John Walker
DUNCAN — Twenty-three years after being incarcerated, Arthur Parks, 62, is up for possible parole from the Department of Corrections (DOC) during the April docket of the pardon and parole board in Oklahoma City.
Parks was convicted on Jan. 20, 1986, in Stephens County District Court for murder in the first degree of Duncan Lake Ranger Darrell James at Clear Creek Lake on June 3, 1985. He was sentenced to life in prison, which at the time in Oklahoma meant life in prison. Now, life imprisonment is 45 years.
If the pardon and parole board recommends the release of Parks from DOC at its meeting April 14-17, then the recommendation will be sent to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk for ratification.
District Attorney Bret Burns plans to attend the parole meeting, if at all possible, to protest Parks release. If Burns can’t physically be there, then he will send an assistant district attorney in his place to protest.
“We have protested his release every time his case has come to the parole board,” Burns said.
“He’s a dangerous man who killed a police officer in cold blood. He should never be allowed to do that again.”
This specific case has some special ties with Burns because his father, Tony, prosecuted the case when it first went to trial in 1986. Since that time, Burns has wanted to become a district attorney like his father.
“I read through the case report when it happened,” Burns said. “ It really interested me.”
Twenty years after that initial jury verdict, Burns followed his father’s footsteps and became district attorney for Stephens, Grady, Caddo and Jefferson counties.
The case was not over after the jury verdict was delivered, however, as Parks appealed the ruling.
On Nov. 23, 1988, the Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the jury verdict and remanded the case back to Stephens County for trial.
According to the opinion of the criminal appeals court, on June 3, 1985, James heard gun shots around the area of Clear Creek Lake and left his home at about 8:20 p.m. to investigate. At about 8:38 p.m., James communicated with his supervisor that he had seen a white and brown van and would investigate further.
According to the information, when two other officers arrived on scene at about 8:50 p.m., they found James dead with three gunshot wounds to his head and neck.
After a 24-hour search for the vehicle that James and other witnesses had seen at the lake, officers found one matching the description. That van was owned by Parks.
The appeals court overturned the jury verdict based on comments that were made during the state’s case, cross-examination of Parks and the closing arguments impugning Parks for remaining silent after his arrest.
After the case was remanded to Stephens County, Parks’ case was again heard before a jury on March 31, 1989. He was again convicted. On April 6, 1989, he was again sentenced to life in prison.
Since that time Parks has remained in DOC custody. After a time, he earned enough credit in prison to warrant an appearance before the pardon and parole board for possible release.
Each time he has been before the board, his application for release has been denied and he has returned to custody for three years before his case is heard again.
Anyone who wants to protest Parks’ release may write a letter to Burns at 101 S. 11th, Room 303, Duncan, OK 73533.
