Note: Throughout the following direct quotes from various sources will be presented in Bold.
Commentary of the Editors of Bubbaworld will appear in Italic.

Spare the Prod and Spoil the Child

Never let it be said that in Oklahoma we spare the rod and spoil the child.
Now some residents of Oklahoma have been accused of not sparing the "prod", as in electric cattle prod.

On 1/10/03, Brenda Frazier age 36 and her parents Johnny Stilwell, age 66 and LaDonna Stilwell, age 64 were charged with felony child abuse in District Court in Garfield County, Oklahoma, . The three are alleged to have used electric cattle prods on Frazier's son and daughter. The abuse is alleged to have occurred between 1/01/02 and 11/12/02/

The alleged abuse came to light when the 11 year old boy complained to social workers of being shocked with a cattle prod by his mother and grand parents. The male victim told authorities that he had been shocked on the back of his legs and that his sister had been shocked on the back of her legs as well as her back.

Court documents reveal the boy described various cattle prods used in the abuse. Deputy Sheriff's serving a search warrant at the Stilwell home in a rural portion of Garfield County discovered three electric cattle prods which matched the descriptions provided by the boy.

In the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed in the case, authorities claim that Johnny Stilwell in an interview with Department of Human Service workers admitted using the cattle prods on both of the children.

Court records reveal that the three defendants were released on $1,500 bond each and have their next court appearance scheduled for 3/6/03.

Those wishing to follow this case as it develops may do so by reviewing the official court records in criminal felony case # CF-2003-17, which are Available Here .

Update:

On 10/21/03, Johnny Stillwell pleaded guilty to the charges. He along with Ladonna Stilwell and Brenda Frazier entered not guilty pleas on 10/14/03.

On 12/17/03, Johnny Stillwell received a 20 year suspended sentence from District Judge Ronald G. Franklin. The District Attorney's office had requested a split sentence with 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation. In addition to the suspended sentence Stilwell was prohibited from residing in a home where children were home-schooled.

The next scheduled court date for Ladonna Stilwell and Brenda Frazier is set for 1/05/04.

Update 2:

On 1/05/04, Ladonna Stilwell pleaded guilty to the charges. The trial judge ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and set formal sentencing for 3/08/04.

Brenda Frazier was scheduled to enter a plea on the same charges however her attorney was unable to attend the court session. As of this update a new court date has not been set.

Update 3:

On 1/22/04, Brenda Frazier entered a guilty plea to the charges. Her sentencing is set for 4/06/04.

Update 4:

On 3/18/04, Ladonna Stilwell appeared in Garfield County District Court for sentencing. District Judge Ronald Franklin, went against prosecutor's requests for a split-sentence to include some prison time and sentenced Stilwell to 15 years and suspended the entire sentence. As part of her sentence Ladonna Stilwell was prohibited from home schooling, baby sitting or otherwise supervising children. Two years of her 15 year suspended sentenced are to be served under supervision of the Department of Corrections.

Update 5:

On 4/06/04, Brenda Frazier, was sentenced in Garfield County District Court to 15 years with the sentence suspended and under the supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Frazier was also prohibited from supervising or taking care of children or residing in a home where home schooling was taking place.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of criminal justice, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those interested in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.