Lawyers

Evidence Is Key   Video Transcribed: This is Stuart Ericson, an attorney in Wagoner, Oklahoma. Today we're going to talk about being a good witness or advocate for your own case if you're charged with a crime. This is kind of in two parts. Number one is just, if you're accused or charged with a crime, you're going to want to remember all the details, whether you've written … [Read more...] about Defend Yourself: How to be a Good Witness and Advocate if Charged with a Crime in Oklahoma

Don't Let Fear and Threats Get the Best of You   Video Transcribed: This is Wagoner County lawyer Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about extortion in Oklahoma. Extortion is defined as obtaining property from another person with consent, so that means the other person is consenting to do it, but, and here's the crime part, that the consent is induced by the … [Read more...] about What Is Extortion in Oklahoma?

Hands off the Phone   Video Transcribed: This is Stuart Ericson, an Oklahoma lawyer. Today we're going to talk about a misdemeanor. The charge is interfering with an emergency call. So that is a crime in Oklahoma. It's found in Title 21 of the Oklahoma statute, section 1211.1. This crime contemplates an emergency situation, say it's domestic violence, spouses, and one … [Read more...] about Breaking the Law: The Penalties for Disrupting Emergency Calls in Oklahoma

Youthful Mistakes Have Lasting Effects   Video Transcribed: Hi. This is Wagoner attorney Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about possession of a firearm after being an adjudicated delinquent in Oklahoma. Somewhat of a complicated thing. 18 is the age of the majority. If you're under 18, in most circumstances, you will be charged as a juvenile. Now, there are … [Read more...] about Possessing a Firearm After Juvenile Adjudication in Oklahoma

Don’t Let Emotions Get the Best of You   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Wagoner attorney Stuart Ericson. Today, we're going to talk about threatening a violent act in Oklahoma. This comes in two parts. One is a misdemeanor, which is threatening a violent act. That carries a punishment of up to six months in a county jail. The other is much more serious, is a felony, and … [Read more...] about Understanding the Severity of Threatening a Violent Act in Oklahoma

Challenge the Evidence, Protect Your Freedom   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Stuart Ericson, a lawyer in Oklahoma. Today's question is, in a criminal case, what is a birch notice? When you're charged with a crime, let's say it's a rape, and you have been convicted of a prior rape. The state of Oklahoma, say, wants to use the prior rape as a means of evidence to convict you of … [Read more...] about What Is a Birch Notice in Oklahoma?

The Truth behind Lie Detector Tests   Hi, this is Wagoner Attorney Stuart Ericson. Today, we're going to talk about, in a criminal context, lie detector tests. So number one, a lie detector test is a technology where that measures bodily heartbeat and other things on the graph, where an expert tries to determine if you are telling the truth or not, whether or not … [Read more...] about How Are Lie Detectors Used in an Oklahoma Criminal Case?

From Spark to Inferno: The Spectrum of Arson Charges   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Stuart Ericson, an attorney in Oklahoma. Today we're going to talk about arson, which obviously in layman's terms means to start a fire and to burn something, is arson. In Oklahoma, there's first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree arson. Each is a little bit different. … [Read more...] about What Is Arson in Oklahoma?

Don’t Let Your Past Mistakes Haunt Your Future   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Stuart Ericson, a lawyer in Oklahoma, and today we're going to talk about, what is the impact of a prior felony conviction in Oklahoma. So if you have a prior felony conviction, obviously it could just limit your rights in general. Rights to serve on a jury, and to vote, obviously could impact your … [Read more...] about What Is the Impact of a Prior Felony Conviction in Oklahoma?

All the Evidence, All on the Table   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Oklahoma lawyer Stuart Ericson. Today we'll discuss how discovery works in Oklahoma, in criminal cases. Discovery is what attorneys call it and what the courts call it. And basically, it is, from the law enforcement side of things, it is all of their police reports, witness statements, fingerprint tests, … [Read more...] about How Does Discovery in Criminal Cases Work in Oklahoma?

Justice for All   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Wagoner lawyer Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about evidence in a criminal case to the extent of, what if the state of Oklahoma and law enforcement and their investigators find evidence that might be favorable to the defense, or somewhat weaken their case? Now, this all started in the 1960s, and after, as you … [Read more...] about What if Favorable Evidence or Evidence That Weakens a Case Is Found in Oklahoma?

In Plain Sight, No Privacy Rights   Video Transcribed: This is Oklahoma lawyer Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about searches of property. When can law enforcement or police search your property? Number one, as with almost anything, law enforcement can search if you give them permission to. If they ask, "may we search your house, search your property, search … [Read more...] about When Can Law Enforcement Search Your Property in Oklahoma?

Bailing Out, Only to Bail on Bail, Not Smart   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Wagoner Attorney Stuart Ericson. Today's question is, what happens if you jump or skip bail? Basically skipping bail or jumping bail means you have been arrested for an offense. A bond was set, and you got a bail bondsman, you paid the 10%, 12%, whatever it happens to be to the bail bondsman. … [Read more...] about What Happens if You Jump or Skip Bail in Oklahoma?

It’s Your Right to Remain Silent, but Is It in Your Best Interest?   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Wagoner attorney Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about whether should you testify at your criminal trial. So if you're a defendant, and you choose to go to a jury trial, should you testify? Number one, of course, is you have a right not to testify. You have a … [Read more...] about Should I Testify at My Criminal Trial in Oklahoma?

Plea Bargains Could Be Worth More than Trial Sentences   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Stuart Ericson, an attorney in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and we are going to discuss the pros and cons of a plea bargain. So if you're charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, the state of Oklahoma will give you a plea offer. The plea offer could be 10 years in prison, it could be five years … [Read more...] about What Are the Pros and Cons of a Plea Bargain in Oklahoma?

Possession of Firearms Could Lead to Consequences   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Oklahoma lawyer Stuart Ericson out in Wagoner. Today we're going to talk about possession of a firearm after commissioned for being convicted of a prior felony offense. In Oklahoma, if you have a previous felony conviction, whether in Oklahoma or out of state, so you have that prior … [Read more...] about Can You Possess a Firearm after a Conviction in Oklahoma?

Impersonating Someone Could Lead To 10 Years in Prison   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Wagoner County attorney Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about falsely personating another to create liability in Oklahoma. That is a felony offense to falsely personate another and there are certain elements to that crime. As with every crime, the state has to prove each and … [Read more...] about Is It a Felony to Impersonate Someone in Oklahoma?

Resisting Has to Involve Use of Force or Violence   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Stuart Ericson, an attorney in Wagoner County, and today we're going to talk about resisting an officer, and resisting arrest. It is a misdemeanor and carries a punishment of up to one year in county jail and fines. The elements, first of all, it's found in Title 21 of the Oklahoma law, section … [Read more...] about Is Resisting Arrest Illegal in Oklahoma?

Obstruction Could Lead to a Year in Jail   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Wagoner Attorney Stuart Ericson. Today we're going to talk about the misdemeanor crime of obstructing an officer. That is found in Title 21, which is where most of the criminal charges are, crimes are. Section 540. Again, it's a misdemeanor. It's punishable by up to one year in county jail with some … [Read more...] about Is Obstructing a Police Officer Illegal in Oklahoma?

Rule Eight Can Determine Fees and Costs When Cases End   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Stuart Ericson. I'm an attorney in Oklahoma. Today we're going to talk about fines and costs and a rule eight hearing. So at the conclusion of every criminal case, whether it's by plea bargain or after a jury trial and your sentence, there are going to be fines, just criminal fines … [Read more...] about What Is a Rule 8 Hearing in Oklahoma?

Statements Have to Be Proven   Video Transcribed: Hi, my name is Stuart Ericson. I am a lawyer in Wagoner, Oklahoma. Today we're going to talk just a little bit about hearsay. Hearsay is in the evidence code, and the definition of it is when a witness on the stand attempts to admit an out-of-court statement or a statement from somebody else and tries to claim that the … [Read more...] about What Is Hearsay in Oklahoma?

Consider Your Plea Offers before Waiving a Prelim   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Stuart Erickson, Wagoner lawyer. Today, we're going to talk about preliminary hearings and whether to waive them or not. Now, a waiver means to give something up. Every defendant in a criminal felony case has a right to a preliminary hearing, which is a probable cause hearing to show two … [Read more...] about Can You Waive a Preliminary Hearing in Oklahoma?

This Is Where Plea Bargains and Discoveries Come In   Video Transcribed: This is Oklahoma lawyer Stuart Ericson and today we're going to talk about just broadly the steps in a felony criminal case. The first step, of course, is somebody is arrested or turns themselves in. You find out you have a warrant out for your arrest and you turn yourself in. If you do not know, you … [Read more...] about What Are the Steps in an Oklahoma Felony Criminal Case?

Probable Cause Is Needed to Move a Case Forward   Video Transcribed: Hi, I'm Stuart Ericson, an attorney in Wagoner. Today we're talking about what is a preliminary hearing and that is found in Title 22, section 258 of the Oklahoma statutes, the law. So a preliminary hearing is only conducted in felony criminal cases. So misdemeanors, there is no preliminary hearing. A … [Read more...] about What Is a Preliminary Hearing in Oklahoma?

Violating a PO Could Lead To Felony Charges   Video Transcribed: Hi, this is Stuart Ericson. I am an attorney in Wagoner. Today's question is about protective orders and violations of protective orders. So a protective order is a civil filing and documents and process that's not criminal to start. Now, it can become criminal. So a protective order is, you want … [Read more...] about What is a Protective Order in Oklahoma?