Kiowa County Cattleman Sentenced After Brutal Beating
- mike33692
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Kiowa County Cattleman Sentenced After Brutal Beating Of 74-Year-Old Neighbor
A Kiowa County cattleman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to maiming in the brutal beating of his 74-year-old neighbor during a dispute over a cattle lease in southwest Oklahoma.
Ethan Patrick Treadwell, 43, received a sentence of 10 years in state prison followed by 15 years suspended from Kiowa County District Judge Rafe Hall. The sentencing follows Treadwell's blind guilty plea in the January 2024 attack that left William Halbert "Junior" Hicks with permanent, life-altering injuries. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for October as the case moves toward its final phase.
Kiowa County Cattleman Sentenced To Prison
According to court records, Ethan Patrick Treadwell was originally charged with aggravated assault and battery before entering a blind guilty plea to the amended felony charge of maiming.
The assault occurred on January 30, 2024, near Mountain Park in Kiowa County, where Treadwell leased grazing land owned by Hicks.
Investigators with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported that Hicks approached Treadwell to discuss money allegedly owed under the lease agreement. Authorities said Treadwell exited his pickup truck, knocked Hicks to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked the 74-year-old until he lost consciousness.
Witnesses told investigators Hicks was struck between 10 and 15 times before being kicked repeatedly in the face.
During the investigation, Treadwell claimed Hicks had confronted him with a pair of pliers and that he acted in self-defense. However, evidence presented in court showed Hicks was holding a cellular phone—not pliers—when the confrontation began.
Information about Oklahoma criminal court proceedings is available through the Oklahoma State Courts Network.
Kiowa County Cattleman Attack Left Victim Permanently Injured
The injuries suffered by William Halbert "Junior" Hicks were extensive.
After being transported to Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Hicks was airlifted to OU Health in Oklahoma City for emergency treatment.
Medical records presented in court showed Hicks suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, broken nose, severe facial fractures, the loss of 15 teeth, and a devastating orbital fracture that required surgeons to implant a metal plate.
Later surgery to replace that plate with harvested bone was followed by a stroke during recovery, leaving Hicks confined to a wheelchair with limited use of his left arm.
Under Oklahoma law, maiming is defined as intentionally causing an injury that permanently disfigures or disables another person. The offense carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
Additional information about criminal investigations is available through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Restitution Hearing Still Ahead
Judge Rafe Hall also scheduled a restitution hearing for October 7, where the court will determine whether additional financial compensation should be awarded to Hicks for his medical expenses and lasting injuries.
Beyond the criminal case, court records show Treadwell faced multiple civil lawsuits involving agricultural debt in recent years, although those judgments were later satisfied.
Treadwell also gained national attention after appearing during the first season of Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, the ranching competition television series hosted by country music star Trace Adkins.
While the criminal sentence has now been imposed, the case remains a stark reminder of how quickly disputes can escalate into life-changing violence. The upcoming restitution hearing will mark the final major step in a prosecution that has drawn widespread attention across southwest Oklahoma. Court records for the case are available through the Kiowa County District Court via OSCN.
Source: The Lawton Constitution (rewritten for SEO)