Fugitive found hiding in wife’s car trunk

 STILLWATER — An ex-convict, who was wanted for failing to appear in court on Feb. 10 on forgery charges, was found hiding in the trunk of his wife’s car in Perkins by Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Dalton Ross on March 25 at 11:30 am, according to allegations in his affidavit.

   When he was apprehended, Steven Charles Barber, 46, of Perkins, who has a criminal record in four counties, had methamphetamine that he claimed was his medicine, two forged paper copies of Oklahoma driver’s licenses, a forged check for $100, and six different credit/debit or identification cards without his name, the affidavit alleged.

   Barber could be given four life prison terms plus two years if convicted of possessing counterfeit licenses, a $100 forged check and methamphetamine on March 25, as well as passing three forged checks totaling $1,457 at three different branches of a Stillwater bank on a Perkins man’s new checking account in October of 2025. He has been ordered to appear in court this week.

   The deputy alleged in his affidavit, “I was sitting in the area of Kirk Street and Timberline Drive in Perkins…due to information I had received on a wanted fugitive, Steven Barber.

   “The information I received was that Steven had a doctor’s appointment in Oklahoma City. His wife was going to take him to that appointment sometime in the afternoon in her gold-colored Chevrolet Malibu.

   “Perkins Assistant Chief Shane Dean was located in the area as well. Dean informed me that the Malibu had arrived at the residence, pulled into the garage and shut the door. A little while later, he informed me that the vehicle was backing out of the garage and heading in my direction.

   “I caught up to the vehicle and initiated a stop based on the information I received…I approached the driver’s side door, approached (Barber’s wife), and observed no other subjects in the vehicle. She informed me that Steven was in Tulsa when I asked where he was.

   “She informed me that she was going to a doctor’s appointment in Oklahoma City and had the GPS pulled up on her car. She said the appointment was for her. She was asked if we could look in the trunk of the vehicle. (She) became non-compliant at that point and seemed to be frustrated, just stating she needed to go.

   “(She) denied that Steven was in the trunk. I informed (her) that she could open the trunk or that I would get a warrant to open the trunk. The information I had received had been accurate to this point, and with her changing her demeanor when asked about the trunk, I believed Steven was in the trunk of the vehicle.

   “She was informed that if I did get a warrant, I would arrest her for harboring and obstruction. I informed (her) that I knew she had gotten a hotel for Steven to assist in hiding him from law enforcement. I informed her that I had her signature and driver’s license on the hotel agreement when she rented it.

   “I told (her) that she had been harboring Steven. I informed (her) to step out of the vehicle and leave her belongings. (She) was escorted to the back of her vehicle and stood in front of my patrol vehicle.

   “(She) asked me what would happen if she told me where Steven was. I told her I would not have an interest in her. She walked to the trunk and opened it. Steven was lying in the trunk. Steven was placed in handcuffs and under arrest.”

   According to court records, Barber had been given five concurrent six-year sentences in 2021 from Tulsa County that he has apparently already discharged for uttering a forged instrument on two occasions and identity theft on three occasions. Barber had also been given eight concurrent sentences in 2016 from Tulsa County for seven counts of uttering a forged instrument and one count of concealing stolen property.

   Barber had also been given an eight-year prison term in 2017 for assault and battery on a police officer in Rogers County, and nine concurrent four-year prison terms in 2015 for eight counts of possessing forged instruments and one count of possessing another person’s credit card. Barber had also been given a seven-year sentence in 2016 for a bogus check in Creek County and three concurrent 10-year sentences in 2014 for two counts of conspiracy and one count of a forged or revoked credit card in Osage County.