Former Ottawa District Court employee fired; Accused of Using 'Official Court Seal' on Custody Document | KSNF/CODE

MIAMI, Okla. – A former employee of the Ottawa County Court Clerk's office is facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly using an official “court seal” on documents in her custody case.

Christina Gabbard, 33, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with unlawful use of the clerk's seal. She is scheduled to return to court on April 10, according to court records.

Gabbard and Samuel Baird are embroiled in a custody battle over their young child. Both parties filed dueling protective orders in November 2022, those orders were subsequently dismissed in March 2023, records show.

On November 7, the couple wrote a temporary restraining order regarding normal custody issues. Gabbard is accused of taking the document with the official seal of a child care company as a legal document.

According to court records, Ottawa County Clerk of Court Cassie Key was contacted on Dec. 27 by Winston Connor II, Baird's attorney, about a temporary custody order that had a court clerk's seal affixed, according to the warrant.

The document in question was presented to Stepping Stones Academy in Miami and falsely prohibited Baird from picking up the child early on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, saying he could not pick up the child before 3:45 p.m. The filing shortened the father's visit by two hours.

The affidavit says Gabbard confessed to forging the document by signing another court clerk's name on the document. During the investigation, Keys learned of the misconduct and fired Gabbard.

Gabbard also confessed to the misconduct, the affidavit states.

Connor filed a motion to modify the temporary custody order on Jan. 8, requesting that Baird be given custody but that Gabbard only be allowed supervised visitation.

Gabbard pleaded not guilty.