While Grandma was slicing turkey for sandwiches last Friday, Calvin Prince III – the now-disgraced former chair of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board – was carving up what was left of his reputation, and resigning his position over allegations of "inappropriate behavior."
Since then, we’ve learned that "inappropriate behavior" apparently involved a textbook case of sexual bribery. You know, the usual sick, kinky, standard-operating-procedure stuff like offering to help a woman get a pardon in return for sexual favors.
Here are details via a Kevin “On The Scene” Onstott report with KOCO Channel 5:
An investigator with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said they have evidence of Prince sending multiple sexually suggestive text messages and emails to a woman going through the drug court system.
Prince offered to be her counselor. He began asking her repeatedly about her body, including her private parts.
In one face-to-face meeting in his office, Prince allegedly asked the woman to take off her clothes. He asked her to get undressed "so that he could point out areas of her body that he liked in order to build her confidence," according to documents.
Really? He asked her to undress so he could help build her confidence? Not only is this dude a sick creep, but an incredibly lame one at that! If Prince was going to cross a kinky forbidden line, he could have at least been upfront about it. Instead, he tried to cloak his sleaze in faux concern. It's a weak, cowardly move that insults the victim’s intelligence while simultaneously showing how small and pitiful he truly is.
Here’s more:
The investigator said Prince continued to ask about the woman's body until she eventually sent him nude images.
As this was going on, the investigator said the two were also talking about the woman's desire for a pardon.
"A pardon is absolutely possible for you!" Prince said in a text message. "I'm at my office now alone. You should stop by."
The investigator said this is all evidence of bribery from a public official.
I’m not an investigator, but yeah, that does seem like some sort of bribery. Sure, Prince didn’t just come out and say he’d exchange sexual favors for a pardon, but I think anyone can read between his weak, creepy lines.
For what it’s worth, I had no clue Prince existed before this scandal, but it’s probably something we all should have seen coming. I mean, just look at what Stitt and other Oklahoma politicians have had to say about him:
Governor Kevin Stitt: “Mr. Prince will be a steward of justice for the people of Oklahoma, and I look forward to having him serve.”
Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat: “It is important we have dedicated and talented people serving on the DOC board, and Calvin Prince is just that. He brings a great perspective from his service as a drug court administrator and time as a counselor. I appreciate his willingness to serve on the DOC board.”
Former State Senator Greg McCortney: “Calvin has a heart for public service and for people, and his background in counseling will be a great addition to the Department of Corrections board. I know he’ll do a great job, and I know the Ada-area community is proud of him and wishes him well.”
I’ve been covering sleazy Oklahoma politicians and government workers for almost 17 years now, and one thing I’ve learned is this: the more flattering the compliments, the more likely they are to be a sick creep who will go down in scandal.
On that note, you have to wonder if there are any other victims of Prince out there. Most predators are repeat offenders, and as this glowing bio shows, he’s had plenty of opportunities to use positions of trust and power to lure in potential victims to fulfill his twisted fantasies:
Prince currently serves as the administrator for the Pontotoc County specialty courts programs. Previously, he served as the director of marketing and community relations for Oklahoma Families First, Inc., and also as a school-based counselor for multiple school districts and colleges.
He also consults with both local and state agencies on various topics relating to marriage, parenting, and drug and alcohol issues…
He has served on various statewide committees and boards, including the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children board of trustees and the Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition. He currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for Mercy hospitals in Ada. Prince has also served as an NCAA basketball official for 28 years.
If I were a basketball coach who lost a game on a bad last-second call by Prince, I’d definitely be calling for a bribery investigation!
Anyway, we’d like to commend the victim for this case for coming forward, and the authorities in Pontotoc County for doing the right thing, pursuing charges, and not simply sweeping it under the rug like they usually do in situations like this.
It’ll also be interesting to see if Prince himself someday has to appeal to the very board he disgraced—though something tells me his ‘confidence-building’ skills won’t help him there.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
