After two years, a federal court issued the first criminal indictment related to a scandal that rocked McCurtain County under the administration of now-ousted Sheriff Kevin Clardy.

There have been several lawsuits filed stemming from alleged corruption, but no criminal charges, until now. The U.S. Attorneys Office has charged Cody Johnson, a former McCurtain County jail supervisor. Hes accused of co-conspiring an attack at the jail.

Here is how it unfolded:

In 2023, audio of Clardy and others, released by the McCurtain Gazette, sparked national public outrage and led to the sheriff losing re-election.

The recordings included blatant racism and plotting to kill two of the Gazette journalists.

For years, Gazette reporter Chris Willingham had been investigating various allegations of cor

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