Dan Kirby (politician)

Dan Kirby
Eufaula City Council
In office
April 2021 – March 2023
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 75th district
In office
January 3, 2009 – March 1, 2017
Preceded byDennis Adkins
Succeeded byKaren Gaddis
Personal details
Born (1958-04-14) April 14, 1958 (age 66)
NationalityAmerican
Muscogee Nation
Political partyRepublican

Dan Kirby (born Danny Gene Kirby, April 14, 1958) is a Republican politician from Oklahoma who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 75th district from 2009 to 2017 and on the Eufaula City Council from 2021 to 2023. He resigned from the Oklahoma House after sexual harassment allegations and from the Eufaula city government after his indictment for involuntary manslaughter.

In June 2023, Kirby was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend, Sheryl Bichsel, in a July 2022 motorcycle accident where Kirby was driving while intoxicated.

Political career

In January 2017, two legislative assistants accused Kirby of sexual harassment; after a House panel recommended his expulsion from the Senate, Kirby resigned in March.[1][2] He was elected to represent Ward 4 on the Eufaula City Council in April 2021 and resigned in March 2023.[3]

Manslaughter conviction

In July 2022, Kirby crashed his motorcycle near Lake Eufaula State Park and Sheryl Bichsel, his girlfriend and passenger, died in the accident. Since Kirby is a Muscogee Nation citizen and the accident occurred in Indian Country only the United States and Muscogee Nation had criminal jurisdiction. In June 2023, Kirby was tried in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in front of Judge John F. Heil III.[4] Kirby was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and was found to be at fault for the crash for driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, and various prescription drugs.[5] He was sentenced to 41 months in prison in July 2024 by Judge Heil.[4]

Electoral history

Kirby ran unopposed in the 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 elections. In 2016, he defeated Democrat Karen Gaddis, receiving 59.56% of the vote; after his resignation, Gaddis won a special election to replace him.[6]

References

  1. ^ Clay, Nolan (January 19, 2017). "Former legislative assistant alleges Tulsa Rep. Dan Kirby repeatedly asked her for nude photos". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Hoberock, Barbara (February 5, 2017). "Update: Rep. Dan Kirby resigns amid sexual harassment controversy". Tulsa World. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Brinkman, Bennett (28 June 2023). "'Consequence': Jury finds former Rep. Dan Kirby guilty of involuntary manslaughter". NonDoc.
  4. ^ a b Brinkman, Bennett (29 July 2024). "'Nothing good happening': Former Rep. Dan Kirby sentenced to 41 months in prison". NonDoc. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Federal Jury Convicts Tulsa Resident Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Indian Country" (Press release). Oklahoma: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Oklahoma. July 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  6. ^ "Dan Kirby". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 12, 2017.


Stub icon

This article about an Oklahoma politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.