By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
EL RENO – A Canadian County judge has issued a bench warrant for a Yukon man charged with sexually assaulting a young girl over a period of six years after the defendant failed to appear for a recent court hearing.
Joshua Jay O’Daniel, 48, was formally charged July 6 with 13 counts of sexual abuse of a child, four counts of first-degree rape by instrumentation and two counts of first-degree rape.
He was originally charged Sept. 21, 2021 in Canadian County District Court; the District Attorney’s Office recently amended the charges.
O’Daniel is facing a lengthy prison sentence after an investigation by Oklahoma City Police into crimes that reportedly occurred between May 2015 and May 2021.
Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Boyer alleges the defendant had sexual intercourse with a minor and committed lewd acts with the female victim.
O’Daniel, with his attorney Don Jackson, appeared June 9 for a preliminary hearing before Special Judge David H. Halley.
After hearing evidence and listening to witness testimony, Judge Halley found probable cause that the child rape and sexual abuse crimes were committed – and that O’Daniel committed the crimes.
O’Daniel was bound over for district court arraignment on Aug. 17 before Canadian County District Judge Khristan Strubhar.
After the defendant failed to appear for the arraignment, Judge Strubhar signed the warrant for his arrest. Bonds total $610,000 on all 19 felony counts.
Each count of first-degree rape is punishable by not less than five years, life or life without parole in state prison.
Each count of child sexual abuse is punishable by up to life in prison or one year in a county jail and/or a $500-$5,000 fine.
Anyone with information about O’Daniel’s whereabouts is asked to call the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office at (405) 422-3190.
