Two first degree rape charges have been dismissed against a defendant and a new felony was filed in which he pleaded to and drew a deferred term. has been scheduled for a jury trial in February.
Two felony charges of first degree rape with a victim under 14 were filed in Lincoln County District Court on Jan. 24, 2023 against Dakota Shane Murch, 44. A $75,000 bench warrant for his arrest was issued the same day the charges were filed.
Murch was scheduled to go on trial last week.
However, state prosecutors moved to dismiss the two counts. District Judge Sarah Bridge dismissed the matter without costs.
Prosecutors then refiled a new felony charge of child abuse against Murch.
Appearing before Judge Bridge, Murch waived the two judge rule, waived a preliminary hearing and waived formal arraignment and victim impact statements were read. Murch acknowledged it was an 85 percent crime.
Upon the state’s recommendation, as a result of a plea agreement, Murch entered a no contest plea.
The judge received the plea and found Murch guilty as charged. She deferred sentencing for a period of five years. Judge Bridge ordered that Murch have no contact with the victim.
She handed him a $100 judicial assessment, $100 VCA and courts costs and placed him on supervised probation with Oklahoma Court Services. The judge ordered he pay 991C fees, complete 50 hours of Community Service, pay D.A. fees and report to the Probation Office and Court Clerk’s Office.
Assistant District Attorney’s Rachel Thompson and Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case and Sara Kennedy was Murch’s defense attorney.
Court records show that on Aug. 17, 2023 an order of recusal was filed. They further show that on Sep. 21 last year Judge Mueller struck that date and a new judge was later assigned.
Both charges of first degree rape by instrumentation allegedly occurred between March 14, 2012 and March 13, 2013. The victim, now 17, was seven years old at the time the reported crimes occurred.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detective George Kelly Coleman at the time investigated the case beginning back in June of 2022, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Vanessa Parsons with the One Safe Place Family Justice Center was also involved in the investigation.