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Political Advertisement
STATEMENT FROM WILLIAM R. PIERCE, FORMER ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY/EMPLOYEE OF LAURA AUSTIN THOMAS
PIERCE ENDORSES JILL OCHS-TONTZ FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Beginning my legal career as a prosecutor was a great honor. Ms. Laura Thomas' Office recruited me after a successful tenure in the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office as a Felony Gang Prosecutor. While I was a thankful for my experience in Oklahoma County, Ms. Thomas offered me a substantial pay raise and a better work-life balance. I was ready for a new chapter. It is a chapter that I would like to forget because of the culture that Ms. Thomas has created in her administration. Despite any claims to contrary Ms. Thomas recruited me due to my reputation as a competent, motivated, and successful prosecutor.
[ “My concerns about Laura started immediately.”]
During my initial interview Ms. Thomas was discussing a recent murder case. Without knowing enough facts or the full circumstance Ms. Thomas openly expressed her desire to file a death penalty. I was troubled that the death penalty was talked about in such a casual manner. Despite my reservations I accepted Ms. Thomas' job offer.
During the first few months in the Logan County Office, we had very little direct contact with Ms. Thomas. When she did visit the office her visit usually seemingly brought great stress to the support staff. Most of the support staff seemed fearful of Ms. Thomas. They became quiet and rather subdued in her presence.
Due to Ms. Thomas' infrequent visits to Logan County, the deputies working security did not know her. On multiple occasions Ms. Thomas would rant about how disrespectful the deputies were and how dare they not know her. Before a subsequent visit, a photograph of Ms. Thomas was shared with the Deputies to assure a smoother interaction and appease her constant demand for attention.
I was moved to Payne County against my express wishes to remain in Logan County. I demanded a significant pay raise to make the move and Ms. Thomas accepted. My time in Payne County was particularly unpleasant. The stress that Thomas brought on her Logan County visits was the constant environment of the Payne County Office.
Ms. Thomas openly criticized any problematic case predating her term as being "the fault of the previous administration." Despite Ms. Thomas' repeated and open contempt for the previous administration, that of DA TOM LEE, she has been more than happy to accept the praise and support of the previous DA. Ms. Thomas will openly praise anyone who supports her but is quick to vilify anyone who questions her or attempts to guide her in a constructive way.
The stress levels in the Payne County Office were notably higher when Ms. Thomas was present. When she was there it was not unusual to overhear her screaming in her office and ranting about the latest person or circumstance to anger her. Ms. Thomas' frequently maligned the defense bar as being unethical and distasteful people. She always stressed that as prosecutors we were the good guys and the defense bar and defendants were always our foe.
During my time in Payne County it seems that most of the support staff was always on edge. The majority of the support staff was notably fearful of her. But I believe many simply hid their fear because they could not afford to lose their jobs. Staff and attorneys often received unprofessional emails that simply ranted about something bothering Ms. Thomas. The emails were toxic to the morale of the office.
I believe Ms. Thomas has created a culture of loyalty that is enforced by fear and intimidation. If any lawyer or staff member questions her or fails to embrace her views, they are ostracized as being disloyal, lazy, and incompetent. I believe Ms. Thomas is always concerned with how people will view her and how her decisions will look politically. This fear overrides her ethical obligations to be a minister of Justice.
I resigned from Ms. Thomas' administration on August 15th, of 2016 after Ms. Thomas directed me to engage in what I believed to be was an unethical prosecution. I submitted to her a detailed resignation letter. As I made my announcement, Ms. Thomas stated that she would make sure that I would never prosecute again. Since my resignation Ms. Thomas and surrogates have made spurious accusations about my character, my work ethic, my competence, and ironically, my ethics. This is a consistent narrative that Ms. Thomas levels against any employee that has left her good graces. But those still dependent upon a paycheck, are now being paraded as loyal and happy supporters.
Nearly every lawyer and support staff member from my Logan County tenure has left. The turnover in both lawyers and support staff, I believe, is directly attributable to the unhealthy and fearful environment created by Ms. Thomas.
This environment is quickly eroding the mission and integrity of the Payne and Logan County offices. It is in the best interests of Justice that Ms. Thomas not be afforded a second term as District Attorney. The people of Logan and Payne Counties deserve better. This is why I am openly supporting Jill Ochs-Tontz in her campaign for District Attorney and you should too.
William R. Pierce
Attorney at Law
Jill Ochs-Tontz for DA. Karen Ochs, Campaign Chairman/Treasurer, P.O. Box 1462, Guthrie, OK
