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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: April 6, 2010
Sen. Bryce Marlatt
Sen. Marlatt Praises AG’s Efforts to Protect Adopted
Liberian Sisters
State Sen. Bryce Marlatt praised Attorney
General Drew Edmondson’s request this week that four Liberian-born
sisters be removed from of the custody of their adoptive parents
until a judge rules whether or not the children should stay with
the convicted child abusers.
“The failure of our child protective services and the justice
system to protect these children is unconscionable. I simply do
not understand how anyone would not understand that there has been
a conviction of child molestation in a home, an now that home is
no longer a safe environment,” said Marlatt, R-Woodward. “I
am relieved to see the Attorney General and District Attorney Thorp
have some commonsense and are stepping in on the behalf of these
children.”
Edmondson and Major County D.A. Hollis Thorp are asking for a judicial
review of the decision by Major County Associate District Judge
Vinson Barefoot allowing Ardee and Penny Tyler to retain custody
of four of the five girls they adopted in 2005. The couple was convicted
in February of physically abusing the fifth adopted sister and was
given 10-year suspended prison sentences. The couple’s biological
son was convicted of molesting the girl and their biological daughter
was convicted of assaulting her.
“I think this situation and the failure of DHS to remove these
little girls from this home, heightens the urgency for the legislature
to continue to bring much needed reforms to a state agency that
is desperate need of an overhaul,” said Marlatt. “With
regard to Judge Barefoot, his decision to keep the remaining children
in the home is a disgrace to his profession, and he should be removed
from the bench.”
The state Supreme Court has assigned Harmon County Associate District
Judge Mike Warren to review the case. A hearing is scheduled for
Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in Major County District Court in Fairview,
which is encompassed in Senate District 27.
For more information contact:
Sen. Marlatt: 405-521-5626
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