Pittsburg County commissioners approve sheriff-requested ban on courthouse entry for named resident

The Pittsburg County Board of County Commissioners voted Nov. 24 to approve a sheriff's office letter barring Leslie Ann Orico from entering the courthouse second and third floors except when she has scheduled court proceedings.

Matt McFarland, a representative of the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Department, told the board there have been repeated incidents of recording in restricted areas of the courthouse and behavior the department considers harassment of staff and officials. McFarland requested that the person named in the letter be limited to the second and third floors only when appearing for court.

Commissioner Charlie Rogers moved to approve the letter; Ross Selman seconded the motion. The board recorded the motion as passed with Rogers and Selman voting AYE and no NAY votes recorded.

The signed letter — included in the meeting record — names Leslie Ann Orico and gives a date of birth and identifying number. It says the ban applies to the courthouse second and third floors, except for the person’s scheduled court proceedings, and warns that further entry onto those floors could lead to arrest and criminal prosecution. The letter was signed by Chairman Charlie Rogers and executed in the presence of a deputy who is listed on the form.

Judge Hogan, who appears in the record, told the board she sometimes comes to the courthouse to try to escalate issues; the minutes show her remarks in the context of McFarland’s explanation. The ban was processed as a county administrative action; the sheriff’s office will be responsible for enforcement.

No appeal or formal review process is recorded in the minutes; the letter itself instructs the banned person that returning to the prohibited floors could result in arrest.