The Argus Observer | Online

Ontario lawyer arrested again

By Andy Gates | Argus Observer
Monday, May 21, 2007 10:41 AM PDT

VALE — Area attorney Tom Okai is back in jail because of drugs for the third time in less than a year.

Okai was taken to the Malheur County Jail Thursday by authorities from Malheur County Community Corrections because of a positive urine test for benzodiazepines — a chemical substance commonly known to produce sedation, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms and prevent seizures. Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said he has not decided if he will file additional charges against Okai, such as contempt of court, because given the course of the case, that may not be the best use of public resources. Okai, 49, pleaded guilty May 4 to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, first degree theft and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

He was put in the Malheur County Work Release Center and ordered to report daily and undergo drug and alcohol evaluations. Okai was arrested in October at his office on a felony drug charge, and then again April 27 at his home on charges involving theft and bad checks. After the April arrest, police located suspected methamphetamine in his pocket at the jail and subsequently searched his residence on a warrant. Following those warrants, Okai was charged with 10 counts of negotiating a bad check, contempt of court, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, first degree theft, four counts of second degree theft and three counts of possession of methamphetamine.

Okai faces a presumptive sentence of probation, or a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, according to the plea agreement.

He is being held at the Malheur County jail on a bail of $19,000 cash, authorities said Friday afternoon. Okai is still listed as an active member of the Oregon State Bar; however, the State Professional Responsibility Board decided in March that formal charges could be filed against him.


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“We are in the process of prosecuting Mr. Okai for ethical misconduct,” Oregon State Bar Community Relations Administrator Kateri Walsh said earlier this month.

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Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

mike may wrote on Oct 28, 2009 12:47 AM:

" mike ivester is a childhood freind of mine. he had a great sense of humor and an open mind when i knew him. he also had a knack for getting into mischief in an effort to feel a sense of adventure, maybe to escape his small town fueled depression and identity crisis... juvenile incarceration shaped his prejudice, and now we've created a monster who we all want to deny. congradulations Oregon! now you have to feed and clothe your dirty little secret for at least half a century. love you mike "

bones wrote on May 16, 2009 9:40 PM:

" Until you work in a prison the general public have no basic knowledge of what fuels a prison. Gangs control everything, except other gangs. The prison politics among the gangs are to out of touch for the public to understand, who does what and why. You can believe that %99 of all sex offenders are getting extorted for money or canteen items by these gangs.
The Aryan Soldiers are a very dangerous group, but a VERY small group.
And yes, there are inmates that just want to do there time and move on. They are not affiliated or extorting anyone, just doing there own time and maintaining clear conduct. "

Angela wrote on Sep 29, 2008 9:06 AM:

" Hey Watonga,
Since you sound a little ignorant I will let you in on a little secret, not everyone in there is a murderer or rapist! There are inmates in there who are not violent and just want to do their time quietly and not be affiliated with any "Gangs" while incarcerated. So I suggest you pull your head out of the sand and stop putting everyone who is incarcerated in the "scum bag" category! educate yourself a little bit next time you make a posting, otherwise you just look silly. "

Watonga wrote on May 30, 2008 1:53 PM:

" hehe you know whats funny....These inmates constantly hurt or kill other p[eople for no reason...and people like you feel sorry for them. I hope that you continue to feel sorry for them, especially the one who may rape and or kill your daughter, or any other family member you may have. Just continue to feel sorry for them, afterall they dont know what they are doing. "

CMS wrote on May 3, 2008 7:53 PM:

" Obviously the individual who wrote the first blog (KLL) is in my opinion worse than any homeless person walking the face of this planet. I feel sorry for a person like you. Its clear by your lack of sensitivity for human life that you should step back and take a good look on who really is the scumbag! "

KLL wrote on Apr 13, 2008 5:51 AM:

" No big loss, two less scum bags on this planet. "

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