A Hughes County judge has signed off on a defense request to push back the criminal trial of former Wetumka teacher, coach and mayor Brent McGee, moving the high-profile case into September. McGee faces multiple felony counts that accuse him of sexually abusing students, and the delay came after a tense hearing where several witnesses delivered emotional testimony in a packed Hughes County courtroom in Holdenville.
Judge Grants Extra Prep Time, Trial Slips To September
At the latest hearing in Hughes County, the judge granted the defense more time to prepare and reset the trial date for September, according to FOX23. The outlet reports that supporters crowded into the courthouse in Holdenville as alleged victims and other witnesses appeared. Defense attorneys told the court they needed additional time to go through discovery and draft pretrial motions ahead of a jury trial.
Felony Counts, Arrest And What The Affidavit Alleges
Prosecutors have brought seven counts of child sexual abuse along with a separate charge that alleges a pattern of criminal offenses, according to court filings cited by NonDoc. The reporting states McGee was arrested on Aug. 21, 2024, outside his family’s Dairy Queen in Wetumka and booked into Seminole County. A probable-cause affidavit at the heart of the case outlines claims of grooming and repeated abuse that prosecutors say underpin the criminal charges.
Public Survivor Account And A Recorded Apology
One man who has chosen to go public, Casey Yochum, told the Oklahoma State Board of Education that McGee molested him when he was a student in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and he has said the statute of limitations kept prosecutors from filing criminal charges in his case, according to KJRH. Yochum and others say they have a recording in which a man identified as McGee apologizes and says he has asked God for forgiveness. Advocates have said that recording helped draw attention to the allegations, and those public statements and the audio helped trigger a broader investigation as more alleged victims came forward.
Federal Lawsuit And More Details From The Affidavit
Two men have also filed a federal civil lawsuit that accuses McGee, his wife Donna and Wetumka Public Schools of negligence and a cover-up, according to NonDoc. The probable-cause affidavit describes alleged incidents at the McGees’ home, on trips to stores and, according to one witness, before school, after football practice, at night and inside McGee’s truck. The criminal allegations and the civil suit have fueled intense debate and concern throughout the small-town community.
What Comes Next In Hughes County Court
McGee remains free on bond while attorneys on both sides continue pretrial work. The judge’s ruling gives them added time to prepare before the September trial date, FOX23 reported. Prosecutors say the investigation is still active and are urging anyone with information to contact the Hughes County District Attorney’s office. The case is expected to return to a Hughes County courtroom in the coming months for motions and potential plea discussions before any jury is seated, if the case proceeds to trial.
