Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A man from Claremore has been sentenced for the charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault. U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Jerry Dean Luton, III, 35, to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The charges involved involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury occurring in Indian Country.
Court records document the incident occurring in August 2023, when Timothy Austin was killed after Luton crossed the center line and collided head-on with the vehicle driven by Austin, who was accompanied by his wife. The collision resulted in Austin's death and serious injuries to his wife, with whom he had spent more than 51 years of marriage. The investigation determined that Luton had been operating his vehicle under the influence, with alcohol, methamphetamine, and marijuana present in his system and without a valid driving license.
Luton, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was allowed to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The investigation was conducted by the FBI along with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Cyran.
