Stolen Property Case
Yesterday, we were successful in getting separate charges of Concealing Stolen Property and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle dismissed. If you've been charged with theft in Oklahoma, or are accused of any other criminal activity, contact Slane & Phillips for a free criminal case evaluation.
Charges Filed in Oklahoma Triple Homicide
An Oklahoma City man has been charged in the deaths of a mother and her two young children. Shaun Michael Bosse, 27, is accused of killing Katrina Griffin, her 8-year-old son, and her 6-year-old daughter at their home in Dibble on July 23, then setting fire to their home to destroy evidence. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's office reports that Katrina Griffin and her son Christian died of stab wounds, and that Griffin's daughter, Chasity Hammer, died of injuries sustained in the fire.
Because of these violent crimes in Oklahoma, Bosse has been charged in McClain County District Court with three counts of first degree murder and one count of first degree arson.
The night before the bodies were found, Griffin called police to her home; Bosse was present and told police that he had been dating the woman for about two weeks. While an affidavit from the incident does not list the reason for the call, an investigating officer who interviewed Bosse after the bodies were discovered the next day noticed injuries to the suspect's arm and fist that were consistent with a hole found punched in the wall of the victims' home. The woman's call to police, the physical damage to her home, and Bosse's injuries seem to suggest Oklahoma domestic violence.
Bosse is also accused of theft after police discovered that he sold the victim's televisions and entertainment items at Oklahoma City metro area pawn shops after the killings.
The defendant's next court date for the Oklahoma murder charges has not yet been scheduled.
Oklahoma Couple Charged with Fraud for Collecting Welfare on Missing Son
An Oklahoma couple has been charged with fraud after officials discovered that they were collecting welfare payments on their adopted son, who has been missing for more than 10 years.
Doug and Valerie Herrman were arrested and charged with theft. They are accused of accepting $52,800 in welfare payments to which they were not entitled. Their adopted son, Adam Herrman, vanished in 1999, but the Herrmans never reported him missing. Authorities did not even become aware of Adam's disappearance until 2008, when his adoptive sister notified authorities. Doug and Valerie Herrman maintain their son, 11 years old at the time, ran away after his mother hit him with a belt. They are considered "persons of interest" in his disappearance.
Meanwhile, the Herrman's continued to accept government assistance for Adam's care for more than ten years after he was last seen. The Herrmans falsely claimed Adam as a dependent on their tax returns, continued to collect adoption subsidies after his disappearance, and failed to notify authorities that the child was no longer living in their home. Additionally, neighbors say that the Herrmans collected money from the state after a report determined that Adam had special needs. At this time, the Herrmans do not face fraud charges in Oklahoma. Doug and Valerie Herrman are charged in a neighboring state and are not defended by Oklahoma criminal defense lawyers, but by lawyers in their home state.
The Herrmans' attorneys claim that their clients deny any wrongdoing. The criminal defense lawyers for Valerie Herrman say that both Herrmans intend to plead not guilty to the charges and to "vigorously seek the dismissal" of fraud charges.
In the meantime, police continue to investigate Adam Herrman's disappearance. Prosecutors hope to have homicide charges filed by the end of the year. Authorities searched the mobile home park where the Hermanns were living when Adam was last seen, but no body has been discovered.
Doug Herrman's criminal defense lawyer would not comment on the disappearance, saying he would focus only on the current charges.
Distribution of a CDS and Grand Larceny
The Oklahoma criminal defense lawyers of Slane and Phillips were successful in having 2 separate cases dismissed within the past couple of weeks. The first case involved a charge of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) in Seminole county, Oklahoma. The other was a Grand Larceny case in Roger Mills county, OK.