The man whose criminal appeal left energy and environmental enforcement issues up in the air in Oklahoma has just been convicted in federal court, rather than the state court system.
The Associated Press reported that Jimcy McGirt, 72 was convicted again of two counts of sexual abuse and one count of sexual contact and could get up to 30 years to life in prison when he is formally sentenced.
It was his appeal that led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer that changed the state’s control of criminal, energy and environmental control of Indian reservations mostly located in the eastern half of the state.
The court ruled Oklahoma lacked the authority to prosecute McGirt because he was a Tribal member who committed a crime on tribal reservation lands.