Barrett Gets 30-year Prison Term
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By Monica Keen, Staff Writer

A man found guilty of manslaughter in February for the 1999 death of Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) Trooper David "Rocky" Eales was formally sentenced in Sequoyah County District Court Monday.

Kenneth Eugene Barrett, 42, received a 20-year prison sentence for the charge of first-degree manslaughter and a 10-year prison sentence for an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge, to run consecutively for a total of 30 years.

A jury found Barrett guilty in February for the death of Eales, who was shot during a drug raid at Barrett's home just off Dwight Mission Road northwest of Sallisaw.

District Judge John Garrett went along with the jury-recommended prison terms, and ordered them to run one after another, instead of concurrent.

Barrett will be transferred to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) in Lexington for processing.

Judge Garrett said he will leave the issue of credit for time served to the discretion of DOC. Barrett was taken into custody at the time of the shooting and was held without bond.

Garrett also ordered that, after the expiration of the appeal time, all evidence in the trial will be placed in the custody of Sequoyah County Sheriff Johnny Philpot and Philpot will distribute the items to the rightful owners.

Barrett's first trial in October 2002 ended after five weeks when the jury deadlocked at 11 to 1 for a first-degree murder conviction.



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