On Thursday night, a jury in Oklahoma City found former police Lt. Daniel Holtzclaw guilty of 18 of 36 rape and sexual assault charges, which cumulatively could lead to as many as 263 years in prison when he is sentenced in January. Prosecutors said that Holtzclaw, who worked the night shift, targeted black women with previous arrests, forcing them to perform sexual acts after searching them for drugs.
"He didn't choose CEOs or soccer moms," said District Attorney Lori McConnell during closing arguments. "He chose women he could count on not telling what he was doing.... He counted on the fact no one would believe them and no one would care." The 13 women who testified at the trial ranged in age from 17 to 58 at the time of their assault; 12 of them said they were afraid to report the sexual assault. "I didn't think anyone would believe me," said one of the accusers. "I'm a black female." Hotlzclaw did not testify.
Hotlzclaw, who is half Asian, was arrested in August 2014 after one of the women in her 50s came forward with her accusation, and the Oklahoma City Police Department fired him in January after about three years on the force. On Thursday, the department said that it "is pleased with the jury's decision." The eight men and four women of the jury — all white — "took their responsibilities very seriously," the police department said. "We are satisfied with the jury's decision and firmly believe justice was served."
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Hotltzclaw turned 29 on Thursday, and his supporters sang "Happy Birthday" to him after the guilty verdicts were read. You can watch the Holtzclaw react to the verdict below. Peter Weber
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