Courts

NEWKIRK — A preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Oct. 16 in the murder case pending against Zavion Jareil Gates is now reset for Dec. 15. Gates is accused of shooting and killing 42-year-old  Demetrius Miller in the 500 block of north Sunset in the early morning hours of May 29, 2026. (see story here) Gates is represented by defense attorney Jarrod Stevenson. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Rob Davis. The continuance was granted by Judge David Wilkie.

NEWKIRK — A jury trial that was set for Curtis Kenneth Wayne Horne, 35, Ponca City, in Kay County District Court on Oct. 27 is set to be rescheduled.

Horne is facing a felony count of first degree manslaughter that was filed in 2024. He is accused of driving while intoxicted and causing an accident that killed Kurtis Jenkins. He is free on $100,000 bond.

NEWKIRK — Brenda Lou Ross, 35, Ponca City, entered guilty pleas to her charges before Judge David Wilke. Sentencing is deferred for seven years and she is ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.

NEWKIRK — A plea docket is set for Mason Cleve Deroin, 19, Ponca City, in Kay County District Court.

NEWKIRK — A warrant is issued for Tennyson James Martin, 51, Tonkawa, by the Kay County District Court.

NEWKIRK — Chanteal Ann Eaton-Foreman, 31, Ponca City, entered a no contest plea to a felony count of injuring and or burning a public building this week in Kay County District Court. She was sentenced to a 10-year suspended prison sentence.

NEWKIRK — James Deric Pappan, 55, entered a no contest plea to his charges before Judge David Bandy and was sentenced to 10 -years in prison with all of the time suspended. He is ordered to complete 80 hours of community service. Higgins is set for a status docket on Dec. 4.

NEWKIRK — Jose Francisco Baeza Jr. 39, Ponca City, entered no contest pleas in Kay County District Court to charges filed against him for stealing a Ponca City Public Schools maintenance van.

NEWKIRK — A status docket is set for Tommy Guy Jones, 49, Ponca City, in Kay County District Court.

NEWKIRK — An attorney status review is scheduled in Kay County District Court for a Tonkawa contractor accused of embezzlement.