Published: September 26, 2008 07:28 am      

One man charged in cross burning

One man has received misdemeanor charges in a Woodward County cross burning case.

Ronald David Phillpot was charged with outraging public decency in Woodward County District Court Thursday for the role he allegedly played in the cross burning incident.

According to an affidavit filed with the charges, the incident occurred sometime between Sept. 9 at 10 p.m., which is when Phillpot was warned against burning a cross that was standing in his yard near an open burn pit, and Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. when the Woodward County Sheriff’s Office received a report that the cross had been burned.

When Woodward County Acting Sheriff Don Bradley arrived at Phillpot’s residence at a mobile home park south of Woodward to investigate the incident on Sept. 11, the affidavit states that Phillpot showed Bradley the burnt cross and advised him that “it was ‘an accident’ and he did not mean anything by it.”

However, there was evidence that the cross had been ignited, Bradley said, noting that he is pleased that the Woodward County District Attorney’s office believed the evidence to be strong enough to file charges against Phillpot.

Along with the charges, a bench warrant was issued for Phillpot’s arrest.

While Bradley noted that he is happy to have a warrant for Phillpot, he said he is “a little bit confused” that warrants haven’t been issued for either of the other two suspects named in the case.

Nevertheless, the acting sheriff said he thinks that since it has resulted in some prosecution, the overall investigation “turned out great.”

Bradley said he hopes the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be as successful in their investigation, noting that he “believe(s) their investigation will be finalized in the next day or two.”

The FBI was called in to investigate the case because criminal cross burnings are considered civil rights violations and can therefore carry federal penalties, Bradley said.