Rinehart, Pope, Pelfrey Bound Over For Trial

County Commissioner Brent Rinehart, former State
Rep. Tim Pope and Midwest City businessman
Ray Pelfrey were bound over for trial in Oklahoma
County District Court today.

The charges they face grew out of an investigation
into the financing of Rinehart's campaign.

Special Judge James Paddleford announced the
decision after a long weekend of reviewing the
case presented by the Attorney General's office.
Paddleford said in his opinion that there is
sufficient evidence to put Rinehart, former
legislator turned political consultant Pope and
Pelfrey on trial.

Stephen Jones of Enid, Tim Pope’s attorney,
responded to the court finding: "The prosecution
of Tim Pope is dishonest, unfair and political. Tim
has tremendous community support from his
friends in the Legislature and in politics, his clients,
his family and his church. They stand by him and
his day of vindication is coming. We intend to show
in the weeks and months ahead that this charge is
politically inspired, selective prosecution, and is
based upon a house of cards which will crumble."