Oklahoma ex-police officer accused of sexually assaulting more than a dozen women has been found guilty
(NewsOK/Screengrab)
Daniel Holtzclaw cries as the verdict is read.
After four days of deliberations, an Oklahoma jury reached a verdict in the case of a former police officer accused of raping and sexually assaulting 13 women while on duty.
Former Oklahoma City policeman Daniel Holtzclaw was found guilty on 18 of 36 counts, including four counts of rape in the first degree.
Oklahoma's News9 channel is reporting that the sentences add up to 263 years in prison.
Sentencing is set for January. Holtzclaw could face life in prison.
The jury's verdict was delivered on Holtzclaw's 29th birthday. Holtzclaw was visibly distraught, sobbing uncontrollably and swaying from side to side as Judge Timothy Henderson read out the jury's verdict.
Holtzclaw was led out in handcuffs shortly after by members of the sheriff's department.
Here's the video of the verdict being read:
Here's the full list of charges against Holtzclaw, along with the jury-recommended sentences:
(Harrison Jacobs)
Kyle Schwab, a reporter for The Oklahoman, said that as Holtzclaw was led into the gallery, he told his family, "I didn't do it."
In the gallery of the courthouse, some of Holtzclaw's victims gathered to hug, pray, and even sing "Happy Birthday" to Holtzclaw.
In the case, prosecutors alleged that Holtzclaw preyed on women who ran into legal trouble while he was on patrol. They argued that Holtzclaw ran background checks on his targets and went after those with outstanding warrants or previous arrests or who were carrying drugs.
They further alleged that he did this because he believed that doing so would protect him against later sexual-assault accusations, as he could discredit the victims.
The defense argued that the victims' testimony was unreliable. Holtzclaw did not testify.
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