The hearing, which could decide if David Wayne Hammock Jr., now 21, serves the remainder of his 10-year prison term for the fire, was reset for 1:30 p.m. July 26. The Monaday hearing conflicted with civil jury trials that were being held, officials said.
Hammock was convicted in 2005 for the fire that destroyed the former school, which some in the community had worked to restore. Those involved in the old Sallisaw High School Association wanted Hammock to serve the maximum prison time. Nearly 20 supporters of the old school were in court Monday for the post conviction release hearing.
Hammock, who was 18 at the time of the fire, pleaded guilty to the arson in August 2005 and was ordered to first complete a youthful offender delayed sentencing program operated by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) before his formal sentencing in September 2006.
At his formal sentencing, Hammock was sentenced to 20 years in prison, 10 of which were suspended, for one count of second-degree arson and three counts of second-degree burglary. The arson charge and one of the burglary counts related to the school fire, while the others pertained to a burglary of a local liquor store.
