Man Accused Of Lewd Molestation To Take Plea Deal

A Cleveland County man accused of lewd acts with several young children reaches an agreement with the state.

Thursday, June 5th 2014, 7:38 pm

By: News 9


A Cleveland County man accused of lewd acts with several young children reaches an agreement with the state.

James Swindle Sr., 73, is expected to act on a plea agreement made with the Cleveland County District Attorney's Office on Friday.

Swindle is set to plead no contest to 14 counts of lewd molestation. In exchange, he is asking to avoid prison time.

Cleveland County prosecutors could not comment on any specific arrangements siting the case is still pending.

Swindle's attorney, Perry Hudson, also declined to comment.

However, one of Swindle's alleged victims was so upset she spoke out hoping it would persuade the court to issue more than probation.

"You're told nobody's going to believe you... as a child, you believe that," Shelli Swindle claims she was sexually abused as a child by the person responsible for her care, her father, James Swindle Sr.

"I was told never to speak of it," Shelli said out of fear she stayed quiet and eventually repressed all memory of her father inappropriately touching her. She said the alleged abuse went unreported for 40 years until new allegations surfaced in 2012.

At that time, three young family members came forward accusing Swindle of touching their private parts at his southwest Oklahoma City home.

"I knew that they were telling the truth, because he had done it to me," Swindle said.

According to police reports, Swindle admitted to abusing his daughter all those years ago but vehemently denied the more recent allegations.

Still, Cleveland County prosecutors found enough evidence to charge him with 14 counts of molestation.

"These victims had been told that justice would be served," Swindle said now, just before his upcoming trial, she found out he's made a deal with prosecutors to serve 25 years on probation as a registered sex offender.

"It's re-victimizing them, by not letting them have their day in court," Swindle said.

Swindle said she knows that, from experience, and feels the system is failing her and the other alleged victims.

"They don't understand why he's not being punished for what he did, because they know what he did is wrong," Swindle said.

Shelli Swindle has also filed a civil lawsuit against her father.

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