A Mustang man is being charged with two misdemeanors by the Washita County District Court — tampering with utilities, and removing proper or affixing improper license plate.
Smokey Levi Ogle, Jr., 40 of Mustang, was arrested August 25 after Cordell police officer Brandon Rogers was dispatched to a residence near north 3rd Street and Massingale Drive regarding a complaint of utility theft, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
On arrival, Officer Rogers immediately went to the electricity meter at the back of the residence, where he found two pieces of metal “shoved” into the meter making a connection for free electricity, according to the affidavit.
Ogle had a camper at that residence. While waiting for the city electric workers to arrive Officer Rogers walked to the back of the camper trailer using stolen electricity. Rogers said he saw a Citizen of Potawatomi Nation vehicle tag on the trailer. After running the tag, it came back stolen from Mustang and Rogers seized the tag, according to the affidavit.
Later that day, Officer Rogers mailed the license plate back to the owner, according to the affidavit.
Court records indicate a bench warrant for Ogle was issued Wednesday. Ogle was later arrested the same day. A preliminary hearing has not been set as of press time Thursday.
If convicted on all charges, Ogle is facing up to 18 months of imprisonment, $2,000 in fines or both.
Court records indicate this is not the first time Ogle has been arrested in Washita County. He is facing charges for three felonies — unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, removing proper or affixing improper license plate, and malicious injury to property.
In the felony filings from August 11, Cordell police officer Trevor Stewart witnessed a white Ford F350 traveling north along Glenn L English Street with the driver’s side headlight out, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Officer Stewart followed the vehicle and initiated the emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Smokey Ogle, Jr., pulled into the Right Here C-Store parking lot and came to a stop, according to the affidavit.
After making contact with Ogle and informing him of the reason for the traffic stop, Ogle allegedly informed Officer Stewart his license was suspended but provided an identification card and insurance verification. The VIN on the verification matched the vehicle tag, according to the affidavit.
Officer Stewart noted the passenger in the vehicle and recognized him as Zachery Donovan, 37. Stewart returned to his vehicle and ran the information through dispatch. Stewart was advised Donovan had a possible warrant, but it would need confirming with the issuing department, according to the affidavit.
Officer Stewart then returned to Ogle’s vehicle and informed him he was under arrest for driving with a suspended license. Donovan was placed in wrist restraints while waiting for the warrant confirmation. The warrant came back positive, but the issuing agency did not wish to extradite. Donovan was then released from the scene, according to the affidavit.
Ogle was then informed the vehicle tag came back for a gray pickup, but Ogle allegedly said he recently received the tag from the tag agency. Upon inspection, Officer Stewart noted the vehicle’s VIN number appeared to have slipped, partially was hidden under the dash and illegible. Legally, VIN numbers should be riveted into place and unobscured. The dash cover also appeared to be partially dislodged, according to the affidavit.
Officer Stewart opened the driver door of the vehicle in an attempt to view the VIN number. The VIN sticker on the inside of the door appeared to be smudged and an underlying outline of a previous sticker was visible, according to the affidavit.
After obtaining the VIN number from the door sticker, Officer Stewart ran it through dispatch. The VIN returned for a gray Ford 350 and the tag located on the vehicle. While investigating the VIN, Stewart noted the secondary paint did not look it had been done professionally, according to the affidavit.
Officer Stewart then returned to his vehicle and another patrol car arrived on the scene. Stewart requested the second vehicle transport Ogle to the detention center while Stewart continued to investigate, according to the affidavit.
While looking for a third VIN number, Officer Stewart was advised by the Cordell Service Center an OBD2 computer would retrieve the VIN number. The new VIN was run through dispatch and returned as a stolen vehicle from Tecumseh, according the affidavit.
Officer Stewart searched the vehicle for any evidence of the rightful owner’s presence. According to the affidavit, Stewart found the following in center console of the vehicle:
• South Carolina driver’s license for Mather Duane Ross, 39 of Charleston, with a picture of what appears to be Ogle
• A novelty ID card for Matthew D. Ross, 39
• “WAY2GO” Master Card for Smokey L Ogle
• Oklahoma EBT card for Billy R Bateman
• Red colored notebook
• One counterfeit $100 bill
• Two counterfeit $50 bills
• Eight counterfeit $20 bills, which had the words “COPY MONEY” had been written and worn down to illegibility
• One real $20 bill
• Two real $5 bills
• One real $1 bill
• List of email which include the names Smokey Ogle, Levi Ogle, Methew Ross, Michael Ross and Smokey, all of which were found on the IDs belonging to Smokey Levi Ogle, Jr.
Further searching revealed an envelope of paper allegedly belonging to Ogle. The vehicle was impounded and sent to Cordell Service Center and a stolen vehicle confirmation was sent to the reporting agency, according to the affidavit.
Ogle has an initial appearance set for September 14 and a preliminary hearing conference set for October 13. If convicted of all charges, Ogle faces imprisonment for up to 4.5 years, $1,500 in fines or both.