Pardoned Driver Seeks Expungement of Crash Record
Jordan Powell, pardoned by Gov. Kevin Stitt earlier this year, has asked that his criminal record be sealed.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Jordan Powell has requested that his criminal records be expunged after a 2010 drunken-driving crash in McClain County killed five people in his vehicle. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt pardoned Powell earlier this year.
Why it matters
The request raises questions about whether a pardoned individual should be able to erase records tied to a fatal crash in Oklahoma. Powell cited privacy concerns as his reason for seeking expungement.
Powell pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years, later reduced to 2.5 years with the rest suspended. A hearing on his expungement request is scheduled for Dec. 16, and no ruling has been reported.
The players
Jordan Powell
Powell is the Oklahoma man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the 2010 McClain County crash and has requested expungement of his records.
Kevin Stitt
Stitt is the Governor of Oklahoma, who pardoned Powell earlier this year.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is the state law enforcement agency that stated Powell was intoxicated when the crash occurred.
The details
Powell was convicted of driving under the influence before a 2010 crash in McClain County that killed five people inside his vehicle. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Timeline
2010: Crash in McClain County kills five people.
Earlier this year: Gov. Kevin Stitt pardons Jordan Powell.
Dec. 16: Hearing scheduled on Powell's expungement request.
Legal Context
The request tests how Oklahoma's expungement statutes apply when a gubernatorial pardon is paired with a manslaughter conviction tied to multiple deaths. Such cases turn on whether pardon relief extends to sealing records of serious violent offenses.
The ruling will determine whether records of a fatal DUI manslaughter case remain accessible through public court databases. Residents can track the Dec. 16 hearing through the court docket once it is entered.
The takeaway
Expungement decisions after a pardon can separate public access from the underlying facts of a case. Readers following similar requests can check court dockets for hearing outcomes and filed orders.
What happens next
A hearing on Jordan Powell's expungement request is scheduled for Dec. 16.
Further reading
For more on how records and sentencing are handled, see Criminal Justice coverage across Oklahoma.
