Kemp pleads no contest in 2022 altercation with OHP trooper

Nancy Kemp entered a no-contest plea to two charges at the Logan County Courthouse on September 12, with two additional charges being dismissed. Now 70 years old, Kemp was involved in a May 11, 2022, altercation with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) trooper during a traffic stop on Interstate 35 near Seward Road just before 12:30 a.m.

Kemp, who sustained a broken nose, seven ribs, and a foot injury in the incident, explained her decision to plead no contest on charges of DUI and obstructing an officer, stating, “I’m just too tired to continue to jury trial,” Kemp told NonDoc after the hearing.

Kemp, who previously pled not guilty before entering the no contest, received a deferred sentence and was placed on unsupervised probation for one year. After a year, if she has no arrest, she can go to court to ask that the charges be expunged from her record.

Charges of resisting arrest and failure to dim headlights were dropped. “We probably could have beaten him in court, but I just couldn’t take that chance,” she added.

Before this incident, Kemp had no criminal record.

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Trooper Preston Cox, now working in media relations for OHP, had pulled Kemp over after she was seen driving home from a bar. Following delays caused by health issues and Kemp’s pursuit of information about Cox’s use-of-force record, the trial had been scheduled for October 21. Instead, Kemp was given a deferred sentence and placed on unsupervised probation for one year. If she remains arrest-free during this period, she can petition to have the charges expunged from her record.

During the traffic stop, Cox reported that Kemp, who admitted to having consumed a mixed drink with tequila, displayed signs of intoxication including red, watery eyes and slurred speech. As Cox prepared to administer a field sobriety test, Kemp allegedly opened the patrol unit’s door aggressively and tried to flee. According to the trooper, he attempted to restrain her by grabbing the back of her neck, but Kemp continued to resist, resulting in a physical confrontation.

Cox reported that he used his knee and elbow to gain control of Kemp, who initially slipped out of her handcuffs but was eventually restrained after additional force was used. Despite her ongoing resistance, the trooper was able to successfully secure Kemp in handcuffs.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Kemp had a blood alcohol concentration of .093, which is .013 above the legal limit, or an alternative count of driving under the influence of both alcohol and other intoxicating substances, specifically, two different strains of THC.

“The State has spent the past month reviewing and analyzing the evidence in this matter,” Thomas said in 2022. “Careful consideration and attention were given to both the defendant’s behaviors and the officer’s responses to those which were required to ensure the safety of the defendant, officer, and public.”

Kemp told NonDoc she opted to enter a plea because she was told her attorney’s motion to dismiss the criminal case would not be considered and she was apprehensive about what a jury might decide. She said that, for the first time, prosecutors were offering her the opportunity to plead no contest to the two charges and dismiss the other two.