Representative Rande Worthen

R

District 64

Hi, I'm Rande Worthen and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 64th District.


representative

News & Announcements

Dec 10, 2024
Recent Posts

Motion Filed to Reevaluate Competency of Death Row Inmate

Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a motion in Comanche County district court to reevaluate the competency of Ricky Ray Malone, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the 2003 execution-style shooting death of Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nik Green. Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, worked with Green's family to better understand why Malone wasn't being scheduled since the state restarted executions in 2022.  It has been more than 20 years since Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nik Green was fatally shot after he stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the side of the road in Cotton County. His family is unfortunately still waiting for justice to be served in the case, two decades later. "Trooper Green's family has waited long enough to see justice served," said Caldwell. "This public servant was brutally murdered on the side of the road in the line of duty, was convicted of a jury of his peers, and should face the penalty set for him decades ago." In 2017, it was determined Malone was not mentally competent for execution and he was moved off death row in McAlester to the corrections facility in Vinita. He will now be reevaluated to determine if he is now competent to be put to death.  "The family of Trooper Green has waited more than 20 agonizing years for justice to be served," said Drummond. "It is a travesty that justice remains elusive. My office will work next legislative session to ensure death row inmates cannot escape execution without concerted efforts at the Oklahoma Forensic Center for competency to be restored. In the meantime, we are requesting that Trooper Green's murderer be reevaluated by a new expert so that the State can proceed with his execution." Caldwell, along with other Lawton-area Reps. Daniel Pae, Brad Boles, Toni Hasenbeck, Rande Worthen, Stacy Adams and Jonathan Wilk, R-Goldsby, thanked Drummond for his swift action. "We completely support AG Drummond's endeavor to request a reevaluation and urge him to use the full weight of his office to make sure justice is carried out in this case," said Caldwell. "This family deserves closure." Caldwell and Worthen, R-Lawton, are also working with Drummond on legislation for the 2025 legislative session to put concrete timelines and requirements on competency reevaluations and add requirements on competency reevaluation services as a result of this case. "Families should not have to wonder about the status of a convicted murderer on death row," said Caldwell. "We want to make sure if someone is deemed incompetent to be executed that they are reevaluated on a recurring basis and the state is doing all it can to restore competency when possible so justice can be done."

Aug 29, 2024
Recent Posts

Lawton Lawmakers Call for Investigative Audit into Comanche County Sheriff Runoff Election

Reps. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, today sent an urgent letter to Secretary Paul Ziriax formally requesting an investigative audit into the August 27 runoff election for Comanche County sheriff. The legislators expressed serious concerns following reports that multiple ineligible voters received a ballot for the Republican runoff election for Comanche County sheriff. The legislators said this clear breach of electoral protocol occurred despite at least one voter contacting the Comanche County Election Board regarding the incorrect ballot, with the issue not realized until after the ballot had been cast. According to an August 29 report by KSWO-TV 7News, the secretary of the Comanche County Election Board acknowledged the distribution of an incorrect ballot on election day. She also allegedly said that once a ballot enters the system, there’s nothing they can do about it.  In the letter, the legislators emphasized, "Given the importance of ensuring free and fair elections, we are deeply concerned that other ineligible voters may have received an incorrect ballot. A transparent investigation is crucial to maintaining public trust in our electoral process. "We have been advised that State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax has dispatched members of the State Election Board staff to the county election board to assess the situation. We ask the secretary to step in and ensure that a thorough review and audit is made of the situation and that appropriate action is taken if these allegations prove to be true." Citing Okla. Stat. tit. 26 § 1-104, the legislators reiterated that voters may only vote using the primary ballot under the party in which they are registered, stating, "no registered voter shall be permitted to vote in any Primary Election or Runoff Primary Election of any political party except the political party of which his registration form shows him to be a member…" The legislators said, “The right to vote is a fundamental expression of our American freedoms, and it must be fiercely protected to ensure the integrity of the November 5 presidential election. We must guarantee that each voter's voice is safeguarded and that every aspect of our electoral process remains secure and trustworthy." Read the letter here .

Apr 17, 2024
Recent Posts

House Passes Bill to Remove Unlawful Occupants

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week passed legislation in the House that would create a procedure for the removal of unlawful occupants of property. Senate Bill 1994 would allow a property owner to request the sheriff of a county in which the property is located to immediately remove a person or persons unlawfully occupying real property if certain conditions are met. Ford, along with co-authors Reps. Terry O'Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, issued a joint statement about the importance of the bill. "Property owners throughout our state are being inundated with illegal occupancy," the lawmakers said. "This is exacerbated by the number of people coming across our Southern border illegally, property thefts through methods such as unlawful title changes, or just people moving a trailer onto someone else's land or moving into someone's home while they're on vacation and refusing to leave. Oklahoma is a property rights state, and we are working with our sheriffs and others to identify and stop this type of crime and to advocate for the rights of our property owners. Private property ownership is one of the very foundations of our constitutional system of government and protects an individual's ability to prosper and participate in the free market and in our representative form of government. This legislation is important to ensuring this fundamental right is protected."  Ford explained that currently such matters are treated through civil process, and law enforcement are reluctant to get involved. This forces private property owners to hire an attorney, and the process often drags out for lengthy periods. Worthen pointed out the measure does not allow anyone in a landlord-tenant relationship to circumvent the Landlord-Tenant Act. It only applies to someone who is occupying private property and refusing to leave when asked. SB1994 would create a form for the property owner to submit to their county sheriff. Once verified, the sheriff must serve a notice to immediately vacate on all unlawful occupants. If appropriate, the sheriff may arrest any person found on the property for trespass, outstanding warrants or any other legal cause. The sheriff is entitled to the fee for service of the notice. The measure also would create a crime for someone unlawfully detaining or occupying or trespassing upon a property and who intentionally damages the dwelling in an amount of greater than $1,000. Those found guilty would receive a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Any person who presents a false document purporting to be a valid lease agreement, deed, or other instrument conveying real property rights would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. The measure states that these provisions are not to be used to circumvent any rights or laws governing the landlord tenant relationship. Any person wrongfully removed may bring a civil cause of action. SB1994 passed the House with a vote of 77-16. The amended bill now returns to the Senate for final consideration.