So the hammer finally dropped on Epic Charter Schools this past Thursday, with charges filed by Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and arrests made of founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, along with their former chief financial officer Josh Brock.
Not surprisingly — and significantly news-worthy at the same time — this story that has been developing for the better part of a decade. This latest chapter comes in the form of a 59-page charging document, which includes a lengthy and epic affidavit that outlines the “complicated criminal enterprise” that resulted in Harris, Chaney and Brock facing 11 charges each. Broadly speaking, the trio is charged with a conspiracy that embezzled state funds through a complex scheme involving for-profit and nonprofit entities. Epic indeed.
Prater, of course, has been busy. He is still prosecuting a sitting state legislator, and he has other key charging decisions to make in other cases. Will the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conclude its inquiry on Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen problems before Prater leaves office around the end of the year? Who knows. But as we wait to find out, the Epic affidavit makes for some light reading over a nice barbecue lunch.
Past Sundaze comics
Recognize the old man’s wisdom this Father’s Day
What would convince Markwayne Mullin to debate?
Overtime: The match continues with special sessions
Professor Swadley and the cheese-melting machine
Call me Tag Agent: In Catoosa, a replacement steps up
Where Mother’s Day comes sweeping down the plain
It’s a tough life being ‘The Patriot’
Frugal rabbit worried about the price of eggs
‘Resistance is futile’: Beware of the Borg in election year
Oklahoma’s mysterious case of The Winchester Burger
Night owls want daylight saving time to be permanent
The power of bitcoin mining in Oklahoma
Does Holland have a snowball’s chance for the Senate?
David Holt rides wave of popularity to reelection
Oklahoma winter weather drifts in and out of our lives
Tom Brady retirement talk: Goodbye to the GOAT?
Urban OKC chickens ready to live their best lives
Oklahomans having the wrong type of Dry January
However you say it, omicron variant tests our resolve
In 2022, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
Tune up the air conditioning on Santa’s sleigh
Atoka Public Schools: ‘The leaders in southeast Oklahoma on esports’
Our precious: OU will haver a new football coach soon
Gaining function: Hunters fear of COVID-19 in deer
Infrastructure bill will fuel perpetual construction
Squeegee your third eye for the new congressional map
Zuckerberg’s Meta description previews new nightmare
‘Stop trying to figure out a way to retrofit the old jail’
Edmond voters say: Not in the backyard of my park
QuikTrip in OKC means delicious competition
Oklahomans sniffle through invasion of the allergens
Big bet: Restarting the conversation on sportsbook
Sick and tired of summer each September
Waiting for our old buddy, Personal Responsibility
Finally burger time? In-N-Out should be in OKC
