Mayes County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Mayes County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Mayes County.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Mayes County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
Mayes County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Mayes County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Mayes County. The Mayes County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
Mayes County Criminal Court
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
Defendant Sentencing
At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.
Plea Agreements
A Plea Agreement, sometimes known as a Plea Bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant, where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest often in exchange for a lesser charge or lighter recommended sentence. A large majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. In Mayes County you can inform your attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to attempt to come to a plea agreement, but this is dependent upon the charge severity and also the prosecutors willingness to accept a plea deal.
The Right to Counsel
The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.
Mayes County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Mayes County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Mayes County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Mayes County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Mayes County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Mayes County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
Required Court Appearances in Mayes County
Any required court appearances in Mayes County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
Appealing a Criminal Conviciton
A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.
Where can I get help for my Mayes County criminal case?
The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Mayes County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.
Mayes County Criminal Court Locations
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Mayes County District Court
Address: 1 Court Place, Pryor, OK 74361
Phone: 918-825-2185 Fax: 918-825-4415 -
Adair Municipal Court
Address: 535 East Main Street, PO Box 198, Adair, OK 74330
Phone: 918-785-2432 -
Choteau Municipal Court
Address: 111 South Lewis, Choteau, OK 74337
Phone: 918-476-5902 -
Disney Municipal Court
Address: 322 West Main Street, Disney, OK 74340
Phone: 918-435-8242 -
Langley Municipal Court
Address: 324 West Osage, PO Box 760, Langley, OK 74350
Phone: 918-782-9850 -
Locust Grove Municipal Court
Address: 109 East Ross Avenue, PO Box 246, Locust Grove, OK 74352
Phone: 918-479-5102 -
Pryor Creek Municipal Court
Address: 6 North Adair Street, Pryor Creek, OK 74362
Phone: 918-825-0888 -
Salina Municipal Court
Address: 321 West Ferry Street, Salina, OK 74365
Phone: 918-434-5027 -
Spavinaw Municipal Court
Address: 103 Lake Avenue, Spavinaw, OK 74336
Phone: 918-589-2278 -
Sportsmen Acres Municipal Court
Address: 97 Quail Drive, Sportsmen Acres, OK 74361
Phone: 918-824-1000 -
Strang Municipal Court
Address: 207 Broadway, Strang, OK 74367
Phone: 918-593-2222