RICO charge dropped against Grove lawyer

There was good news for Grove criminal defense lawyer Winston Connor, II, late last week.

He had been charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act better known as "RICO," that was passed back in 1970 primarily to try to get mobsters under control.

But the RICO violation and several other federal charges were dismissed by Associate Judge Clifford Smith last Friday.

Connor still faces other charges but they, too, could be dropped.

The charges were spawned by Connor's alleged connection with now-convicted murder Slint Tate.

Tate is serving a life sentence for the murder of Delaware County, Oklahoma reserve deputy Vernie Milford.

That murder took place in 1999.