START CAC

05/11/2026

On May 6, 2026, two separate Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations conducted by the Elk City Police Department Criminal Investigations Division resulted in guilty pleas and prison sentences for the offenders involved.

The investigation involving Mickey Ezell began in April 2025. Ezell received the following sentences:
🔴CF-2025-96
Count 1 – Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under 16: 20 years
Count 2 – Possession of Child Po*******hy: 20 years
Count 3 – Procuring for Prostitution: 20 years
Count 4 – Violation of Oklahoma Statute via Computer: 20 years

🔴CF-2025-97
Count 1 – Child Sexual Abuse: Life imprisonment, with all but the first 20 years suspended

🔴CF-2025-98
Count 1 – Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under 16: 20 years, to run consecutively with CF-2025-97

🔴CF-2025-105
Counts 1, 2, 3 – Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under 16: 20 years each
Counts 4, 5, 6 – Soliciting Sexual Conduct or Communication with a Minor by Use of Technology: 10 years each
Count 7 – Possession of Child Po*******hy: 20 years

🔴CF-2025-106
Count 1 – Violation of Oklahoma Statute via Computer: 5 years
Count 2 – Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under 16: 20 years

The investigation involving Andrew Martinez began in December 2024. Martinez received the following sentences:
🔴CF-2025-5
Count 1 – First Degree R**e: 25 years, with all but the first 10 years suspended
Count 2 – Soliciting Sexual Conduct or Communication with a Minor: 10 years

The Elk City Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is a participating agency in the Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The Elk City Police Department commends the investigators, partner agencies, and the District 2 Beckham County District Attorney’s Office for their dedication and work on these cases.

The department remains committed to protecting children and aggressively pursuing investigations involving crimes against children.

05/08/2026

04/25/2026

04/24/2026

Elk City Public Schools school nurse Lindsay Marks and school resource officer Melissa Valencia are out today supporting our local START CAC golf tournament fundraiser.

These two see firsthand the importance of protecting and caring for children. Whether it’s providing medical care, offering a safe space, or ensuring student safety, their roles go far beyond their titles. Their support of this fundraiser shows just how deeply they care about the well-being of every child in our community.

Because of events like this, the START Child Advocacy Center can continue providing a safe place for children to share their stories, receive medical care, and begin the healing process after abuse.

It takes a village—and we are so thankful for those who step up, stand in the gap, and advocate for children both on and off the course.

04/23/2026

The Child Advocacy Center isn't just one agency — it's an entire community coming together for children.

Our CAC is made up of a dedicated team of professionals all working toward one common goal: protecting and supporting children. That team includes the District Attorney's office, the Elk City Police Department, the Sayre Police Department, Beckham and Roger Mills County Sheriff Offices, mental health providers, DHS workers, and a SANE nurse — all under one roof.

This multidisciplinary approach means children only have to tell their story once, in a safe and supportive environment, while the right people are already working together behind the scenes.

04/21/2026

Did you know the START Child Advocacy Center is federally funded?

While that funding allows us to serve our community, it doesn't cover everything. Our annual golf tournament — happening THIS FRIDAY — helps supplement that income and ensures we can continue providing critical services to the children and families who need us most.

The team registration may be full, but the support doesn't stop there. Donations from our community make a real difference year-round and help fill the gaps, so no child goes without the care they deserve.

If you'd like to support the START CAC, consider making a donation today. Reach out to us to find out how!

04/20/2026

Every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and supported.

The START Child Advocacy Center plays a vital role in our community — providing a safe place for children and families during some of life's most difficult moments. Take a moment to learn more about the incredible work being done right here in our own backyard.

04/18/2026

Every child deserves a safe place to be heard, so in April- we wear blue. 💙

At the START CAC, our team is here to walk alongside children at the very beginning of their journey—when they first find the courage to share their story. From that first moment, we work together to ensure each child feels safe, supported, and believed.

Our team includes compassionate professionals who are specially trained to care for children who may have experienced abuse or trauma. Through a child-friendly and supportive approach, we provide a safe environment for children to tell their story, while also ensuring they receive a thorough assessment for any injuries and a check on their overall health and well-being.

Behind the scenes, this work is a team effort—nurses, forensic interviewers, police, the district attorney’s office and child welfare workers all working together with one goal: to protect children and help them begin to heal.

We are honored to be a place where children can find their voice and start their path toward hope and healing.

04/16/2026

💙 Recognizing the Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

This is a difficult topic—but awareness can protect children. Many children don’t disclose abuse directly, so it’s important to notice changes in behavior, emotions, or physical health.

🚩The child is quieter or more distant than usual
🚩The child is clingier than usual
🚩Unusual or new fears, sometimes around touch, being alone, being with a particular person or in a particular place
🚩Difficulty concentrating or with memory, zoning out, seeming distracted or not listening
🚩Eating or hygiene changes
🚩Nightmares or trouble sleeping
🚩Regressive behaviors such as bed-wetting or soiling after being toilet trained, acting or wanting to be treated like a baby/younger child again
🚩Showing knowledge of sexual behavior beyond their developmental age
🚩Sexual themes in artwork, stories, play etc.
🚩‘Acting out’ behaviors (aggression, destructive behaviors)
🚩'Acting in’ behaviors (withdrawal from friends and family, depression)
🚩Problems with friends and schoolwork/attendance
🚩Pain, itching, or discomfort in private areas
🚩Frequent urinary tract infections or unexplained health issues
🚩Vague symptoms of illness such as headache or tummy ache
🚩Self-harm (cutting, drug/alcohol use, risky behavior)
🚩Asking vague questions or making vague statements about topics such as secrets, unusual ‘games’, or adult behaviors

⚠️ Important to Remember:
No single sign confirms abuse—but patterns or multiple signs should never be ignored.

🛑 If you suspect abuse, take it seriously.
Stay calm, listen without judgment, and reassure the child they are not in trouble.

📞 Report concerns to the Oklahoma DHS Child Abuse Hotline at
1-800-522-3511.

💙 Your awareness and action can help keep a child safe.

01/23/2026

Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic. It occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. When sexual abuse does occur, 75% of child victims do not disclose within a year – 45% keep their abuse a secret for at least 5 years, many stay silent for decades, and some never tell. With guidance and support, victims can heal into thriving survivors. Together, we can shine light into dark places.

Click the link below for an incredible resource. Lauren's Kids Guide to Hope & Healing is designed to provide essential information and answer questions that often arise after a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse.

This Guide to Hope & Healing is designed to provideessential information and answer questions that oftenarise after a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse