Published: August 29, 2008 10:35 pm      

8-30 OKC watch

Ethics panel reprimands ex-speaker

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Former House Speaker Lance Cargill drew a public reprimand Friday for violating state ethics rules by diverting campaign donations intended for the Oklahoma Republican Party for use in specific GOP House races.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission, in a statement, accused Cargill, R-Harrah, of “multiple violations” of civil ethics rules in 2004.

The Republican State House Committee, which the ethics panel said Cargill controlled, and Oklahoma County Republican Committee also drew a reprimand.

In a statement, Cargill said: “I certainly worked to promote the election of Republicans, but I never intended to violate any rules of the Ethics Commission, and I acted in good faith in regard to the events at issue.”

Charlie Price, spokesman for Attorney General Drew Edmondson, said the commission relayed information about the case several months ago. “We looked at it and saw nothing that rose to the level of criminal prosecution,” Price said.

Noble woman identified as stabbing victim

NORMAN — Norman police have identified the victim of Thursday’s stabbing death as Sophia Montelongo, 27, of Noble.

The victim and the man suspected of killing her were both employees of the Super 8 Motel where she was attacked Thursday afternoon.

Juan Antonio Yanez-Escobedo, 34, of Norman, has been booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center on a complaint of first degree murder.

Police responded to the motel Thursday afternoon. Montelongo was found in one of the hotel’s rooms with multiple stab wounds.

The Norman Transcript