Removal trial set for April 1 for Cotton County Commissioner

WALTERS — The removal trial for a Cotton County commissioner accused of abusing his office is slated to begin April 1 and his criminal trial scheduled to begin a week later.

District 5 District Attorney Kyle Cabelka filed an amended application for removal of Cotton County District 1 Commissioner Micah “Mike” Woods for allegations of abuse in office, records indicate.

District 5 Presiding District Judge Emmit Tayloe will oversee the trial after Cotton County Associate District Judge Michael C. Flanagan disqualified himself following a motion by Woods’ attorney, Carl J. Buckholts, of Duncan.

In the amended filing, failure to produce and account for all public property in his hands, at any settlement or inspection authorized by law was added to the original three causes applicable for removal: oppression in office, corruption in office and willful maladministration.

Woods was served with the original application paperwork Nov. 14, 2023, according to court records, and he was immediately suspended from office.

The original application followed an attorney general’s grand jury that met in Oklahoma City in November 2023.

Woods is accused of misconduct in office and, due to being a public official not subject to impeachment, he should be removed from office, according to the grand jury’s recommendations.

Woods is accused of oppression in office, harassment, stalking and inappropriate and inaccurate statements about personnel that led to a hostile working environment, according to the grand jury’s recommendations. He also is accused by the grand jury of corruption in office and willful maladministration by using county employees and materials to build campaign signs for his personal use for reelection on Nov. 8, 2022.

Cabelka is representing the State of Oklahoma as well as the Cotton County Board of Commissioners.

Woods, 63, of Walters, also is facing a felony count of embezzlement, which followed a 2022 investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Tillman County Assistant District Attorney Deanna Hansell is prosecuting the case after Cabelka recused himself due to representing the Cotton County Board of Commissioners.

Woods was accused of using Cotton County District 1 employees to build campaign signs for him, working on county time without the approval of other Cotton County commissioners, according to the warrant affidavit.

The felony trial is scheduled to begin April 8 in Cotton County District Court. Tayloe also will oversee that trial.

Woods was bound over for trial following a July 21, 2023, preliminary hearing. He remains free on $10,000 bond in that case.