Staff Writer
Stillwater NewsPress
STILLWATER, Okla. —
Sonny Ray Haze, 28, of Red Rock, has received an 18-month sentence in federal prison for assaulting a tribal police officer, U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats said.
U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Haze earlier this week. Haze was found guilty by a federal jury on Feb. 25 after a three-day trial. DiGiusti also ordered Haze to serve two years supervised probation after his release from prison, and pay $7,208.37 in restitution.
Evidence presented at trial showed:
• Haze used a car to assault an Otoe-Missouria Tribal Police Department officer shortly after 1 a.m. on Nov. 1 at the 7 Clans Paradise Casino near Red Rock in Noble County.
• Haze was parked in front of the casino. He was blocked in when a tribal police truck arrived.
• Casino security guards and surveillance video showed that Haze got into his car, and tried to get around the police truck.
• The tribal police officer got out of his truck and ordered Haze to stop. Haze kept backing up hitting the truck, with the officer caught in the open passenger door. The officer was seriously injured when he was thrown into the parking lot.
• Haze fled, and a high-speed chase followed. Haze wasn’t caught immediately, but surrendered to tribal authorities.
• Federal authorities became involved because Haze is an Indian, and the incident occurred on tribal land. The trial was held in federal court in Oklahoma City.
The Stillwater office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Ponca City office of the Bureau of Indian Affiars – Office of Justice Services investigated.
