Bob Wyatt

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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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

 
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.