United States of America v. Paula Kelley

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with depriving another of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Paul Kelley was on duty as a GCJ detention deputy when she learned that pretrial detainee Kayla Turley was facing serious medical needs. Despite knowing and observing Ms. Turley’s serious medical needs, Kelley willfully failed to take any reasonable steps to abate those needs. Due to the failure to act by Kelley and other GCJ staff, Ms. Turley suffered bodily injury and ultimately died.

Kelley faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Four other former detention deputies and one former GCJ nurse previously pleaded guilty to violations of 18 U.S.C. § 242 for their roles in being deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to Ms. Turley. Detention Deputy Jennifer Baxter and former GCJ nurse Lynsee Noel each pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 242 based on their failure to take reasonable measures to help Ms. Turley get medical care for her serious medical needs. In addition, defendants Baxter and Noel – along with former Detention Deputies Vincent Matthews and Alesha Ingram – have each pleaded guilty to being deliberately indifferent to Ms. Turley’s safety when they failed to intervene and stop other inmates from assaulting Ms. Turley after the inmates became frustrated with Ms. Turley’s cries for help.

Former Detention Deputy Melissa Melton pleaded guilty to one violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242 for being deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to Ms. Turley due to her serious medical needs, resulting in bodily injury to Ms. Turley.

According to their plea agreements, Baxter, Noel, Matthews, Ingram, and Melton face a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office.

the Defendant was found guilty.