Oklahoma Archives - Jacqui Ford Law

Man Facing Two Counts of Rape Takes Plea Deal

May 26, 2015/in Sexual Assault, Uncategorized

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Sexual Assault on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

In Dec. 2014, an Oklahoma man was arrested for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. He was ultimately charged with rape of an unconscious victim in the first-degree (two counts). Recently, he took a plea deal in which he entered a plea of no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, as part of the plea bargain, eight years of his sentence will be suspended and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Court documents indicate that the teenage girl was drunk on the night in question, and the man offered her a ride home. At some point, he stopped the truck and had sex with the girl. She claimed not to remember much, if anything, about the incident. Sometime thereafter, she received a video of the encounter, which was circulating around social media sites.

Reports indicate that the man who gave her the ride also made the recording. When police questioned him, the former Norman High School student admitted to having sex with the teenage girl even though she was intoxicated. A recording of a conversation between him and another person again indicates that he knew she was drunk at the time.

Being charged with rape comes with serious penalties. Had the Oklahoma man not agreed to the plea deal, he could have ended up incarcerated for a longer period of time. In some cases, the evidence is so overwhelming that it is not in the accused individual’s best interests to go to trial.

Source: news9.com, “Former Norman HS Student Pleads ‘No Contest’ To Rape Charges“, Adrianna Iwasinski, May 18, 2015

Domestic violence charges filed against Oklahoma City officer

May 11, 2015/in Uncategorized, Violent Crimes

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Violent Crimes on Monday, May 11, 2015.

Lately, incidents from around the country have been reported in the news that have put a negative light on law enforcement officers. Officers here in Oklahoma City are no exception. Recently, an incident put one police officer in the news when he was accused of domestic violence.

One of the residents in his neighborhood took cell phone video footage of officers surrounding the officer’s home with their guns drawn. According to reports, police responded to a call regarding domestic abuse shortly before 10 a.m. on the day in question. Supposedly, the man assaulted someone in the home with what was only described as a dangerous weapon.

When the Oklahoma City police officer emerged from his home, he was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery and domestic abuse. Neighbors in the officer’s Mustang neighborhood gave statements they often heard the officer and his wife yelling at each other. Police failed to confirm whether the man’s wife was the alleged victim, nor did they divulge any additional details regarding the alleged assault.

The media has been quick to point out that the officer was involved in a controversy from 2002 in which he and another officer were videotaped severely beating a suspect they were trying to bring into custody. No criminal charges were filed against the officers in connection with the incident. However, that has not stopped news outlets from portraying the officer as potentially capable of violence. As for the man’s status as an officer, it was reported that he was placed on paid leave pending the resolution of this situation.

No one should rush to judgment regarding whether or not this man is guilty of domestic violence, especially not based on an incident that occurred over a decade ago. He has the same rights as anyone else accused of a crime, including the presumption of innocence until he is proven guilty in a court of law. Every aspect of a person’s life is affected by allegations of criminal conduct. Therefore, it is crucial that he or she is given the opportunity to refute the charges free from any preconceived notions propounded by the media and the community at large.

Source: koco.com, “Oklahoma City police officer arrested on complaint of domestic abuse“, Kim Passoth, May 1, 2015

Woman charged with misdemeanor illegal dissection of a corpse

May 7, 2015/in Criminal Defense, Uncategorized

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, May 7, 2015.

It is not uncommon for an individual to harbor some jealousy and/or resentment toward someone with which his or her partner used to be involved. However, it is rumored that one Oklahoma woman’s feelings toward her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend were such that she defiled the woman’s body at a funeral home. She now faces a misdemeanor charge for illegal dissection of a corpse.

The funeral director called police after the deceased woman’s family complained that her body was vandalized. Upon inspection, it appeared that her hair was cut and her makeup was smeared. Some of her hair was reportedly found on the floor near her casket.

Family members claim to have seen the Oklahoma woman near the casket. They go on to say that it appeared that her hands were in the casket, and she quickly removed them as they approached. When officers went to the woman’s home, they claim they found a knife with hair on it consistent with that of the decedent, among other things. Police took the woman into custody, and at least report, she was still being held on a $20,000 bond.

Prosecutors will be responsible for proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the woman committed the misdemeanor crime with which she is charged. Before the matter goes to court, her criminal defense team will have the opportunity to scrutinize all of the evidence and review the statements of the alleged witnesses. If any reasonable doubt is raised regarding her guilt, or if her rights were somehow violated during the investigation or her contact with police, the charges may not stand.

Source: tulsaworld.com, “Tulsa woman jailed on report of vandalizing corpse“, Samantha Vicent, May 4, 2015

Man faces criminal charges for missing car in Oklahoma City

April 27, 2015/in Criminal Defense, Uncategorized

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Monday, April 27, 2015.

According to an Oklahoma City husband and wife, their trip to Qdoba for dinner with friends and family turned into the search for — and recovery of — their SUV. The vehicle was supposedly stolen from their home’s driveway with the wife’s keys. Now, a man faces criminal charges related to the alleged theft, and at last report was being held on a $75,000 bond.

He could face charges for more than just the theft of the vehicle, however. The family claims that when they went to retrieve their vehicle, a loaded gun, drug paraphernalia and stolen property were found inside. When Oklahoma City police officers found the vehicle, they failed to notice these items, which were supposedly left in the vehicle by the person accused of stealing it.

Prosecuting charges relating to the items found in the SUV could be problematic. Since police failed to notice the objects when they found the vehicle, it appears that no sufficient chain of custody was established. It is unknown how long the vehicle was unattended once it was located. Therefore, reasonable doubt could exist regarding the identity of the individual who actually placed the objects in the SUV.

Anyone facing criminal charges is presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors rely on law enforcement officers to follow established laws, policies and procedures regarding the seizure of evidence that they intend to present in court. When officers fail to do so, the integrity of the evidence may be compromised and thus subject to a ruling by the court that it is inadmissible at trial.

Source: kfor.com, “Oklahoma car theft victim reunited with car, finds gun and crack pipe“, Adam Snider, April 24, 2015

Domestic violence charges filed against Oklahoma City man

April 23, 2015/in Uncategorized, Violent Crimes

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, April 23, 2015.

A night of drinking for an Oklahoma City man allegedly turned violent. A neighbor standing outside called police, claiming she witnessed the man hitting some children. Now, the man is facing domestic violence charges in connection with the alleged incident.

When police arrived at the scene, the alleged victim — a woman who is said to live in the home with the accused man — told them that he was drinking that night. She says she put him to bed and took her children to a neighbor’s house. When the man awoke, he went to the neighbor’s house to bring them home.

On the way home, the man is accused of striking the children numerous times with a flashlight. Once at home, he supposedly chased them around the house and screamed at them. The mother then dialed 911. She claims the man grabbed the phone out of her hand and destroyed it before he threw her on the bed and began choking her. It is claimed that one of the kids got onto his back in order to stop him.

At last report, the man was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail on domestic violence charges relating to the alleged assaults on the children and the mother, among other offenses. The charges he faces carry serious penalties, including incarceration, fines and court costs. He would undoubtedly benefit from engaging criminal defense counsel as soon as possible in order to begin reviewing any evidence, the statement of the witness and the statements taken from the mother and children. Once all of the information has been obtained and scrutinized, his counsel can discuss his options regarding how best to proceed with him.

Source: koco.com, “Multiple abuse charges filed against Oklahoma City man“, Jonathan Greco, April 10, 2015

Oklahoma man faces numerous charges including rape

April 16, 2015/in Sexual Assault, Uncategorized

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Sexual Assault on Thursday, April 16, 2015.

At least two women have come forward to accuse an Oklahoma man of holding them captive for months and sexually assaulting them. The women claim that they failed to come forward at the time the incidents occurred because they were afraid of him. Now, their alleged captor and abuser is facing numerous charges, including kidnapping, assault and battery, and rape, among other crimes.

Both women claim that the man maintained control of them by threatening their lives and the lives of their families. One of them claims she was allowed to go to work, but always had to return. She claims she put up with the abuse out of fear until a co-worker let her move in with him. Supposedly, the man held her for more than a year.

The other woman claims her alleged captor got her pregnant, but she managed to leave the home where she says she was kept captive before the birth of the child. She says that over the course of eight months, she was choked in addition to being sexually assaulted. This woman left once, but the Oklahoma man told her to come back with him, and she did — allegedly under duress.

Regardless of how heinous these women’s stories may be, the man accused of rape, kidnapping and other crimes is entitled to legal help and is still presumed innocent of the charges until guilt is proved. Prosecutors will be responsible for proving the veracity of the women’s stories beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If there is any doubt that the man is guilty of the charges, he cannot be convicted.

Source: kfor.com, “Women who claim they were held captive, raped by Oklahoma man talk about how they escaped“, Dallas Franklin, April 7, 2015

Drug charges can affect every aspect of your life

April 8, 2015/in Drug Charges, Uncategorized

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Drug Charges on Wednesday, April 8, 2015.

Even though it is easy to say that being charged with a crime can affect every aspect of an Oklahoma resident’s life, those effects are different for each person. Every case is unique, and the circumstances surrounding any drug charges filed against you should be thoroughly reviewed and dealt with in accordance with your particular needs. When it comes to drug crimes, there is no “one size fits all” defense.

How your case is handled can depend on several factors, the least of which is the quantity of drugs involved. For example, Oklahoma law enforcement officials patrol Interstate 35 looking for people transporting drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine and oxycodone, among other controlled substances. If you are stopped on the interstate and found to be in possession of a certain amount of drugs, you could face trafficking charges despite the fact that the drugs may have only been for your personal use. You could be arrested for having drugs in the presence of a minor or be accused of being part of a drug ring.

Before proceeding with your defense, an attorney will review the events leading up to your arrest and your contact with law enforcement officers from that point forward. From their initial approach, police are required to follow certain policies and procedures. If officials fail to meet established standards when it comes to issues such as probable cause, evidence handling and even your questioning, the charges may not stand.

Nothing less than your freedom is at stake when it comes to drug charges. Even if this is your first offense, you could face incarceration and other penalties. Therefore, you need an attorney who will consider your needs and unique circumstances, and will work to find a resolution of the charges that best protects your future.

Charges relating to drive by shootings carry serious penalties

April 2, 2015/in Uncategorized, Violent Crimes

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, April 2, 2015.

In order to combat gang activity in the Oklahoma City Metro, a police task force was created, and special prosecutors spend the majority of their time searching for, addressing and prosecuting gang activity. Drive by shootings are considered to be part of the gang lifestyle and, therefore, fall under their purview. It is not only the alleged shooter that could face charges, but also anyone who may be in the vehicle from which the shot was fired.

The penalties associated with charges relating to these shootings can be severe. Therefore, it is important to obtain counsel to represent your interests as quickly as possible regardless of whether you are suspected of being the shooter. Due to the violent nature of drive by shootings, prosecutors often prefer to take the cases to trial instead of negotiating plea bargains.

Prosecutors must prove your guilt to the court beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, it is your attorney’s job to find the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, prove your alibi and discredit witnesses. All of these strategies could raise reasonable doubt before Oklahoma court. Of course, it is not possible to guarantee that you will be acquitted. Nevertheless, you have every right to the benefit of the rights guaranteed to you, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that happens.

If you are accused of a violent crime, it can affect every aspect of your life. Dealing with the charges aggressively could help reduce this impact even when it not possible to eliminate the impact. Our website can provide you with additional information about the criminal court process.

Man charged with at least 1 felony in fatal Oklahoma City crash

March 25, 2015/in Criminal Defense, Uncategorized

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

In Dec. 2014, a 26-year-old man was driving down South Anderson Road here in Oklahoma City. At some point, he veered into the oncoming lane of traffic into the path of another vehicle with which he collided. Recently, prosecutors charged him with at least one felony in connection with the crash.

A 56-year-old man died in the accident. It took authorities four months to determine whether the driver should be charged. He now faces one count of manslaughter in the first degree and possession of marijuana, along with other charges.

The driver said to be responsible for the accident was taken to a hospital to be treated for the injuries he suffered in the crash. Supposedly, someone at the hospital found marijuana on his person at that time. A blood sample was taken, which authorities say indicated the man had marijuana in his system at the time of the accident.

Police went to the man’s home and took him into custody on March 16. At last report, he was still being held in the Oklahoma County Jail on bail in the amount of $11,500. Now, prosecutors have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the man is guilty of the crimes with which he is charged.

Any time an individual is charged with a felony, prison time and fines are only two ways in which a conviction can adversely affect his or her life. It is crucial that criminal defense counsel review the circumstances surrounding the charges and question whether proper protocols and procedures were followed during every aspect of the investigation. Only then can the discussion of how to proceed include all of the viable options available that could lead to the best resolution possible.

Source: koco.com, “Man faces first-degree manslaughter charges following December crash“, Jonathan Greco, March 16, 2015

Tyreek Hill domestic violence charge will move forward

March 19, 2015/in Uncategorized, Violent Crimes

On behalf of Jacquelyn Ford Law, P.C. posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, March 19, 2015.

Oklahoma college football fans may recognize the name Tyreek Hill. He was the OSU player who ran the 92-yard punt return that ultimately led to OSU’s victory over OU at last year’s Bedlam game. As it turns out, however, that may have been his last showing in college football since he was dismissed from the team after an allegation of domestic violence against his pregnant girlfriend.

Hill, who was voted Offensive Newcomer of the Year, is accused of assaulting her on Dec. 11, 2014. The two planned to see a movie that night but an argument supposedly erupted over some text messages on his girlfriend’s phone. As the argument escalated, the woman claims Hill threw her phone and laptop before shutting her out of their bedroom.

She claims that when she went back into the room, Hill choked her, punched her and ripped her shirt. When police searched their home, a torn shirt was discovered. Photographs of the injuries allegedly caused by Hill were also taken.

A Payne County judge ruled that there was enough evidence for the case to go forward. Hill’s attorney revealed the fact that Hill’s girlfriend was under the care of a psychiatrist. It was further intimated that she could have caused the injuries to herself or that there was an alternate explanation for them.

There is more than just a career in Oklahoma college football at stake for Hill since a conviction could mean a prison sentence of one to three years and/or a fine in the amount of $3,000. If prosecutors are not able to prove to the court beyond a reasonable doubt that Hill is guilty of the domestic violence charge, he must be acquitted. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 17.

Source: newsok.com, “Tyreek Hill ordered to face domestic violence trial for alleged assault of pregnant ex-girfriend”, Kyle Fredrickson, March 9, 2015

Contact our firm to schedule a free consultation: 405-604-3200

Tag Archive for: Oklahoma