By Andrew Knittle
Even though he got the airport treatment Monday morning as he made his way into the Cleveland County Courthouse, longtime Norman resident Bobby Stevens said he was glad to see security being taken seriously.
"They made me take off my steel-toe boots," Stevens said. "I guess I should've thought about it."
Stevens was one of many who got a first look at Cleveland County's new security measures at the courthouse, 201 S. Jones Ave., which includes a three-deputy team. Those coming into the building's west side entrance Monday passed through a airport-style X-ray machine and a deputy wielding a metal-detecting wand before gaining access to the various departments in the building.
All that's fine with Stevens. He said a courthouse, of all things, should be a safe place.
"You got family court that goes through here, you got defendants that come through here -- this should definitely be a safe environment," Stevens said.
But just a couple weeks ago, the courthouse was anything but safe.
On Nov. 12, a sex offender in court for a probation revocation hearing cut his own throat and stabbed Deputy Steve Lucas in the arm and hand after a judge sentenced him to six years in prison for viewing child pornography and lying to his probation officer. Troy Leal, 43, allegedly had smuggled an X-Acto knife into the courtroom and used it on himself and Lucas, a retired Norman Police officer.
There were no security measures in place at the time. But Sheriff Joe Lester says that has all changed.
Lester has taken three field deputies who were patrolling the county and assigned them to the west side entrance, where the public is allowed to enter. The east side entrance is for lawyers and county staff, he said.
And the first day was a busy one.
"We got about eight pocketknives today, big ones," Lester said. "People need to leave those at home."
The sheriff also said security measures may change in the near future.
"What you see today isn't necessarily what you'll see in three or six months," Lester said. "The budget board will decide that when the elected officials meet to discuss it."
County Commissioners discussed the new security measures with their attorneys Monday morning during a regular board meeting, although Commissioner Rod Cleveland said he can't say what they talked about because the conversations were during executive session.
Deputy Lucas remains out of work until Monday as he continues to recover from his stab wounds. He says he's pleased to see the department taking action.
"I'm really glad stuff's up and operational," Lucas said. "It just kinda takes something like this for people to sit up and say, 'Gosh, this can happen here.'"
Lucas said his hand is still giving him a little trouble and that he had trouble sleeping for a few nights following the stabbing.
"I'm doing OK now, I'm kind of bored," he said. "I'm ready to get back when the doctor clears me."
Lucas said the county has paid for his medical bill and the time off work. He also said he doesn't plan to file a lawsuit against his employers.
"They've treated me good," Lucas said.
Leal, who was critically injured following his attack on himself, was in a drug-induced coma for a few days at Norman Regional Hospital but has since been released and taken into custody by the state Department of Corrections, Undersheriff Rhett Burnett said.
Burnett said Leal also will be charged with assault and battery on a police officer for stabbing Lucas.
Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com
