Glen Baumert update and back story:

Letter to the Mayor of Mayes County:

To whom it may concern:

My Name is Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx. I am a former resident of Pryor Oklahoma. I
am writing in an attempt to find someone in Mayes County that can help
me understand what is happening to my friend Glen Baumert.

Glen is serving a 90-day jail sentence in Mayes County Jail for
possession of a marijuana joint.

I know there is a stigma attached to marijuana due to its
criminalization, though marijuana itself is far less dangerous to the
community than alcohol and many prescription drugs. It is arguable
that there is no actual crime in growing, possessing or imbibing
marijuana, if the definition of crime is causing harm to ones self or
the community.

The purpose of this letter is not to debate the integrity of drug
enforcement in Mayes County, though I must note that the sentence far
exceeds what would have been dealt in many other states and counties
that have recognized the harsh penalties for a relatively innocuous
substance does more damage to the people and the state than good.

Glen lives in Colorado and was back in Pryor to visit his children. He
was driving a borrowed vehicle while in town. During a traffic stop it
was discovered that there was a gun under the seat that belonged to
the owner of the vehicle. Glen was searched and was charged with
felony gun possession and possession of a marijuana joint.

In a plea bargain the gun charge was dropped and Glen was sentenced to
10 years in the Dept. of Corrections and pled out for 90 days jail
time for a single marijuana cigarette.

Glen is a convicted felon. Shortly after high school he was sentenced
to 10 years for giving a single Valium to an informant that approached
him for the sole purpose of setting him up in order to lessen the time
she would serve for being arrested for possession of scheduled drugs.
In her plea bargain, she was asked by the police to cooperate in a
sting operation: she would benefit if she could serve up
five other 'bad' guys. She approached Glen for drugs complaining she
needed them for pain. Glen offered her a single Valium. For that
single Valium, Glen served two and a half years of the 10 year
sentence in prison.

Can we take a moment to consider the resources expended by the state
to set up the sting operation, hold the trial, and house Glen in the
State Pen for two and a half years, for his "crime?" Was this justice?
Did this serve the people of the State of Oklahoma? Is this really the
best use for the peoples tax dollars?

Incidentally, I was present in 1986 when Glen Baumert saved the life
of a friend of ours, after paramedics had given up. Glen would have
liked to pursue a career in paramedics, which he is well suited for,
but now cannot due to his felony record.

To get back to the case at hand, Glen agreed to serve the 90 days for
possession for the single marijuana cigarette. At the same time Glen's
case was in the courts, another man was being prosecuted for alledgingly molesting or behaving inappropriately with a number of young girls. This sex offender had a plea bargain also. He pled to a lesser charge. His sentence? 100 days in the County jail...and he doesn't have to register as a sex offender. Glen however, will be labeled a felon for life.

One of the alledged victims of this sex offender was Glen Baumert's daughter.

Glen informed the DA that he was concerned that he and the sex
offender that was charged with victimizing his daughter would be serving time together in
the same jailhouse. He warned the DA that he would have a difficult
time restraining himself if this were the case. He has been trying
since last November to serve his 90-day sentence before the sex
offender.

These warnings were disregarded and Glen found himself in the small
Mayes County Jail with the man that behaved inappropriately with his daughter.
I know from a Pryor resident that the sex offenders are usually
segregated from the other inmates, though apparently that wasn't required.

Recently, I heard that the sex offender was beaten in jail. After one
week of Glen's sentence, the 'sex offender' was moved to the regular
jail pod where Glen was also housed. Almost immediately, Glen
confronted the man and a fight ensued. What's going on here, people?

When did it become justice to let a sex offender plea to 100 DAYS? Is
that what the innocence of our children is worth?
If these two are allowed to share the same space, the results are
certain to be disastrous. Glen does not need another temptation to
take out his outrage on the well deserving target. I am talking about
the sex offender, to the justice system here.

Is this the manner in which the Mayes County justice system is
supposed to be working? Is this going to go on with no public outcry?

If I didn't know Glen personally, and heard this story I would
probably shake my head and click my tongue and mutter a few words of
sympathy for the poor bastard, and curse the judge that allowed all
this to happen. Glen is my friend from childhood. I know him, and know
that he is a good person, not a menace to the community, but rather,
an asset.

I am asking that some light be brought to this case and justice
served. Glen's case should be commuted, our sex offender laws
scrutinized, and the Judge/Judges in these matters taken to task.

And the jail? You can't tell me that NOBODY knew that putting that
particular sex offender in a cell with a victim's dad would be
anything but disasterous.

This is a matter that can and should be handled by concerned citizens
and public servants within the community. If it is not, then I will do
everything within my power to make sure this issue is brought before a
larger arena.

Sincerely

Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Concerned citizen