OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna will not file charges against State Superintendent Ryan Walters after nude images appeared on a television in his office during a public meeting earlier this year.
On Tuesday, Behenna issued a brief statement saying there was “insufficient evidence to file criminal charges” following an investigation by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and reports from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
“The District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the investigation conducted by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and reports provided by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation regarding nudity playing on a television in Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office during a State Board of Education meeting,” the statement read. “After careful review, it has been determined there is insufficient evidence to file criminal charges.”
Further inquiries traced the images to programming on Samsung’s free Movie Hub Action channel 1204, which automatically loads when the television is powered on. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert confirmed with a Samsung representative that The Protector, a 1985 Jackie Chan film containing brief nudity, was airing during the meeting. That film was followed by The Foreigner.
Walters has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. In July, as reports of the incident circulated, he said he had “no knowledge of what was on the TV screen” and described the allegations as “the desperate tactics of a broken establishment afraid of real change.” He added, “Any suggestion that a device of mine was used to stream inappropriate content … is categorically false”.
He also insisted that the television in his office was only a cable-connected device and had never been linked to external streaming equipment capable of playing other material.
Board members Becky Carson and Ryan Deatherage, who first reported seeing the images, have urged accountability despite the DA’s decision. Carson said that while the finding may rule out criminality, “it doesn’t make it right.” Another board member, Chris Van Denhende, said he could not see the TV but noticed an inappropriate reaction behind Walters during the incident.
Brett is the founder, and editor in chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He continues to contribute reporting and photography to the efforts of the publication as well as leadership in developing support.
