Kays Appears in Kingfisher Court; Case Continued to Dec.

KINGFISHER – Former Watonga Police Chief Shawn Kays made a brief appearance in the Kingfisher County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon after he was charged this summer with felony first-degree burglary and misdemeanor assault.

Kays appeared with his attorney Daniel Webber before Associate District Judge Lance Schneiter, who conferred briefly with the men before ordering a new court date of Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m.

A speeding ticket Kays got in Watonga in July, for going more than 40 mph over the limit, is tracking with Kays’ felony case and set to be addressed at the same hearing, according to court documents.

Reporters from the Watonga Republican and Oklahoma City station News 9 spoke briefly with Kays’ lawyers in the hallway after the Tuesday hearing. Webber declined to comment on the case.

Kays was fired from the Watonga Police in mid-June. A month later, he was charged with burglary and assault in relation to a rough 2019 arrest that was captured on police body cameras.

The woman he arrested that day has filed a lawsuit against the city.

Kays is due in court again on Nov. 4 in relation to a protective order filed against him in June, the same day he was fired.