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Micah Woods Suspende
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s grand jury recommended the embattled Micah Woods, Cotton County Commissioner to step down or be removed from office for abuse of office allegations after November 8th & 9th testimony and evidence were presented.
Woods is accused of misconduct in office, not being able to be impeached due to being a public official, he should be removed from office. The grand jury determined the District Court order the immediate suspension of Commissioner Woods from his position. Woods is accused of, in a filing by Emergency Management Director, Lori Hedges, of “harassment, stalking and making inappropriate and inaccurate statements” creating a hostile work environment. The accusations include Mr. Woods’ presenting an “anonymous” letter at a commissioner’s meeting demanding Ms. Hedges’ termination. He later stated the was “his fault because he had told a part to write the letter”, but refused to identify the author of the letter.
Woods is also accused of oppression in office including repeated inappropriate and unprofessional comments made to Cotton County Clerk, Joseph Schappert, including threats of losing his job, according to the grand jury filing.
Other allegations from the grand jury filing that Woods told County Commissioner Milton Honeycutt he was going to hire someone to assault Tim King, Sheriff and Lori Hedges, Emergency Management Director, also calling Ms. Hedges derogatory names to Undersheriff Gary Whittington. Woods, according to the accusation affidavit, was identified as having followed Lori Hedges’ from the courthouse and driving by her home after hours.
Grand jury filing also accuses Mr. Woods of corruption in office and willful maladministration by using county employees and materials, on county time, to build campaign signs for his personal use of reelection on November 8, 2022.
Mr. Cabelka said, with the grand jury’s recommendation, he has met with Cotton County Associate District Judge, Michael C. Flanagan and filed a Petition for Removal from office.
An Order For Suspension of Office was issued November 12, 2023, and served to Micah Woods on November 13, 2023, according to court records. The order immediately suspends Micah Woods from serving the Cotton County Commissioner’s office until final determinations are arrived. The court hearing is scheduled for December 5, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cotton County Courthouse.