Michael Joseph Pointer, Kidnapping in Indian Country, Oklahoma 2021

Michael Joseph Pointer, 43, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for kidnapping a former dating partner.

Pointer, a resident of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to carjacking, kidnapping in Indian Country, and carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to court documents and hearings, Pointer had a history of threats and acts of violence against his intimate partners. In a written plea agreement, Pointer admitted to kidnapping a former dating partner using force and intimidation on April 3, 2020.

Pointer threatened to kill the victim and her family in a ‘bloodbath’ and fired his shotgun at the victim, narrowly missing her head. The defendant knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his previous felony conviction.

After taking the victim and her Mercury minivan, Pointer drove her around Tulsa against her will. The victim was eventually able to break away and run into a convenience store, where she hid in a bathroom until authorities arrived.

Tulsa Police officers responded to the call, located the vehicle, and conducted a traffic stop. Officers discovered a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition in the vehicle.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle Dial stated at the sentencing hearing that Pointer exhibited an escalating pattern of domestic violence since 2005. Dial noted previous allegations of abuse, including an incident where Pointer strangled an intimate partner.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle Dial prosecuting the case. Pointer’s sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of domestic violence and the consequences of such crimes.

Pointer’s history of threats and acts of violence against intimate partners is a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. His sentence highlights the importance of taking domestic violence seriously and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

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