Clients in Oklahoma may be investigated by either state or federal grand juries. In federal matters, a defendant must be indicted by a grand jury or waive indictment to be charged with federal crimes. The Oklahoma criminal justice system operates primarily by "information" (charges filed by the District Attorney), although the Oklahoma Attorney General's Multi-County Grand Jury statute is being more frequently utilized to investigate state crime and prosecute by indictment.

The Attorney General of Oklahoma conducts the lion's share of state grand jury investigations, while the U.S. Attorney's Office presents evidence to the federal grand jury. The federal and state systems are unique, and your choice of counsel is important because counsel must know the intricacies of the grand jury conducting the investigation in order to advise you properly. The Wyatt Law Office offers experienced counsel who know the differences and know how to get things accomplished under either system.  

Charges Declined by Grand Jury. Mr. Wyatt represented the wife of an Edmond doctor, who was suspected by the Attorney General in the death of her husband. In August 1999, the State Multi-County Grand Jury ended its 18-month investigation returning no indictments in the doctor's homicide, thus clearing Wyatt's client.*

Charge Reduced to Misdemeanor. Mr. Wyatt represented one of many people indicted by the multi-county grand jury in the 2000-2001 politically charged "ghost employee" scandal at the Oklahoma Department of Health. In that case, Mr. Wyatt's client was indicted on approximately 20 felony counts, but he was able to resolve the case with a guilty plea to only one misdemeanor count requiring payment of a small fine. All of the felony counts were dismissed.*