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Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s son will avoid a criminal record or charge after he was seen on video in an incident with local police after they found him drunk and with guns in his truck.
John Andrew Stitt, who goes by Drew, was confronted on Halloween night by Logan County Deputy Katlin Long after the guns were found in the parking lot of a local haunted house.
Stitt, 20, approached the officers and said, “Frankly, my dad is the governor.” At one point, he admitted to officers that he had been drinking after they asked if he had used marijuana.
Long can be heard responding, “I don’t care,” to which Stitt replies, “No, I know, I just want to clarify.”
She then asks Stitt if he was the driver and he calls out ‘a buddy’ named Ashley as the driver. The deputy then asks him to get his phone and call his parents.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s son will avoid a criminal record or charge after being seen on video in an incident with local police after they found him drunk and with guns in his truck
John Andrew Stitt, who goes by Drew, was confronted by Logan County Deputy Katlin Long on Halloween night after the guns were found in the parking lot of a local haunted house
Stitt, 20, approached the officers and said, “Frankly, my dad is the governor.” At one point, he admitted to officers that he had been drinking after they asked if he had used marijuana
Stitt, seen in a photo with his father, Republican Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt
Stitt, seen here with his entire family including John, recently won a second term at the governor’s mansion
Police spoke to four other people who had driven a black Dodge Ram that Stitt said he was driving and reported the “smell of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle … and coming out of their person,” including a pack of 30 Natural light.
Long finally says, “I’m pretty upset right now. He tried to say he wasn’t drunk, but I could tell from his students that he was really drunk. I could smell him and he slurps his words.’
However, according to the police, no arrests have been made The Oklahomanand Stitt’s mother Sarah – who spoke to police by phone – said a member of the state’s highway patrol would come for the guns, after the officer told Stitt to call his father and get someone to pick them up , since he was ‘obviously drunk and underage.’
One of the boys in the Dodge Ram, who did not appear to be intoxicated according to police, was allowed to drive himself and Stitt back to Stillwater, followed by officers.
These kinds of security details are completely legal under Oklahoma state law.
Four firearms, a rifle and alcohol were found in the truck and presented as evidence, a police report said.
None of those involved, including Stitt, were arrested.
Earlier this week, however, the sheriff recommended prosecuting Stitt for possession of alcohol as a minor. The Oklahoman reported.
Local District Attorney Laura Thomas instead opted to offer Stitt what is known as “deferred prosecution,” which would allow him to do community service to avoid an indictment and a criminal record.
told Thomas COCO 5 that the program – which started in 2021 – was designed to prevent minors with no criminal record from entering the justice system for possession. Only minors without a criminal record are offered the programme.
Stitt’s mother Sarah (pictured right) – who spoke to police by phone – said a member of the state’s highway patrol would come for the guns, after the officer told Stitt to call his father and get someone to collect them to pick up, since he was ‘obvious’. drunk and underage.’
District Attorney Laura Thomas instead opted to offer Stitt what is known as “deferred prosecution,” which would allow him to do community service to avoid charges and a criminal record
She added that his name had nothing to do with the offer: “Whether his last name was Stitt or Hofmeister doesn’t matter to me,” Thomas noted, referring to Stitt’s father and Joy Hofmeister, the Democrat he recently defeated in the gubernatorial state. election.
Sheriff Damien Devereaux was asked if Stitt also received special treatment.
He said, “People are talking about this being swept under the carpet, but we prepared a full detailed report that day and filed an affidavit with the district attorney’s office for charges.”
When informed of the deferred prosecution offer, Devereaux called it “typical” and that “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s no criminal record.” He also called Long “one of our best.”
Devereaux was later asked about the guns and clarified that Stitt was “not using the guns” and, as far as they could tell, “wasn’t driving,” so they didn’t believe they could charge him with anything beyond possession. .
Sheriff Damien Devereaux was asked if Stitt also received special treatment and said the situation was being handled appropriately and if possible they were tougher on Stitt as the governor’s son.
Devereaux was later asked about the guns and clarified that Stitt was “not using the guns” and, as far as they could tell, “wasn’t driving,” so they didn’t believe they could charge him with anything beyond possession.
He also did not believe that Stitt was drunk, but only under the influence.
Devereaux even suggested that it is “fair to say” that Stitt was treated more harshly than the usual perpetrator would have been because he is the governor’s son.
He added: “In some ways we’ve done our best to document this situation, cover our bases so we’re not accused of doing the governor’s office a favor because we don’t operate that way.”
Stitt, who is a member of the Oklahoma National Guard, also apparently wasn’t acting illegally because he had the guns in the truck. He told an officer he had been hunting deer earlier in the day.
The sheriff called it “a bit reckless,” but he didn’t know it was illegal.
It is not yet clear whether Stitt has accepted the deferred prosecution.