The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Friday that John Ray Collins, Jr., 48, of Okmulgee, was convicted at trial by a federal jury of one count of Attempted Murder, two counts of Child Abuse, and one count of Child Neglect.
The jury trial began with testimony on Nov. 13, and concluded on Nov.17, with the guilty verdict.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between January 1, 2023, and June 12, 2023, Collins abused two children, that he attempted to murder one child, and that he failed to provide food, water, medical care and sanitary living conditions to that same child, all while responsible for their health, welfare and safety. The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
On Oct. 24, Collins’ co-defendant, Tambara Lorene Collins, 37, of Okmulgee, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Child Abuse and one count of Child Neglect.
The indictment alleged that between January 1, 2023, and June 12, 2023, Collins caused harm to, threatened harm to and failed to protect from harm two children while responsible for their health, welfare and safety.
Both of the guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriff ’s Office, the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Judge John F. Heil, who presided over the John Ray Collins’ trial in Muskogee, ordered the completion of a pre-sentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following the completion of the report.
Collins Jr. was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Caila M. Cleary and Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea for Tambara Lorene Collins and ordered the completion of a pre-sentence investigation report. She was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
