CRIMINAL CASE OVERVIEW
Oklahoma v. Lay - My first capitol case, in which a father (Wade) and son
(Chris, our client) robbed a bank in Tulsa and killed a security guard. There
were no guilt or innocence issues, Wade represented himself and Chris demanded
to take the stand in both the first and second stage. Chris testified to shooting
the security guard and apologized for that, but he made it clear that he intended
to carry out other murders against various Government officials if they were
successful in their robbery.
I investigated several issues in this case, but only one in the first stage, which
may have helped save his life, intent. After careful review of the robbery tape
I was able to show that the security guard shot first, mitigating Chris’ intent to
kill anyone. In the second stage, my role was limited to consulting on strategy,
serving the subpoenas to second stage witnesses and briefly went over some of the
second stage issues with them.
RESULT: LWOP (Wade received a death sentence)
Oklahoma v. Jordan - This case was also a bank robbery, Alvin Jordan (our client)
and Jeremy Williams robbed a bank and a teller was killed, the bank vice-president and a business owner
were shot and barely escaped death.
Also, Alvin Jordan had just robbed a convenient store ten days earlier, in which he shot two clerks in
the knees, which in both cases, the people that were shot fully cooperated.
I did a complete mitigation investigation for Mr. Jordan, which included:
Complete records release, review of those records, and applying the review of the records to the case.
Identified family members and other persons of interest in Mr. Jordan’s life, interviewed each one of them
and prepared the reports. I also built a relationship of trust with Alvin, when his own attorneys were
having a hard time doing so. The case was severed and Jeremy Williams received a death sentence, while
Mr. Jordan was able to plead guilty and receive an LWOP, even though he was believed to have shot and
killed the teller and the bank Vice President, who survived massive injuries. I was instrumental in
encouraging Mr. Jordan to take the deal after at least ten attempts.
RESULT: LWOP (Co-Defendant received a death sentence)
Oklahoma v. Fellows
& U.S.A. v. Fellows - This case is interesting in the fact that, both the Federal Government, and
State Government, have sought the death penalty for, but in March of 2006, The Department of Justice
declined The Northern District of Oklahoma their request. However, The Northern District still has
Fellows indicted for two counts of 1st Degree Murder and Racketeering, with six other people. The
Capitol Case has been plead in Tulsa County, and Fellows was sentenced to 21 years to run concurrent
with his Federal time, which he also plead out on.
I have taken all of the investigative steps that I took in the Jordan case, but have also done almost
800 hours of investigation on the Federal case, which is mainly time attributed to the Racketeering charge.
RESULT: 21 years
Oklahoma v. Goode - In August of 2005, Clarence Goode was charged three counts of First Degree Murder,
with two other men. This a Capitol Case, which I have spent approximately 150 hours spent on the case, and
have about 50 more hours to finish the investigation. The details of this case are similar to the Fellows
case, in that, there is a true first stage defense to investigate, and we intend on bringing a strong defense
to the first stage and the second stage, if necessary.
Oklahoma v. Booth - In June of 2005 Jerome Blake Booth was charged with first degree murder in Cleveland
County, the state filed a bill of particulars on him shortly after that. After a thorough investigation and
excellent attorney work, Mr. Booth was sentenced to Life Without Parole instead of a death penalty trial.
Of the over 100 criminal cases I have been involved with, many are still pending, some went to
trial and many have been dismissed or the deal that was offered from prosecutors was
taken. But almost every case I have been involved with has had a better result than the
prosecution would have ever imagined. Some of the more recent cases I have been involved with
include: Oklahoma v. Nicholson, Manslaughter, acquittal – Oklahoma v. Hurlbutt, 1st Degree
Rape, dismissed - Oklahoma v. Farias, Sexual Battery, 6 months - Oklahoma v. Culver,
Indecent/Lewd Acts on a Child, Dismissed - Oklahoma v. McDorman, Sexual Battery, Assault
With a Deadly Weapon, Dismissed – Oklahoma v. McDavid, Shooting With Intent to Kill, acquittal
– Oklahoma v. Mullenax, 1st Degree Murder and Shooting With Intent to Kill, 10 years – Oklahoma
v. Zollicoffer, 1st degree Murder, 20 years – Oklahoma v. Luckhart, Shooting With Intent to Kill,
plead to unlawful discharge of a firearm, 10 weekends in jail – Oklahoma v. Rogers, Assault with
a Deadly Weapon and 1st Degree Burglary – Oklahoma v. Alexander, 1st Degree Robbery and Aggravated
Assault and Battery, acquittal, Oklahoma v. Butler, 1st Degree Rape, dismissed, Oklahoma v. Beard,
1st Degree Murder, 12 years, Oklahoma v. Wilhite, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Assault and Battery,
Assault With a Dangerous Weapon was dismissed and Assault and Battery rendered one year probation.
Although not every case is mentioned, the aforementioned cases were from 2006 and part
of 2007. Not every case has great results, sometimes it just doesn’t work out, but
only four come to mind, Oklahoma v. Kinder, LWOP (I am working on his appeal and he is
expected to get a new trial) – U.S.A. v. Shipp, Possession of Firearm After Former Felony
Conviction, 18 years - U.S.A. v. Gaines, Trafficking Illegal Drugs, 25 years and U.S.A v.
Baldridge, Conspiracy with a nine count indictment, convicted on 8 of 9 counts, awaiting
sentencing.