Hide Transcript Show Transcript

52-PAGE DECISION. REPORTER: THIS IS THAT DECISION. IN IT, THE APPEALS COURT GOES THROUGH ALL OF HIS AREA PEELS AND PICKS THEM APART AND DENIES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. THE OKLAHOMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS UPHOLDING THE 2015 CONCLUDED THERE WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT THE TRIAL WAS A QUOTE CIRCUS" AND THAT HIS STACKED THE CHARGES. HE FAILS TO SHOW HOW EXACTLY THIS STACKING IS UNFAIR. EACH SENTENCE IN THIS CASE REPRESENTS A CONSEQUENCE OF A SEPARATE VICTIMS. THE PRESIDING JUDGE WROTE, QUOTE, THIS INVOLVES A SEXUAL PREDATOR WHO WAS EMPLOYED AS AN OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE OFFICER. HE USED HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY TO INTIMIDATE AND PREY ON VULNERABLE VICTIMS. ATTORNEYS FOR SOME OF THOSE VICTIMS SAY THEY ARE VINDICATED. OUR CLIENTS NEED SUPPORT AND PRAYERS BECAUSE THEY ARE SUFFERING THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY. EACH AND EVERY DAY. REPORTER: HOLTZCLAW CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN HIS INNOCENCE. HIS FAMILY SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE

Advertisement Court upholds conviction, denies appeal of former Oklahoma City officer convicted of rape Daniel Holtzclaw is serving 263 years in prison on 18 convictions Share Shares Copy Link Copy

An Oklahoma court on Thursday ruled to deny an appeal from a former Oklahoma City police officer convicted of rape and other sexual assaults.Daniel Holtzclaw, 32, is serving 263 years in prison on 18 convictions. Prosecutors accused Holtzclaw of preying on black women he encountered while on duty. Watch KOCO 5 Chronicle: Inside the investigation of Daniel HoltzclawThe Court of Criminal Appeals found, among other things, that there was enough evidence for the conviction and that what Holtzclaw called a “circus atmosphere” at the trial did not affect the outcome. The court also found that Holtzclaw was not denied due process and that his trial counsel was effective. His total sentence is not excessive, according to court documents. Holtzclaw has maintained his innocence and is challenging evidence used against him during his 2015 trial.Dana Kuehn, Vice-Presiding Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, writes in the opinion: “In his defense, (Holtzclaw) basically asked jurors to accept as true all the information that victims gave about the stops that was amply supported by police records and documents, but to determine that the same victims were lying about the details of the sexual assaults.” In response to the “circus atmosphere,” Kuehn writes, “Beyond describing these incidents, he makes no effort to show how his trial was rendered unfair by these incidents.”David B. Lewis, Presiding Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, writes in a “specially concurring” opinion: “This case involves a sexual predator who happened to be employed, most unfortunately, as an Oklahoma City police officer. He used his position of authority to intimidate and prey on vulnerable victims.” Attorneys for some of those victims said they're vindicated."Our clients still need support and prayers because they are suffering through what happened to them each and every day. Each and every day," Damario Solomon-Simmons said. Holtzclaw's family also spoke out, saying they will keep fighting this and will appeal to the federal courts if need be.