8/14/2015 – OKC, OK — An Oklahoma City attorney criminally charged with traveling overseas to have sex with children is denied a request to have his pre-trial release restrictions modified – among his original requests, the ability to have children visit him at his residence.
As previously reported by JohnTV, Michael Dean Billings, 60, is charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. *You can read the actual federal indictment at the bottom of this article.
Billings, who is married with children, has been on house arrest with electronic monitoring since his indictment was unsealed in Oct. of 2014. Billings ability to leave his home has been restricted to going to work as a local attorney, tending to the two strip clubs he owns and attending church.
In July Billings’ defense attorney filed a ‘motion to modify conditions of pre-trial release.’ In that motion, Billings sought to have his house arrest changed to a curfew – allowing him to come and go as he pleases as long as he remained at home from 10pm to 6am nightly. Billings also sought to be allowed to have his minor children invite their playmates over to his residence and to allow Billings to go to restaurants, movies and “other venues” with his minor children’s friends. *You can read the actual motion to modify at the bottom of this article.
This was actually Billings’ second attempt to have his pre-trial conditions of release modified in his favor. Billings’ first attempt was denied.
Federal prosecutors responded by pointing out that the charges against Billings are severe, the evidence overwhelming and because Billings is well-traveled and facing a long prison term he is a potential flight risk.
Prosecutors argued; “[Billings] has demonstrated a pattern and an admitted history of sexual urges towards minors (both in the United States and abroad), has the means to live comfortably abroad, and has traveled extensively in the past several years to include 39 trips to Iquitos, Peru and a trip to Bangkok, Thailand. The generous conditions imposed upon [Billings] are sufficient and more than fair. Any modifications, or lessening, of these conditions may not properly ensure the defendant’s appearance for trial or properly protect the community. In more than one conversation, some recorded, with various confidential human sources, the defendant spoke at length about sexual exploits with young girls in Bangkok, Thailand and how he would pick them out and what he could do with them. In addition, the defendant made disturbing sexually explicit comments about teenage girls who visited his home.” *You can read the actual federal prosecutor’s response at the bottom of this article.
This past Wednesday a federal magistrate judge denied Billings’ modification request.
Present at the hearing was a senior pastor where Billings and his family attends church. According to published reports, the pastor testified in favor of Billings being placed on a curfew instead of home confinement and stated that he was aware of Billings involvement with two local strip clubs and that fact did not change his opinion.
Billings’ trial (which has already been delayed three times) is currently set for December.
If convicted, Billings faces up to life in prison.
JohnTV will continue to follow this case.
Below are three court documents related to this case (Initial Indictment, Motion to Modify, Prosecution’s Response to Motion). If the documents do not appear below, please refresh your browser or click on the documents caption.
Response to Motion to modify restrictions
Related Media Articles:
- 10/29/2014 – KFOR – Residents upset attorney accused of child sex trafficking works in their neighborhood. LINK
- 10/24/2014 – FBI – Indictment Unsealed Charging Oklahoma City Attorney with Conspiracy. LINK