



We defend the rights our clients. The Wyatt Law Offi
OKLAHOMA CRIMINAL LAWYERS & ATTORNEYS
Bob
Wyatt, Trial Lawyer & Attorney
We
defend the rights of our clients. The Wyatt Law Office in Oklahoma City
provides legal advice and representation in criminal investigations,
plea negotiations,
trials and appeals. We also advise clients in some
civil actions. We use only experienced
attorneys in our law firm; therefore, you can trust the advice of your
lawyers. Wyatt's attention to detail and his successes have earned a listing
in the prestigious publications
The Best Lawyers in America
® 2007, 2008
(Copyright 2006, 2007 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.)
and the
Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers
® (Reed Publishing and Reed Elsevier, Inc. 2001-),
Oklahoma Super Lawyers
(Copyright 2006, 2007 Law & Politics, republished in
Oklahoma Magazine, Nov. 2006, 2007), as well
as recognition by the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association as one of
the 2003 "Champions
of Liberty."
AV ® Peer Review Rated: (Martindale
Hubbell ratings explained).
Bob Wyatt was recently interviewed by the National Law Journal for his expertise in the area of sex crimes and cybercrimes. The article was published on February 18, 2008.
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For a quick summary, go to our site map
or
general criminal law
page
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OKLAHOMA CRIMINAL
DEFENSE LAW
State & Federal Courts
The firm devotes a majority of its time to representation of those charged
with felony and misdemeanor crimes in state and federal courts, primarily in
Oklahoma. Recent results can be viewed on our
Noteworthy cases page. For more information
concerning the types of offenses handled, click on the
underlined
items below or one of the "black" tabs above. Routine cases at this firm
involve defense of charges such as:
•
violent
crimes:
murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, assault and battery, robbery,
burglary, child abuse, shaken baby syndrome, kidnapping,
arson, threats and harassment, stalking, and other crimes of violence;
•
sex crimes:
rape, pornography and obscenity, child porn, lewd molestation of a child,
child sexual abuse, sodomy, prostitution, pandering, indecent exposure, and
sexual battery;
• cyber sex crimes: use of the Internet to entice minors for sex & illegal chat, traveling across state lines to engage in sex with minors, trafficking in children, possession, distribution and manufacturing of child pornography, use of computers for solicitation of prostitution, etc.;
• child porn: manufacturing and creating, distribution, and/or possession of child pornography or obscene images in state and federal courts;
•
drugs and
narcotics violations
including: trafficking, manufacturing, possession, and distribution of CDS
(controlled dangerous substances) such as marijuana, cocaine, crack, meth,
heroin, LSD and prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia and precursor
possession; drug proceeds (drug money) charges, drug dog cases and sniff
searches, search & seizure, and asset forfeiture;
•
white collar
crimes
such as: computer crimes, embezzlement, mail fraud, bank fraud, securities
violations, IRS and tax fraud, health care fraud and abuse for Medicaid and
Medicare, mortgage fraud, money laundering, racketeering, RICO, credit card
fraud, bribery, forgery and counterfeiting, uttering forged documents, bogus
checks, false statements;
•
Internet crimes, cyber crimes & computer crimes such as
Internet fraud, E-Bay
®
fraud, computer intrusions or computer hacking, password trafficking, SPAM
crimes, Internet harassment, Internet bomb threats, trafficking in explosives,
counterfeiting of currency or securities, copyright infringement & piracy
(software, movies and music), trade secret theft or infringement, Warez
schemes, illegal use of a protected computer, and sexual exploitation
involving computers or computer networking.
• federal crimes and appeals in Oklahoma and in other jurisdictions. Federal crimes may include: "white collar" crime (see above), drug crimes, computer and Internet crimes, bribery or public corruption, pornography, bank fraud and banking crimes, securities fraud and other crimes, frauds involving the mails, telephones, internet or credit cards, immigration crimes, tax fraud and other tax crimes (tax evasion, failure to file, false statements), weapons crimes, gambling and gaming violations, etc.;
•
weapons
violations,
bombs and explosives, and arson;
• conspiracy
charges;
•
DUI or DWI and other traffic
offenses: Driving under the influence of alcohol (including 3.2%
beer) or drugs;
• criminal
record expungement: If you have a criminal record in
Oklahoma, we may be able to assist you in "sealing" the record or having a
"conviction" expunged. See also the
Oklahoma Pardon &
Parole Board;
• grand jury
practice in state and federal court including appearances, immunity,
indictments, etc.;
• asset forfeiture
in state and federal court related to drugs, taxes or other crimes;
• criminal appeals
in state and federal courts;
• post conviction
relief and extraordinary writs in state and federal courts (for example
habeas corpus, coram nobis, writs of prohibition or mandamus, etc).
Representation for other felony
and misdemeanor charges or investigations are regularly undertaken
by the Wyatt Law Office. In the last 36 months, the Wyatt Law Office has
defended clients charged with federal crimes such as conspiracy, drug crimes,
bank robbery, securities violations, weapons violations, mail and wire fraud,
arson, child pornography, using the Internet to solicit a child for sex, and
theft of government property from a military base. During that same time,
Wyatt's clients in state court have been charged with various drug crimes
(possession, manufacturing and distribution), DUI (drunk driving),
manslaughter, burglary, rape, lewd molestation of a minor child, child
pornography, indecent exposure, embezzlement, injury to a minor child (i.e.,
"shaken baby"), and assault and battery on a police officer.
ARREST & BAIL ISSUES
The Wyatt Law Office can help you obtain a reasonable bail and assist in locating a bondsman to post your bail bond. You can visit our bond page for more information.
If the charges are federal charges, a person is usually given a "personal recognizance" bond meaning that the accused is free on bond without posting any bail or bail bond. Otherwise, the federal magistrate will deny bond in most cases.
In
state or municipal cases, the amount of bail is determined and the client
posts a bail bond (usually 10% of the amount of bail) or posts cash or
property to secure attendance at the criminal court hearings. A "P.R." or "O.R."
(personal recognizance) bond is another routine option in state and city
courts, but some counties like Oklahoma County generally do not permit a P.R.
bond.
10 STEPS OF THE CRIMINAL TRIAL PROCESS
For information about how the criminal legal system works and the order of the proceedings, see the "steps" in a criminal case. Please note that there are different steps applicable to state and federal charges.
TRIAL or
PLEA BARGAIN & SENTENCING
The client is presumed innocent and always has a right to plead "not guilty" and demand a jury trial. Most criminal cases in the United States (perhaps 90-96%), however, are resolved by some type of plea (blind plea or by plea agreement). At the Wyatt Law Office, we try cases and also negotiate pleas. Plea agreements are generally left to the discretion of the prosecutor in both state and federal courts, but there are usually negotiable issues in any case. Judges reserve the right to accept or reject a given agreement -- regardless of whether the parties reach an agreement. There is no statutory or constitutional right to a plea bargain. If the clients demands to enter a plea, he or she may plead "blind" to the judge (asking for mercy from the court) or take the matter to trial.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES
The Wyatt Law Office routinely challenges constitutional issues and
violations. See Your
Rights. Examples of constitutional challenges or violations
might include:
• illegal search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment;
• suppression of illegally obtained or coerced confession because you have the
right to remain silent (Miranda) and the privilege against self-incrimination
under the Fifth Amendment as argued before the Oklahoma Supreme Court in a
filing related to the 2004 Impeachment Trial of Oklahoma Insurance
Commissioner Carroll Fisher;
• the right to reasonable bail or bond under the Fifth and Eighth Amendments;
• due process and equal protection rights under the Fifth Amendment (for
example if the prosecutor withholds favorable or exculpatory evidence or
otherwise commits prosecutorial misconduct);
• the rights to an attorney and to effective assistance of counsel under the
Sixth Amendment;
• the right of confrontation under the Sixth Amendment; and
• the right to a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment.
These types of issues should be addressed in most criminal law cases because
constitutional violations frequently create the best avenues for relief on
appeal. Failure to raise these issues may result in a waiver or abandonment of
your rights.
FEDERAL & STATE COURTS
Civil and criminal actions may be filed in federal or state courts depending
on the circumstances. Attorneys in the Wyatt Law Office are licensed in the
State of Oklahoma and for federal practice are licensed in Western District of
Oklahoma (located in Oklahoma City), the Northern District of Oklahoma
(located in Tulsa), and in the Eastern District of Oklahoma (located in
Muskogee). Bob Wyatt is eligible for admission in other federal courts either
on a case-by-case basis (pro hac vice) or by regular admission since the
federal laws are identical in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
CIVIL
PRACTICE
Although offering a comprehensive "general practice," the focus of Mr. Wyatt's
practice historically has been on trials and appeals related to criminal law.
However, Mr. Wyatt is willing to review matters of personal injury;
professional negligence such as medical malpractice, accounting malpractice
and legal malpractice; insurance defense; general civil litigation; and
commercial litigation. The Wyatt Law Office represents a few business concerns
in Oklahoma in matters involving general corporate issues, construction
contract disputes, and other routine and complex legal matters. Bob Wyatt also
advises in the area of disputed or contested estates (contested guardianships,
wills, and trusts) and has a network of attorneys who can handle other legal
concerns for the firm's clients.
APPEALS
In addition to trials and office practice, the Wyatt Law Office represents
clients in appellate matters in state and federal courts. Mr. Wyatt has
handled dozens of civil and criminal
appeals or writs filed in the Oklahoma
Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and the U.S. Courts of
Appeals for the Eighth and Tenth Circuits.
EXPERIENCED OKLAHOMA ATTORNEYS - LAWYERS
The Wyatt Law Office takes pride in offering experienced counsel to all
clients. We pay attention to detail, challenge conventional thinking, and even
challenge the justice system itself. Those are our trademarks. The firm is
committed to excellence and professional integrity, encourages continuing
legal education, and encourages development of legal and interpersonal
resources. Those resources include a vast network of legal specialists, expert
witnesses and consultants, advanced technology, and a host of clients and
friends across the state and nation and around the world.
Bob Wyatt was recently named to
The Best Lawyers in America
and the Oklahoma
Super Lawyers. In 2003, he was selected one of the
Oklahoma Criminal
Defense Lawyer's Association "Champions of Liberty" because of his
contributions to the OCDLA Internet forum. He is also recognized by the
Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers
® (Reed Publishing and Reed Elsevier, Inc. 2001-) and is Peer Review Rated AV
® (see,
Martindale Hubbell
for ratings explanation). Mr. Wyatt is also listed in Who's Who in the World ®
, Who's Who in America ® , and Who's Who in American Law ®. Throughout his
career Bob Wyatt has
played an integral role in a high profile practice, representing numerous
clients in noteworthy cases in Oklahoma, including the defense of Timothy
McVeigh in the Oklahoma City Bombing case and the defense of over a dozen
other homicide cases and numerous civil matters.
CLIENTS
No case is too big or too small. We generally represent "working" men and
women in civil and criminal matters. Other clients include doctors, lawyers,
psychologists, politicians (a sitting Governor, State Treasurer, State
Insurance Commissioner and others), funeral directors, contractors, engineers,
insurance agents and insurance companies, stock brokers, two "big three" auto
franchises, five public schools, one university, a newspaper and publishing
company, and a city. The Wyatt Law Office currently serves as general or local
counsel in civil matters to Luckinbill, Inc. (mechanical engineers), Deer
Creek-Lamont Public Schools, B.Daniel's Inc. (investment consultants),
Enterprise Investments, Inc., Alexon Corporation, Old Surety Life Insurance,
Russell Cellular (Oklahoma offices only), Direct Buy - UCC Total Home (Tulsa),
American Family Insurance (Denver).
STATEWIDE &
NATIONWIDE PRACTICE
The Wyatt Law Office is located in Oklahoma City, but Wyatt's practice spans
the entire state of Oklahoma. The firm's federal criminal practice is
nationwide. Our civil practice is generally limited to Oklahoma. Bob Wyatt has
appeared as counsel in civil and criminal actions in more than 30 of
Oklahoma's 77 counties and in several federal venues including among others
Oklahoma City (Western District of Oklahoma), Tulsa (Northern District of
Oklahoma), Muskogee (Eastern District of Oklahoma), Austin, and Denver. Mr.
Wyatt's practice has also involved international matters which have taken him
to China, England, Hong Kong, Israel, Northern Ireland, the Philippines, and
Scotland. Other international investigations have involved matters in Bolivia,
Canada, Cyprus, Macedonia (former Yugoslavia), Mexico, Russia, Syria,
Thailand, and the Ukraine.
Office Locations
The Wyatt Law Office is located in the State's capital of Oklahoma City, which is situated in the middle of the state. Wyatt's office is just two blocks from the federal courthouse and four blocks from the Oklahoma County courthouse. We are less than 10 minutes from the State's appellate courts which are housed in the State Capitol complex. For federal criminal matters outside of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City offers easy connections to most major cities and both coasts from the Will Rogers World Airport. We also have good relations with lawyers statewide so that we can work in almost any venue in Oklahoma.
Mr. Wyatt is licensed in all of Oklahoma's federal courts including U.S. District Court Western District of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), U.S. District Court Northern District of Oklahoma (Tulsa), and U.S. District Court Eastern District of Oklahoma (Muskogee).
Some of the cities served by the Wyatt Law Office in Oklahoma include: Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Arapaho, Ardmore, Arnett, Atoka, Bartlesville, Beaver, Blackwell, Boise City, Broken Arrow, Buffalo, Chandler, Checotah, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chickasha, Choctaw, Claremore, Clinton, Coalgate, Cordell, Duncan, Durant, Edmond, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Eufaula, Fairview, Frederick, Ft. Sill, Guthrie, Guymon, Hobart, Holdenville, Hollis, Hugo, Idabel, Jay, Kingfisher, Lawton, Madill, Mangum, Marietta, McAlester, Medford, Miami, Midwest City, Moore, Muskogee, Mustang, Newcastle, Newkirk, Nichols Hills, Norman (University of Oklahoma), Nowata, Okemah, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Pauls Valley, Pawhuska, Pawnee, Perry, Ponca City, Poteau, Pryor, Purcell, Sallisaw, Sapulpa, Sayre, Seminole, Shawnee, Stigler, Stillwater (Oklahoma State University), Stillwell, Sulphur, Tahlequah, Taloga, Thackerville, The Village, Tinker AFB (Air Force Base), Tishomingo, Tulsa, Vance AFB, Vinita, Wagoner, Walters, Warner, Warr Acres, Watonga, Waurika, Weatherford, Wewoka, Wilburton, Woodward, and Yukon.
The Wyatt Law Office will travel to any of Oklahoma’s 77 counties on behalf of a client, which include: Adair County, Alfalfa County, Atoka County, Beaver County, Beckham County, Blaine County, Bryan County, Caddo County, Canadian County, Carter County, Cherokee County, Choctaw County, Cimarron County, Cleveland County, Coal County, Comanche County, Cotton County, Craig County, Creek County, Custer County, Delaware County, Dewey County, Ellis County, Garfield County, Garvin County, Grady County, Grant County, Greer County, Harmon County, Harper County, Haskell County, Hughes County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Johnston County, Kay County, Kingfisher County, Kiowa County, Latimer County, LeFlore County, Lincoln County, Logan County, Love County, Major County, Marshall County, May County, McCain County, McCurtain County, McIntosh County, Murray County, Muskogee, County, Noble County, Nowata County, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma County, Okmulgee County, Osage County, Ottawa County, Pawnee County, Payne County, Pittsburg County, Pontotoc County, Pottawatomie County, Pushmataha County, Roger Mills County, Rogers County, Seminole County, Sequoyah County, Stephens County, Texas County, Tillman County, Tulsa County, Wagoner County, Washington County, Washita County, Woods County, and Woodward County.
FEES &
EXPENSES
The Wyatt Law Office accepts VISA and MasterCard, as well as other types of
payment.
The Wyatt Law Office prides itself on offering quality legal services for a
reasonable fee as negotiated separately in each respective case. Criminal
charges are usually defended on a "fixed fee" basis depending on the crimes
charged, the number of counts and whether the alleged crime is a state or
federal offense. Under the "fixed fee" arrangement, the client knows what to
expect to pay -- thus, the client can budget for trial and not fear what it
costs to call the attorney.
In civil matters, most cases are handled on an hourly rate. In other words,
the fee is a direct function of how much time must be devoted to the issue. In
these cases a "retainer" is paid, and the client is billed on a regular basis
if the amount exceeds the retainer.
Representation in personal injury cases (and other torts) is generally
provided through a "contingency fee." That means that the attorney receives a
percentage of the settlement or verdict at trial. The percentage required by
the Wyatt Law Office depends of the type of case and is negotiated on a
case-by-case basis.
Other variations in fee arrangements may be negotiated if the attorney and the
client can reach a mutual agreement.
USEFUL RESOURCES & LINKS
The Wyatt Law Office believes in freedom of information.
You may find interesting information, legal research tools, facts, statistics,
demographics, and other miscellaneous information by following the links on
our legal resources
page or our other
other resources page.
NOTICES &
DISCLAIMER
This web site is not intended to offer legal advice. Please read our
disclaimer for the
terms of use of this site.
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