New Sex Charge Leveled Against Rowland

A new charge of sexual harrassment against former state investigator Kevin E. Rowland was unveiled in Oklahoma County today.

Rowland now stands accused of groping a male employee who worked for him at the state medical examiner's office. In an indictment unsealed yesterday, he faces charges of inappropriate contact with a female office worker.

The state multicounty grand jury on Monday indicted Rowland twice. He is charged in the second indictment with one felony count of sexual battery.

Grand jurors alleged Rowland, 44, touched the private parts of a male investigator "while making a sexually explicit statement in reference to" the employee's private parts.

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Attorney Confirms Rowland's Indictment

Kevin Rowland, the former chief investigator for the Oklahoma medical examiner's office, has been indicted on four counts of sexual battery, his attorney says.

A judge in Tulsa County Thursday unsealed the indictment against Rowland but did not disclose any details of the document, saying that would have to wait for Rowland's imminent arrest.

Rowland's attorney, Scott Adams, confirmed the counts in the indictment.

Rowland surrendered late in the morning and was released on bail.

Rowland resigned as chief investigator in March amid allegations of sexual harassment.

A multi-county grand jury report accused him of sexually harassing female co-workers and being abusive. It said two women filed grievances that disappeared from official files.

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Grand Jury Rips ME's Office, Issues Indictments

A state grand jury today returned two sealed indictments and in its public report called for reforms in the medical examiner's office, including its merger with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The report alleged that Kevin Rowland, the former chief investigator, "was obviously abusive," but for years was allowed to have "absolute power, control and authority over the entire office." Rowland refused to testify before the grand jury.

The Oklahoman's Nolan Clay has a comprehensive report at www.newsok.com.

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Rowland Resigns From ME's Staff

Kevin Rowland resigned as chief investigator in the Medical Examiner's office as the agency remains under pressure from lawmakers to restructure how the Medical Examiner's office is overseen.

Before he resigned, Rowland was placed on paid leave, said Cherokee Ballard, spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner's Office.

The office has been in turmoil because of sexual harassment accusations against Rowland and other issues. Rowland has denied the allegations.

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World: Edmondson Wants Audit Of ME's Office

By Mick Hinton, Tulsa World ~ Attorney General Drew Edmondson has requested an investigative audit of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, officials confirmed Friday.

A letter dated Thursday seeking the audit stated that the attorney general had received a complaint and conducted an interview, concluding “that an investigative audit should be conducted.”

”Because this involves an investigation which could result in criminal charges being filed, this audit and its results are to be kept confidential until the investigation has been completed,” states the letter written by Edmondson’s first assistant, Tom Gruber.

Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, said Friday he had received information he felt could be of a criminal nature and “went straight to the attorney general.”

Questions have been raised about the management of Chief Medical Examiner Jeffery Gofton and his assistant, Kevin Rowland.

Lamons and other Tulsa area lawmakers have been concerned after Gofton said he intended to halt autopsies being performed at the Tulsa office, which concerned local law enforcement and the Tulsa County district attorney’s office. Gofton backed away from his plan after complaints from law enforcement, lawmakers and others.

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