Oklahoma Man Gets Two Years for Stealing Sheriff’s Vehicle

Bird Roy Nightwalker, 39, of Clinton, Oklahoma, appeared in Jefferson County District Court in the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. He was sentenced to two years in prison by presiding judge David J.A. Bargen for stealing a Sheriff’s vehicle.Nightwalker was charged with theft by unlawful taking, with a value greater than $5,000, making the charge a class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was accused of stealing a vehicle from the parking lot of the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Center.The Alleged IncidentAt approximately 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2021, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Grundy County Sheriff's Office (GSCO) in Missouri about a Jefferson County Patrol vehicle that had been parked and abandoned on the side of the road outside of Trenton, Missouri.According to a press release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, “It was then realized that a spare patrol vehicle, one that was not actively driven by a deputy, was missing from the parking lot of the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Center. With the assistance of the Jefferson County Computer IT department, we were able to retrieve clear footage of the incident.”Surveillance revealed that, on the evening before, December 17, at approximately 9:30 p.m., a male suspect on foot attempted to gain access to vehicles around the Law Enforcement Center building before entering a patrol vehicle and eventually driving away.A surveillance photo was circulated on social media. The GSCO warned the public, “If you see the suspect, do not try to apprehend him but please call 911.”After a joint investigation with GSCO, the suspect was identified as Bird Roy Nightwalker, of Oklahoma. At 12:57 p.m., GSCO posted an that included a description of the suspect as Native American, age 39, 6 feet 4 inches in height and weighing 230 pounds. GSCO also warned, “Nightwalker has an extensive criminal history and is known to be violent. If you see Nightwalker do not try to apprehend him, but call 911. In addition, please make sure your home and vehicles are secure and check on friends and family in the area.”The suspect's criminal history includes charges in Oklahoma and Montana.Jefferson County Sheriff Nick Georgi said, “It (the vehicle) was found during the investigation Nightwalker had an acquaintance in Trenton, Missouri. We believe the patrol vehicle ran out of gas, resulting in Nightwalker abandoning the patrol vehicle and meeting up with his acquaintance until eventually turning himself in to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office.”Nightwalker waived extradition and was transferred to the custody of Jefferson County.The vehicle has been returned to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff noted, “There is minor damage to the vehicle where it appears he side swiped a pole but the vehicle is still operational.”The SentenceOn June 2, the defendant pleaded No Contest and presiding Judge Julie Smith ordered a PSI (Pre-Sentencing Investigation) from the Office of Probation.Nightwalker was represented by Public Defender Scott Gropp, who told the court his client “blacked out” and remembered little of the events in question.Gropp also noted that his client was being held at the Diagnostic and Evaluation center of the Department of Corrections in Lincoln and was having difficulty in obtaining and evaluation so he could get treatment.After reviewing the PSI, Judge Bargen determined that the defendant, “Is not a fit candidate for probation.”Nightwalker was given credit for 221 days time served. In addition to his two-year sentence, Nightwalker will have 18 months of post-release supervision. With good time, the defendant should be eligible for post-release supervision in approximately eight and a half months.After sentencing, Nightwalker was remanded to the custody of the Jefferson County sheriff’s office to carry out the sentence.

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