Claremore Pastor Faces 11 Felony Charges in Tulsa County Peeping Tom Case

By Staff Cherokee 411

TULSA, Okla. — A Claremore pastor and school board member has been charged with 11 felony counts of Peeping Tom with photographic or electronic equipment following an incident at a Tulsa Hobby Lobby that raised questions of jurisdiction under McGirt v. Oklahoma.

Kendrick Oakley, 34, was arrested Wednesday after Tulsa County prosecutors issued a warrant in connection with an alleged attempt to record under a woman’s skirt multiple times in less than 20 minutes at a Hobby Lobby near 71st Street and Mingo Road.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred on July 9, 2024. Loss prevention employees at the store reported observing a man repeatedly following a female shopper with his phone held low. Surveillance footage later revealed 11 separate attempts in 16 minutes to film beneath her clothing.

Store staff followed the suspect to his vehicle and recorded the license plate, which was issued by a tribal agency. That information, along with security footage, helped police identify the man as Oakley.

Oakley is listed as a pastor at Destiny Life Church in Claremore and a member of the board of education at Claremore Christian School, which is affiliated with the church.

His arrest was delayed for nearly a month as authorities evaluated whether tribal jurisdiction applied under the McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling. That 2020 decision found that much of eastern Oklahoma remains Indian Country for purposes of federal criminal law, meaning certain cases involving Native Americans fall under tribal or federal—rather than state—jurisdiction.

In a statement, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler’s office said the Cherokee Nation had indicated Oakley might be eligible for tribal citizenship and asked that his status be investigated.

“Mr. Oakley was afforded due process, and it was determined by the court that McGirt was not applicable to his case,” the statement said. “He did not meet the criteria for Cherokee citizenship. This ruling reinforced that the State did have proper jurisdiction to prosecute Mr. Oakley.”

Oakley was booked into the Rogers County Jail around 5 p.m. Wednesday on a Tulsa County hold, records show.

The case underscores the ongoing complexity of criminal jurisdiction in eastern Oklahoma. Since the McGirt ruling, determining whether a defendant or victim is a tribal citizen—and whether a crime occurred on Indian land—has become a crucial step in many prosecutions. The process often delays charges as local, tribal, and federal authorities sort through overlapping legal boundaries.

If convicted, Oakley could face prison time and registration as a sex offender. A court date has not yet been set.

Officials from Destiny Life Church and Claremore Christian School have not responded to requests for comment.