AUDITS, CIVIL SUITS FOCUS ON SAME TOPIC

State audits released Wednesday on forfeitures by the Muskogee County
District Attorney's Office mirror allegations of illegal forfeitures
against the office in two federal civil-racketeering cases in Muskogee.

Kimm and Ruth Bushey filed one of the cases against District Attorney John
David Luton, his chief investigator and office manager Gary Sturm and his
drug task force. The other case against the same defendants was filed by
Margaret Baude.

Plaintiffs in both cases allege Luton and his employees illegally
confiscated and sold thousands of dollars worth of property belonging to them.

The audits for 2003 and 2004 state the district attorney's office is
failing to follow state forfeiture laws.

One of state Attorney General Drew Edmondson's assistants, Elizabeth R.
Sharrock, is defending Luton, Sturm and Luton's drug task force members in
those civil racketeering cases.

U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron recently said in a ruling that the
defendants were using obstructive tactics and that Sharrock "with no
justifiable basis, supported her clients' violation of (federal law),"
adding that conduct violating federal rules would not be tolerated.