By Donna Hales
An area gun shop owner wants to know why a former sheriff’s wife hasn’t been charged for illegally carrying a weapon.
Jerry Swink, who also is a concealed carry instructor, said he’s left a message at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and plans to ask the district attorney in McIntosh County about it.
“I’m an instructor and I own a gun shop, and every single day somebody asks me how former Sheriff Joe Hogan could have allowed his wife to carry a gun, badge and wear a uniform,” Swink said.
McIntosh County Assistant District Attorney Greg Stidham said earlier that the state would not prosecute former McIntosh County Sheriff Joe Hogan, who recently resigned, or his wife, convicted felon Jeanie Hogan.
Prosecutors had asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to conduct a probe into the issue. But before a report could be turned in, Hogan resigned and county prosecutors said that was the end of the matter.
U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling said the Department of Justice does not permit him to publicly comment on the existence or non-existence of investigations, as a general rule.
“I am confident that District 25 (which includes McIntosh County) will conscientiously consider this matter,” Sperling said.
Swink said he read in Wednesday’s Phoenix about Christopher Michael Whitaker, 35, who was indicted for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition after allegedly being caught with 49 rounds of ammunition. That and stories like that, topped by all the complaints Swink’s hearing about no action against the former sheriff’s wife is what’s set him off, he said.
“It is one-sided, and it’s unfair,” Swink said.
Swink said he probably won’t get anywhere and might just make enemies.
“But every single day, I’m going to push on this until they tell me to shut the hell up or give me an answer,” he said. “They’re just letting this slide. Just because he resigned, that doesn’t make any difference — it just ain’t right.”
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