Inmate dies after being hospitalized for COVID
The Oklahoma County jail inmate who died at a hospital Friday had tested positive for COVID-19.
Paul Wayne Sanders Jr. was hospitalized Aug. 16, four days after testing positive, the jail’s director of communications confirmed.
Sanders died on his birthday. He was 62.
The Oklahoma City man was jailed last September after being charged with lewd acts with a child.
In January, his defense attorney at the time asked a judge to release him on his own recognizance or conditions because of his medical issues.
“Defendant is elderly … and suffers from strokes and seizures,” the assistant public defender told the judge. “Based on his seizure condition and age, Mr. Sanders is at a serious risk of … death or disability should he contract COVID-19 in the jail.”
District Judge Susan Stallings reduced his bond amount to $250,000 but he was never able to post it.
His jury trial had been set to begin Monday.
“I’m really sad for him and his family,” said his new attorney, John Boozer. “I don’t know what you can do in this situation. … It’s difficult because you have a court and you have so many parties who all get a say. And you try and do the best you can. … And then something like this happens.
“I know people feel like it’s unfair. I don’t know how you fix it.”
Since the pandemic started, more than 50 inmates at state prisons, jails or juvenile detention centers have died because of COVID-19, according to the latest weekly epidemiology report released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Two Oklahoma County jail inmates died in August 2020 after testing positive.