Law & Principles

OCPA helps secure major free-speech victory

August 6, 2026

Ryan Haynie

Last week the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in favor of a man who was sent to prison for nothing more than posting a video on YouTube. In a massive win for free speech, the Court reversed and remanded the case to the district court with instructions to dismiss the case.

While the case was a win for free expression—especially online speech—the result is bittersweet as the defendant had already spent about 15 months in prison. In other words, the taxpayer paid the bill for his imprisonment and could face potential liability in a civil rights lawsuit. The defendant is also still subject to an unconstitutional protective order which prohibits him from speaking about his ex-wife on social media, though enforcement is unlikely thanks to the Court’s action.

The OCPA Center for Law & Liberty filed a brief as amicus curiae in the case, and the Court’s order echoed many of the arguments raised in its brief. The case raises important issues the Legislature should consider addressing, like reforming laws around protective orders, stalking, and harassment. In the past, OCPA has fought laws to criminalize speech, and this case demonstrated the importance of those efforts.