What started as a fence theft at a local school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students ended with Murray County deputies seizing what they say was nearly a pound of methamphetamine and hauling two Sulphur men to jail on felony charges.
Deputies say the men swiped fence panels from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, then tucked some of the stolen property away at private homes. During follow-up searches on Thursday, investigators say that the trail of missing metal turned into a serious drug bust.
According to the Murray County Sheriff's Department, deputies first arrested Jason Beaty after locating him with more than $20,000 worth of stolen fence panels. Investigators then went to another residence, where they say they recovered additional panels along with what they called nearly a pound of methamphetamine. The second suspect was identified as Denny Binderim, who deputies say faces trafficking, possession, and concealing stolen property charges, while Beaty was booked on grand larceny, as reported by KTEN.
School Targeted
Investigators say the stolen materials came off the campus of the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, a state-run residential K–12 school that serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across Oklahoma. The campus relies on perimeter fencing and other infrastructure to protect students and equipment, according to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Legal Implications
Under Oklahoma law, the amount of a controlled substance can bump a simple possession case into trafficking territory, which carries far tougher penalties. State statutes set weight thresholds and spell out escalating fines and prison terms as the quantity goes up, per Oklahoma statutes. Both men are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
What’s Next
Deputies say bond was set at $5,000 for Beaty and $100,000 for Binderim. Booking records and arraignment dates were not immediately available. The Murray County Sheriff's Department says the investigation is still active and the case will be sent to prosecutors for potential formal charges, according to KTEN.
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