Cleveland County sheriff accused of taking campaign and public money got no jail time
A Multi-County Grand Jury indictment unsealed April 27, 2026 charged Cleveland County Sheriff Chris (Donald) Amason with three felony counts of embezzling campaign funds and one count of embezzling public funds, which News 9 reported involved taxpayer money for his spouse to attend an out-of-state conference. Prosecutors said he moved $2,500 to $15,000 at a time from his campaign account to himself and others between May 2020 and July 2025. The same day he pleaded no contest to one felony embezzlement count. Under the plea deal with Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office he resigned, received a five-year deferred sentence, agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution and surrendered his CLEET peace-officer certification; the other three counts were dropped. The $10,000 restitution goes to Norman Bible Church, not taxpayers.
Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason was indicted on embezzlement charges, pleaded no contest to one count, received a deferred sentence, and resigned amid years of financial controversy within the sheriff’s office.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Amason has agreed to resign from office effective immediately, pay $10,000 in restitution, accept a five-year deferred sentence and surrender his CLEET card.
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