Oklahoma Officials Settle Lawsuit Against Sheriff for $10M

Custer County, Okla., officials have settled a lawsuit filed by 14 women against former Sheriff Michael Burgess for $10 million.

Commissioners reached a settlement of the 2007 lawsuit. Taxpayers will ultimately pay the bill, with the award applied to property tax payments that will be spread out over the next three years.

The 57-year-old Burgess was convicted in January 2009 of 13 felony charges, including rape, sexual battery and kidnapping, and was sentenced to 79 years in prison. The charges related to female inmates and drug court participants.

One of the victims, Brenda Brown, says she doesn’t feel sorry for Custer County residents because the allegations against Burgess came out before he was re-elected to serve another term.

Brown says she’s glad the whole thing is over.

Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com