Tag Archive for: Violent Crimes

Plan to murder pregnant girlfriend ends in 20 years behind bars

Not everyone is happy to hear that a girlfriend or wife is pregnant. However, few of those people resort to planning to murder her and the unborn child. One Oklahoma man’s plot to hire a co-worker to kill his former girlfriend and her unborn child has landed him in prison for 20 years.

The 31-year-old man said that depression led him to make a choice that he now regrets. He was reportedly crying as he apologized to the woman who later discovered that he was not even the child’s father. However, at the time she found out she was pregnant, she believed he was, and when she told him that she was pregnant, the two agreed that she would get an abortion. However, she later changed her mind.

This led the Oklahoma man to devise a plot to kill her with ricin, a toxin that is highly dangerous and lethal. In fact, he also expressed his regret to two police officers and their families who were exposed to the poison. He hid it in the back of the police car he was in at the time of his arrest, which occurred because his co-worker contacted the FBI regarding his plans.

When the charge of solicitation of murder was first filed, the man faced the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. However, when he recently pleaded guilty to the charge, the court imposed a sentence of 20 years. The prosecution had requested his sentence to be 30 years, but the court did not agree. Being incarcerated for 20 years may not seem like a victory, but when compared to spending life in prison, it may well be considered a favorable outcome.

Source: newsok.com, “Oklahoma man sentenced to 20 years in murder-for-hire plot”, Tim Talley, July 16, 2015

Alleged domestic violence lands Oklahoma man in jail

At approximately 9:40 p.m. on a recent Monday, Oklahoma City police were contacted to conduct a welfare check at the home of a mother and her two children. Supposedly, the woman’s boyfriend and her 16-year-old son had an altercation. By the time police left, the man was in custody and taken to jail on charges relating to domestic violence and child abuse.

Police reports indicate that the mother and her boyfriend were involved in an argument. This is the last point upon which the parties involved seem to agree. The mother claims that when her son attempted to go to his room, her boyfriend began hitting him. The man claims that it was the other way around.

As the two fought, the teenage boy’s 17-year-old sister and her mother attempted to break up the fight. At some point, it is alleged that the boyfriend elbowed the teenage girl in the face. She and her mother left and went to a neighbor’s house and called 911.

When officers arrived, they supposedly smelled alcohol on the man’s breath and claim that he was intoxicated. In the mother’s statement to police, she claimed that this was not the first time her boyfriend became violent. He was taken from the scene to the Oklahoma County Jail. He was booked for domestic assault and battery with great bodily injury (one count) and child abuse (two counts).

When it comes to domestic violence situations, there is often a disagreement as to how the events unfolded. Fortunately, the accused party is entitled to be presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. As part of that process, this man will be afforded the opportunity to tell his side of the story and confront the witnesses against him in court.

Source: news9.com, “OKC Man Arrested For Attacking Girlfriend’s Children“, Xin Xin Liu, July 7, 2015

Was Oklahoma man convicted of murder even at the scene?

Many Oklahoma residents assume that there are enough safeguards in place in the criminal justice system to ensure that an innocent man or woman will not end up behind bars. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Innocent people do end up being convicted of crimes — as serious as murder on occasion. They are entitled to vigorous representation to get that conviction overturned if the evidence supports that outcome.

In 2001, a man was killed outside a nightclub. The Oklahoma Innocence Project (OIP) says that the person convicted of the man’s death was sent to prison for life without the chance of parole. Purportedly, his conviction was based on false testimony and mishandled evidence. Attorneys with OIP also claim that prosecutors withheld information from the man’s defense counsel that could have cleared him.

The man’s attorneys are asking the court to overturn his conviction based on new evidence. Apparently, the man was not even at the club the night of the killing. Three individuals could verify that he was at home, but for some reason, that evidence was not presented in court during the original criminal proceedings. OIP also notes that DNA evidence does not match the incarcerated man, evidence was improperly handled by more than one law enforcement agency and witnesses lied on the stand.

It remains to be seen whether the court will decide to overturn the conviction in this murder case. If it does, the man could be set free. Everyone is entitled to the best defense possible when accused of a crime, and sometimes, that defense does not stop after a conviction and sentencing. Even though it will most likely take time, correcting an injustice is always worth the wait.

Source: kfor.com, “Group asking court to reverse the conviction of Oklahoma man accused of murder“, Dallas Franklin, July 1, 2015

Oklahoma man faces death penalty for murder of his family

On Oct. 9, 2014, the housekeeper who worked for an Oklahoma man’s family discovered the bodies of his 17-year-old sister, 48-year-old mother and 50-year-old father at their home. An investigation led to the man’s arrest for the murder of his family. Now, prosecutors have announced the intention to seek the death penalty.

Police reports indicate that at the time his family was killed, the man was attending the University of Oklahoma. Supposedly, his parents had cut him off financially, which angered him because he loved to shop. It is alleged that he killed his family in order to receive his inheritance. Police claim that he admitted that he killed all three of his family members.

Since investigators believe that he planned the killings in advance, he was charged with murder in the first-degree. Therefore, prosecutors were required to make a determination as to whether to seek the death penalty. Oklahoma prosecutors assert that the man should be punished by death because each of the three victims died in a particularly atrocious, heinous and cruel manner. Further, it is alleged that he killed his loved ones over money and may still be a threat to society.

Regardless of his alleged confession, this man is entitled to be presumed innocent until and unless prosecutors can prove he killed his family beyond a reasonable doubt. His criminal defense team will have the opportunity to review all of the evidence prosecutors intend to present at trial that they believe points to his guilt. Due to the severity of a first-degree murder charge and the possible penalty of death, his criminal defense team is undoubtedly working hard to make sure that his rights are protected and that he receives a fair trial.

Source: koco.com, “Death penalty sought for man charged with killing family“, June 16, 2015

Can Genes Influence Violent Behavior?

A very interesting study was released recently about violent crimes and the way that an individual’s genetic makeup could play a role in these violent acts. Researchers found that there are two key genes that seem to dictate, at least in part, how violent crimes come about. The researchers said these two genes could be blamed for 5-10 percent of violent crimes in Finland.

The two genes are called MAOA and CDH13, and they are linked to dopamine regulation and impulse control, respectively. Any genetic mutations dealing with these genes could cause someone to be more prone to committing violent acts. Indeed, the study says that variants of MAOA and CDH13 were linked with “extremely violent behavior.” Given what these genes deal with, this should come as no surprise.

Researchers were quick to note, though, that violent acts and the crimes related to these acts are complex. There are many factors that go into someone exhibiting violent behavior, and their are many factors that go into the actual situation where a violent act is committed.

Still, this is an interesting bit of information that helps us better understand what causes some people to act out in a more violent manner than others.

Violent crimes often carry extensive consequences, and the obvious gruesome connotation that a violent crime has can cause the person being accused of the crime to be put in a tough situation. Anyone dealing with a charge relating to a violent offense needs legal representation to protect their rights.

Source: CBS News, “Two genes may contribute to violent crime, study says,” Agata Blaszczak-Boxe, Oct. 29, 2014

Oklahoma City man charged with felony murder

An Oklahoma City man is behind bars and facing felony murder charges after a 19-year-old girl was shot and killed. However, the suspect is not the one who pulled the trigger, killing the girl. Instead, it was an Oklahoma City police officer who shot her.

No, this isn’t a riddle. The reason the suspect has been charged for the murder is because of the Oklahoma law — Title 21 O.S. Section 701.7 — declaring that if someone is killed while a felony is being committed, the accomplices to the crime can be held criminally liable for the death with felony murder charges.

According to police, what happened is that an alleged drug deal was taking place early last month, which was witnessed by several undercover officers. The alleged drug deal was taking place between two men: the felony murder suspect and another man.

When police moved in, the second man surrendered while the felony murder suspect allegedly jumped in a car with his girlfriend, who was in the driver’s seat. Police claim that the 19-year-old girlfriend then tried to get away, striking an officer who was in the car’s path.

The officer who was hit then opened fire, killing the 19-year-old girl.

As you probably have guessed, many people who have been charged with felony murder didn’t “pull the trigger” or even have the intention of committing murder. But because of the other serious crimes that were allegedly committed, they face an extremely serious punishment.

These are some of the most controversial criminal cases that exist, especially when the defendant is a young adult. That’s why felony murders cases must be handled with great care and by a seasoned criminal defense lawyer.

Source: KFOR, “OKC police officer kills teen following alleged drug deal,” Jesse Wells, Sept. 4, 2014