OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Pardon and Parole Board member H. Calvin Prince III has resigned from his position following an investigation of his actions. Prince, who also served as a Pontotoc County Drug Court Administrator, resigned from both positions on Friday, November 29.
Two days prior, Pontotoc District Attorney Erik Johnson requested the state attorney general’s office initiate an investigation into Prince. Johnson has since recused himself from the investigation due to his connection with the drug court program.
The allegations include sexual misconduct, specifically leveraging his position of power to receive sex acts in exchange for possible pardons. Prince faces a legal investigation into alleged acts of bribery.
In a letter obtained by The Frontier, Johnson requested that steps be taken to honor the integrity of the pardon and parole process. Additionally, he requested support services for any potential victims identified in the investigation.
Parole board resignations hinder business
Prince accounts for one of two recent resignations on Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board. Chairman Edward Konieczny recently resigned prompting the board to halt December’s meetings. Executive Director Tom Bates said the two departures are unrelated.
The sudden resignations prompted the board to reschedule a hearing originally set for December 4. This action was met with opposition from Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who said the delay was unnecessary as the board still had enough members for quorum.
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Despite this, the board chose to hold the hearing of death row inmate Kevin Underwood on December 9, ten days before his scheduled execution. A jury convicted Underwood of murdering his 10-year-old neighbor in 2006, a crime Drummond called “heinous.”
Attorneys for Underwood pushed for a stay of execution until the governor fills the two vacant board seats. On December 6, Governor Stitt appointed Susan Stava to the board. Stava holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa and has a lengthy family and criminal law career. “Susan is a seasoned legal professional who has shown integrity, dedication, and a deep understanding of complex law throughout her career,” said Stitt in a press release.
Stava joined the board just three days before the scheduled hearing. Underwood’s team worries this doesn’t allow Stava enough time to complete the required training and review hundreds of pages of legal documents.
They have since filed an appeal in federal court to stay the clemency hearing. Underwood’s execution remains scheduled for December 19.