One of the four criminal cases surrounding the Kingfisher football program came to a close on Thursday.

Dana Golbek pleaded no contest in Kingfisher County District Court to her misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse.

Golbek was one of four people charged last Oct. 17 in Kingfisher County District Court by then-District Attorney Mike Fields’ office.

The charge came after an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation inquiry that was prompted by allegations in a civil lawsuit brought against the Kingfi sher school district and four coaches associated with the football program by Mason Mecklenburg.

Mecklenburg alleged a culture of hazing, abuse and torture within the football program during his tenure as a player from 2017-2020. Mecklenburg graduated KHS in May 2021 and filed the lawsuit later that summer.

A Kingfisher school board member, Golbek met with Mecklenburg and his father, Justin Mecklenburg, on June 27, 2021, and they provided her with a packet “and spoke with her about the abuse that happened” to Mason as well as other alleged abuses in the football program, according to the probable cause affidavit filed along with the charges.

The affidavit later stated Golbek only made a report of her meeting to then-KPS Superintendent Daniel Craig and “never reported this to the police or to the Department of Human Services.”

Oklahoma is one of 18 states where anyone who has knowledge of child abuse or neglect allegations and fails to report that information to law enforcement or DHS can be charged with a misdemeanor. In most other states, mandatory reporting requirements are restricted to those in specialized professions, such as medicine or education.

As part of the plea negotiation, Golbek’s sentencing will be deferred for six months and she’ll pay a $100 fine, plus probation fees and costs.

If Golbek successfully completes probation, the case will be dismissed without resulting in a conviction and the charge could be expunged from her record.

Charged the same day as Golbek were head football coach Jeff Myers, former assistant coach Micah Nall and Justin Mecklenburg.

Like Golbek, Justin Mecklenburg faces a misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse.

His most recent appearance was Dec. 6 at which time they set his next appearance for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 6.

Myers was charged with child neglect, a felony, while Nall was hit with felony charges of child abuse and perjury.

Both made their most recent appearances in Kingfi sher County District Court on Tuesday.

Both Myers and Nall were present with attorneys and had the cases reset for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6.