ENID, OK - July 25, 2017 - Six individuals were named in unsealed multi-county grand jury indictments on Tuesday afternoon. The indictments are in regards to last June's death of a Garfield County Detention Facility inmate, Anthony DeWayne Huff Jr. Huff died in jail on June 8, 2016.
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A federal lawsuit was filed on June 6, 2017, which accused County jail officials of negligence in the death of Anthony DeWayne Huff Jr. The multi-county grand jury has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute criminal matters in all 77 counties. Grand jurors meet regularly when in session for two-to-three days per month to hear testimony. All proceedings are closed to the public.
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Those named in the indictments are Vanissa Gay, the only one in court at the time of the initial unsealing. Also named were John Robert Markus; Lela Goatley; Shawn Caleb Galusha; Jennifer Niles; and Sheriff Jerry Lee Niles Jr. All are charged with second-degree manslaughter. All bonds were set at $5,000.
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Enid attorney Stephen Jones spoke on behalf of Garfield County Sheriff Niles and said that Niles had not been contacted and told that he would be indicted. Jones asked if Niles could be called to immediately appear in court. District Judge Paul Woodward gave approval for Niles to be contacted at which time Sheriff Niles appeared in court. Sheriff Niles entered a plea of not guilty.
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All defendants eventually appeared before Judge Woodward with the exception of Goatley. Felony second-degree manslaughter is punishable by two to four years in prison, up to a year in county jail, fines of up to $1,000, or a combination of punishment and fines.
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In a press release, Attorney General Mike Hunter thanked the grand jurors for their work in the case and said the state will continue to rely on the multi-county grand jury in criminal proceedings.
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“I commend the grand jurors, attorneys and agents for their work on this case, leading to the indictments,” Attorney General Hunter said. “The state’s multi-county grand jury is an invaluable resource the state depends on to assist law enforcement and prosecutors.”
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The case will be prosecuted in Garfield County by District 26 District Attorney Chris Boring, who was asked to take the case when District 4 District Attorney Mike Fields recused, citing a conflict of interest because he advises the sheriffs in District 4, which includes Garfield County.
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Background on the case, according to jail records and court documents
- Huff was arrested June 4, 2016 on a public intoxication charge.
- On June 6, 2016, he was placed in a restraint chair by jail staff.
- On June 8, 2016, Huff was found unresponsive in the chair and pronounced dead.
- On June 9, 2016, a medical examiner ruled the manner of his death to be natural causes, and the probable cause of death was due to chronic alcoholism and due to a compulsive condition from a prior disease
- A federal lawsuit was filed on June 6, 2017, accusing Garfield County officials of negligence in his death.
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All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. More on this story as it develops.
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Was this the reason the court clerk’s office closed (went dark–claiming loss of power)?? Also the jail was fenced off and a deputy refused ant entry. Why??
William B. Maxwell
Hey Bill, a transformer blew near Security National Bank causing the power outage. They had tight security but you should have been allowed in.
I was just wondering if these people will be relieved of their duties till this matter is cleared up.
I was wondering that as well.
How can they get an indictment when the ME says the man died of natural causes?
Not sure. Something must have made the grand jury hand down the indictments but that does not mean anyone is guilty of anything.