District Judge Paul Woodward on Wednesday denied Jeff Myers’ motion that sought to throw out the felony charge against him.

The ruling was made after about a five-minute hearing at Kingfisher County District Court.

Myers’ attorneys submitted a motion to quash due to insufficient evidence in the felony charge of child neglect that was filed against the former Kingfisher High School football coach last October.

The charge came after an investigation by the OSBI, which stemmed from a civil lawsuit filed against Myers, Kingfisher Public Schools and three other coaches in 2021.

Associate District Judge Allison Lafferty ruled after a preliminary hearing in June that the state failed to provide suffi cient evidence that child neglect had occurred.

The state appealed that decision and it was reversed by Associate District Judge Tom Newby in July. Newby ordered Lafferty to correct her decision.

Myers’ attorneys - Joe White and Kate White filed the motion to quash in October and the state filed its response later that month.

In Wednesday’s ruling, Woodward said he had read the transcripts as well as the motions before hearing briefly from Assistant District Attorney Jimmy Bunn and Joe White.

Myers also appeared before the judge. He was joined at the courthouse by several family members as well as about two dozen supporters.

Myers was the head coach at KHS for 20 years.

He was placed on administrative leave by KPS the day after the felony charge was filed and remains employed by the district.

Interim Superintendent Andy Evans said the judicial process must be finalized before any further moves are made regarding Myers’ employment with the district.

However, as part of the civil lawsuit settlement agreement with Mason Mecklenburg, the district agreed to remove all coaching duties from Myers and to never let him coach at KPS again.

Myers returns to court Feb. 5 for a bond appearance at which time it’s expected a jury trial will be scheduled.