MUSKOGEE, OK – A Muskogee woman will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced for a brazen kidnapping and robbery that terrorized victims on Muscogee (Creek) Nation land. Ashton Marie Clark, 31, received a 120-month (10-year) federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of kidnapping in Indian Country and one count of robbery in Indian Country.
The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and Muskogee Police Department, details a violent encounter that unfolded on September 11, 2021. Clark, along with a co-defendant whose name has not been released, allegedly kidnapped and assaulted one individual while simultaneously robbing another victim at gunpoint. The stolen property included a vehicle and personal belongings, leaving the victims shaken and traumatized.
The location of the crime is critical: Muskogee County falls within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, granting federal authorities jurisdiction. This is the latest case highlighting the complex legal landscape in Eastern Oklahoma following the McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court decision, which affirmed tribal jurisdiction over much of the state. Federal prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and Casey Richmond, successfully argued for the severity of the sentence, emphasizing the violent nature of the crimes and the vulnerability of the victims.
U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White, presiding over the hearing in Muskogee, handed down the concurrent 120-month sentences. The non-parolable nature of the sentence means Clark will serve the full term with no possibility of early release. She is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, awaiting transfer to a designated Bureau of Prisons facility.
While the investigation and prosecution have concluded with Clark’s sentencing, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of violent crime in Eastern Oklahoma. The ATF, along with local law enforcement, continues to prioritize investigations into crimes occurring within Indian Country, working to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable communities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, led by U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson, remains committed to prosecuting violent offenders and ensuring justice for victims. Details of the co-defendant’s case were not immediately available at press time. Further updates will be provided as they become available.”
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