FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2023

CONTACT: Brook Arbeitman (405) 713-1790

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma County jury found Melvin Kemp Sr. guilty on a total of 41 charges late Thursday night. The jury recommended 35 life sentences, five sentences of Life without Parole and 20 years for the charge of Pointing a Firearm.

On October 23, 2021, a report was made with the Oklahoma City Police Department involving four children being abused both sexually and physically by their father, Melvin Kemp. Based on the allegations, DHS removed the children from their father’s home to the care of a family member. In subsequent forensic interviews of the four children, ranging in age from 11 to 15, the physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father was disclosed. A warrant was issued for Kemp’s arrest, which occurred during a traffic stop on December 1, 2021. Police located a firearm in Kemp’s vehicle during the stop. As a convicted felon, Kemp is prohibited from carrying a firearm.

Based on the investigation by OCPD’s Crimes Against Children Unit, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office charged Kemp with the following:

• Ct. #1: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #2: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #3: Forcible Oral Sodomy
• Ct. #4: Forcible Oral Sodomy
• Ct. #5: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #6: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #7: Rape in the First Degree by Instrumentation
• Ct. #8: Rape in the First Degree by Instrumentation
• Ct. #9: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #10: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #11: Child Abuse
• Ct. #12: Child Abuse
• Ct. #13: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #14: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #15: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #16: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #17: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #18: Child Abuse Under 16
• Ct. #19: Child Abuse
• Ct. #20: Attempted Rape in the First Degree
• Ct. #21: Attempted Rape in the First Degree
• Ct. #22: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #23: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #24: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #25: (Dismissed by the State) Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #26: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #27: Forcible Oral Sodomy
• Ct. #28: (Dismissed by the State) Forcible Oral Sodomy
• Ct. #29: Child Abuse
• Ct. #30: Child Abuse
• Ct. #31: Child Abuse
• Ct. #32: Child Abuse
• Ct. #33: Feloniously Pointing a Firearm
• Ct. #34: Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Ct. #35: (Dismissed by the State) Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Ct #36: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #37: Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Ct. #38: Ct. #39: Ct. #40: Ct. #41: Ct. #42: Ct. #43:
• Ct. #44: Ct. #45:
  • Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
  • Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
  • Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
  • Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16
• Rape in the First Degree Victim Under 14 Years of Age
• (Dismissed by the State) Rape in the First Degree Victim Under 14 Years of Age
• Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16 Indecent or Lewd Acts with a Child Under 16

“No child under the care of a parent, or anyone else, should have to endure what these children went through,” said Vicki Zemp Behenna, Oklahoma County District Attorney. “If a child has the courage to disclose information to you, please immediately report that information to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Every child deserves the innocence of youth and a safe place to grow.”

Incidents reported to NCMEC will be vetted and then forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation. Tips can be made online at report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST.

Kemp remains in the Oklahoma County Detention Center until formal sentencing takes place on November 30, 2023, at 9 a.m.

Father Convicted of Child Neglect in Death of Baby

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, an Oklahoma County jury found Sir Tramane Neal guilty of two counts of Child Neglect. The charges stem from the severe malnourishment of Neal’s five-month-old twin boys. Neal and the boys’ mother, Secoya McNeary, took them to the hospital in October 2018 after one of the twins was found unresponsive. The unresponsive twin died while the other boy was stable and was eventually released from the hospital. Both boys weighed approximately six pounds at five months of age.

The jury recommended a sentence of 12 years on each count. Formal sentencing is set for November 28, 2023. McNeary’s trial on two counts of Child Neglect will take place January 8, 2024.

Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

320 ROBERT S. KERR, SUITE 505 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 (405) 713-1600
FAX (405) 235-1567

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