosexuals, Whetsel and other local politicians who Rinehart claims are out to get him. It has received national media attention as a homophobic hit piece, but Rinehart has defended the book as a creative way to inform voters about his often-controversial political career.

Rinehart said during the meeting that he’s never needed FOP or other union support in the past and the he’ll “be fine” without it. He is up for re-election this year and the Republican primary is Tuesday.

Grant gave Rinehart a letter detailing the vote of no confidence during the meeting.

Grant told Rinehart that local law enforcement officers are “insulted” that Rinehart labeled equipment they use for protection as “toys” in the comic book.

In a sequence in the comic, Whetsel is shown asking for more money so he can buy “more, more and more toys!” The “toys” referenced include police cars and armored assault vehicles.

Whetsel has called Rinehart anti-law enforcement in the past. Rinehart said this morning that he isn’t anti-law enforcement but wants to hold the sheriff’s office accountable for its expenses.

Following the meeting, Rinehart called the sheriff’s FOP “almost a taxpayer-funded political machine” for Whetsel.

Grant said Whetsel had no knowledge that he would appear at today’s meeting.

The vote of no confidence occurred at last night’s FOP Lodge 155 meeting. It was unanimous.

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Rinehart Contributor Faces Charges

From NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ A Norman developer who pleaded guilty this year to funneling improper campaign contributions to Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart now faces manslaughter and DUI charges following a Monday night fatal traffic accident in Oklahoma City.

Police say Jerl Methvin was jailed overnight following the one-car crash near SE 104th and Triple X road that killed a passenger, Candy Dubiel, age 37, the mother of six who is well-known in the Oklahoma City homeschooling community.

Police reports say Methvin was allegedly traveling at a speed of more than 100 mph when his car missed a curve and struck a utility pole.

Methvin was originally charged with Commissioner Rinehart in a case prosecuted by the State Attorney General. He was given a six-month deferred sentence after admitting he contributed in excess of the legal limit of $5,000 to Rinehart's campaign for county commission.

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Poll: Maughan Leads Rinehart, Johnston

A poll in the Oklahoma County commissioner race shows incumbent Republican Brent Rinehart running a distant second to challenger Brian Maughan with challenger J. D. Johnston in third place.

The poll, taken of 440 likely Republican primary voters, surveyed July 18-20, shows that Maughan got 34.7 percent, Rinehart 19.5 percent and Johnston 18.1 percent. About 28 percent said they are undecided.

The poll was taken for KWTV-Channel 9 in Oklahoma City by TvPoll.com and the results were presented on the station's morning show by pollster and political science professor Keith Gaddie.

Said Gaddie: "We also mapped the results and Maughan is strong across the district, Johnston is predictably strong but not overwhelming in Bethany, and Rinehart is weak all over. There were heavy undecideds from South OKC through Del City all the way out to Harrah.

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Rinehart, 'Comic Book' On CNN Today

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/07/21/seg.rinehart.comic.book.cnn?iref=24hours

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Rinehart Comic Book Targets Foes, Others

The Oklahoman's John Estus reports today: The "liberal good ol' boys,” gays and Satan are doing everything they can to get Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart out of office, a comic book prepared by his re-election campaign claims.

[The comic book idea is not a new one; several note today that Jim Marshall, Rinehart's chief deputy, used such a device when he sought the Republican nomination for attorney general along with Tim Green and Denise Bode in 2002.]

Read all of the story at http://newsok.com/rineharts-comic-book-targets-foes/article/3271203/?tm=1216280078.

To view the comic book, click http://downloads.newsok.com/documents/rinehartcartoon.pdf.

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IRS Wants Rinehart Fined, Jailed

By Jay F. Marks/The Oklahoman ~ Attorneys for the Internal Revenue Service want Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart's money and his freedom for failing to cooperate in an ongoing investigation.

They are asking a federal judge in Oklahoma City to hold Rinehart in civil contempt of court because he has not complied with a Jan. 25 order to provide documents and testimony in the probe, which began in November 2006.

The IRS wants Rinehart — who maintains he has produced everything requested of him — to be fined for each day he does not turn over the documents sought by investigators, according to court papers. The agency also is asking the judge to jail Rinehart until he turns over corporate records for his heating and air conditioning company.

U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton has set a July 31 hearing to consider the contempt issue.

Rinehart had argued he should not have to answer IRS agent's questions because his answers might incriminate him. He is awaiting trial in Oklahoma County District Court on campaign finance charges.

Heaton ordered Rinehart to cooperate with the IRS in January, but he acknowledged some questions might affect his criminal case.

The IRS is looking into tax records for Rinehart and his company, Unta Bent Inc., from 2003 to 2005.

One of those seeking to replace Rinehart, Republican Brian Maughan, said today that, “The latest news of the IRS seeking imprisonment of Brent Rinehart is continuing to erode the public trust. With three court dates this month alone regarding separate trials, Mr. Rinehart cannot possibly be focused on the people’s business while doing everything he can to stay out of jail and also running a reelection campaign. If Mr. Rinehart should be reelected and then found to be guilty it will cost nearly $200,000 to hold a special election to replace him. Brent Rinehart should do the right thing and step down as County Commissioner so that others can attend to the work of Oklahoma County.”

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Rinehart Trial Decision Due July 24th

Oklahoma County District Judge Jerry Bass is expected to rule on July 24th whether County Commissioner Brent Rinehart will stand trial on felony charges.

The judge's ruling is expected after arguments made Tuesday by attorneys for Rinehart, former campaign manager Tim Pope and donor Ray Pelfrey. Their attorneys argued that prosecutors don't have sufficient evidence to sustain conspiracy, money laundering and perjury charges. However, a second donor who received a deferred sentence for cooperating with investigators will provide such evidence, prosecutors said.

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Oklahoma County Officials Draw Foes

By Bryan Dean/The Oklahoman ~ Three of four Oklahoma County incumbents already face challenges for their offices as candidate filing continues today.

County Clerk Carolynn Caudill faces a familiar opponent in the Republican primary. Former District 3 Commissioner Stan Inman, who often clashed with Caudill before he lost a re-election bid two years ago, will try to unseat Caudill.

Embattled District 2 Commissioner Brent Rinehart, who is scheduled to go to trial in September on multiple felony charges stemming from his 2004 campaign, already faces four opponents.

Democrats Jim Dickinson of Harrah and Bob Boyster of Oklahoma City have filed for the seat along with Oklahoma City Republicans J.D. Johnston and Brian Maughan.

Sheriff John Whetsel also drew an opponent this morning. Republican Jim Heitmeyer of Del City will run against Whetsel, who is seeking his fourth term.

The filing period continues until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

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Johnston Files For County Commission

Republican J. D. Johnston of Bethany filed for the Oklahoma County Commission today, joining Brian Maughan in seeking to unseat incumbent Brent Rinehart.

Johnston, a former police officer and former Bethany mayor, said he has the experience to lead and the integrity to serve as the next county commissioner for district 2.

"I have already served our community as a police officer, city councilman and mayor," Johnston said. "I have raised a family, I have run a business, and I am a conservative who wants to improve our county and our future. I'm not interested in building a career in politics, only in serving our community and restoring integrity to county government."

Johnston served in the Oklahoma City and Bethany police departments for 20 years. For the past 26 years, Johnston also has been a small businessman, serving as president and CEO of Johnston Equipment and Supply Company that he started in 1983.

Johnston and Pam, his wife of more than 25 years, are members of Council Road Baptist Church, where he has served as the director of the Sunday School department. The Johnston's have four grown children and five grandchildren.

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Rinehart, Dickinson Signs Go Up

In what promises to be a spirited primary for the Oklahoma County Commission seat now held by Brent Rinehart, large signs for Republican Rinehart are now beginning to pop up in the district.

Rinehart, who faces trial on felony counts related to a previous campaign, has not announced officially he's seeking reelection, but his signs make it obvious he is.

He faces a challenge in the Republican primary by J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany, and Brian Maughan, former consultant to AT&T.

Signs also are appearing for Democrat Jim Dickinson of Choctaw, who previously ran against Rinehart.

Maughan kicks off his campaign tonight with a fundraiser at the home of GOP 1990 nominee for governor Bill Price.

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Maughan Announces For County Commission

Republican Brian Maughan today confirmed TMRO's March 15th report that he will seek his party's nomination for the Oklahoma County Commissioner seat in District 2 now held by the embattled Brent Rinehart.

Republican J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany, and Democrat Jim Dickinson of Choctaw announced earlier that they are candidates.

Civic leader and businessman Maughan said, "It’s time to restore integrity to the County Commissioner’s office in District 2."

Maughan recently left his position as a Public Affairs Consultant for AT&T to explore the race. He served as in-house consultant for the Fortune 50 global telecommunications leader, providing strategic legislative and regulatory guidance.

Prior to joining AT&T, Maughan served as the director of economic development for Oklahoma County District 2 and as a public information officer for Oklahoma County Emergency Management and Oklahoma County District 3. Maughan also served as a field director, consultant and fundraiser for the Oklahoma Republican Party.

In 2003 Maughan co-founded and now serves as President of Marketing Dimensions, a consulting and marketing firm for both businesses and campaigns. He was recently elected President-elect for the South Oklahoma City Rotary Club and currently is President of the US Grant High School Alumni Association. Maughan previously served on the board for the South Oklahoma City Chamber; as Chairman of the YMCA Central District; and was appointed by Governor Frank Keating to the Oklahoma Developmental Disability Council.

He holds associate’s degrees in public relations and journalism and broadcasting from Oklahoma City Community College.

Dickinson ran against Rinehart in 2006 and got 47 percent of the vote.

Rinehart faces prosecution on charges related to the financing of a previous campaign.

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Third Possible Opponent Eyes Rinehart Post

Embattled Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart has two opponents and may be about to get a third.

With Republican J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany, and Democrat Jim Dickinson of Choctaw already running against the Republican incumbent, Republican Brian Maughan reportedly is considering the race as well.

Maughan, who now works for At&T , served as the director of economic development for Oklahoma County District 2 and as a public information officer for Oklahoma County Emergency Management and Oklahoma County District 3. He's a former field director, consultant and fundraiser for the Oklahoma Republican Party and holds associate’s degrees in public relations and journalism and broadcasting from Oklahoma City Community College.

Dickinson ran against Rinehart in 2006 and got 47 percent of the vote.

Rinehart faces prosecution on charges related to the financing of a previous campaign.

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Developer Pleads Guilty, Will Testify Against Rinehart

Norman developer Jerl Methvin pleaded guilty to funneling improper campaign contributions to Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart and will testify for the state against Rinehart, who faces trial on September 22nd.

Methvin is the second person to plead guilty in the case. Earlier, Midwest City engineer Robert Larkin was placed on a three-year deferred sentence after pleading guilty and agreeing to testify against Rinehart and his former campaign manager, former State Rep. Tim Pope.

Methvin was given a six-month deferred sentence and ordered to pay court costs. He admitted making a donation to a political candidatein excess of the legal limit of $5,000.

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