A former Stephens County Sheriff’s deputy received five felony counts Monday afternoon, including charges of rape and kidnapping while on the job earlier this year.Brandon Wiley Balthrop, 27, of Duncan, surrendered to authorities last Thursday in anticipation of charges.
Balthrop was charged with indecent exposure, kidnapping, rape by instrumentation, and two counts of sexual battery. Court records referred to three separate incidents over a three-year period.
Balthrop, a 2002 graduate of Marlow High, was terminated from the department on July 21 after he refused to cooperate with an investigation into allegations surrounding a July 7 traffic stop. Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called to investigate the matter on July 9.
Stephens County Judge Carl Lamar set a preliminary hearing for Nov. 23. The former deputy is free on $75,000 bond.
According to the charges, Balthrop detained a 19-year-old female and allegedly committed the crime of rape by instrumentation during a traffic stop on July 7. An affidavit from the OSBI noted that the 19-year-old had stopped because her friend had been stopped, and that a 13-year-old female passenger witnessed Balthrop’s actions.
On June 6, during another traffic stop, Balthrop allegedly “touched, kissed, and pulled clothing away” from a 16-year-old girl “so he could see her private areas.”
He later placed her into custody and took her to a secluded place against her will where he tried to coerce her into sexual activity, the records note.
The OSBI affidavit further states that the girl was a passenger in the traffic stop. The male who was driving was ordered to leave the scene.
According to McKinney, Balthop was hired at the department in September of 2009. He served as a reserve deputy with the Duncan Police Department from 2005, until he was relieved of his duties in July of 2009 following an internal complaint filed by a city employee, according to Duncan Police Chief Danny Ford.
During his time as a reserve officer an incident that occurred on July 19, 2007, according the OSBI affidavit. At that time, the state alleges that Balthrop exposed himself to a female over the age of 16, and rubbed himself against her without her consent.
According to the affidavit, Balthrop was not on duty when the incident in 2007 took place, but it did take place in the city offices in Duncan. The affidavit also states that an impending investigation of that incident led to Balthrop’s termination as a reserve officer.
“These are very serious charges,” said James Kee, attorney for Balthrop. “The DA’s office has not furnished any information to substantiate the charges. The DA office filed without OSBI report. We are confident our client is not guilty and look forward to clearing his name.”