Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
A petitioner who had been suspended for two years and a day in 2012 had been granted reinstatement by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
The suspension involved criminal charges
On January 30, 2009, Conrady returned to Oklahoma following a three-week trip to the Middle East. Conrady was met at the Tulsa airport by his longtime girlfriend, Janice Pierce (“Pierce”), for a return trip to Okmulgee. During the drive home, Pierce informed Conrady she no longer wanted to continue their relationship. Pierce dropped Conrady off at his apartment; however, she refused to discuss the relationship any further. At some point Pierce also advised Conrady that she had begun dating a fellow Sunday school teacher at her church, Steve McCroskey (“McCroskey”).
Over the next twenty-four hours, Conrady became increasingly despondent. He began consuming vodka and taking pain medication. Pierce ignored Conrady’s repeated efforts to contact her during this period of time. On the evening of February 1, an intoxicated and emotionally charged Conrady armed himself with a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and drove to McCroskey’s residence. Fortunately, prior to Conrady’s arrival, McCroskey and Pierce had departed to return McCroskey’s six-year-old daughter to her mother in Wilson, Oklahoma. Conrady arrived at the residence and forcibly entered the house, armed with the loaded pistol. After finding no one present, Conrady fired rounds throughout the home, including into a bathroom mirror, a television, and other personal items belonging to Pierce’s boyfriend. One of the rounds pierced an interior wall and the projectile was discovered in a bedroom normally occupied by McCroskey’s daughter. Another round penetrated the outside wall of the house and lodged in a neighbor’s storm door. After exiting the home, Conrady discharged his firearm multiple times into Pierce and McCroskey’s unoccupied vehicles. Conrady left the scene and returned to his home in downtown Okmulgee.
Shortly after the incident, police arrived at Conrady’s residence to discuss his involvement in the shooting. Conrady refused to authorize a search of his property; however, officers obtained a search warrant and retrieved the .45 caliber pistol used in the shooting. Conrady was placed under arrest and was subsequently charged by the Okmulgee County District Attorney with six counts in State of Oklahoma v. Conrady, Case No. CF-2009-22…
Conrady pled nolo contendere to all six counts. He was ordered to return for sentencing on August 18, 2010. After a continuance, the matter was rescheduled for sentencing on October 13, 2010. Conrady withdrew his original plea at the October hearing and pled guilty to the six charges. On December 15, 2010, the trial judge issued an order deferring sentencing on all six counts, with the probationary periods on each to run concurrently over a period of five years. Conrady was also required to pay court costs and restitution to both of his victim.
He produced favorable character testimony, completed his obligations in the criminal matter and had no further incidents. (Mike Frisch)