Date: 02-08-2014

Case Style: State of Oklahoma v. Deandre Bethel

Case Number: CF-2012-600

Judge: James Caputo

Court: District Court, Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Plaintiff's Attorney: Kali Strain

Defendant's Attorney: Steven W. Vincent

Description: The State of Oklahoma charged Deandre Bethel with:

Count # 1. Count as Filed: HM11, FELONY MURDER - FIRST DEGREE , in violation of 21 O.S. 701.7.

Count # 2. Count as Filed: RBDW, ROBBERY WITH A FIREARM , in violation of 21 O.S. 801.

Count # 3. Count as Filed: WE1, TRANSPORTING LOADED FIREARM IN MOTOR VEHICLE , in violation of 21 O.S. 1289.13.

Count # 4. Count as Filed: DR1, PUBLIC INTOXICATION , in violation of 37 O.S. 8.

The State alleged that Bethel, age 25, was involved in the killing of Byron Ivory, age 24, who was shot to death on February 4, 2012 in the 1800 block of South Baltimore in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prosecutors produced evidence that Bthel and Deandre Williams confronted Ivory, Ernest Jordan Roberts and Bradley Jarrett in an effort to rob him on his cell phone and money. Ivory was shot multiple times and died several hours later.


Title 21 O.S. 701.7 provides:


A. A person commits murder in the first degree when that person unlawfully and with malice aforethought causes the death of another human being. Malice is that deliberate intention unlawfully to take away the life of a human being, which is manifested by external circumstances capable of proof.

B. A person also commits the crime of murder in the first degree, regardless of malice, when that person or any other person takes the life of a human being during, or if the death of a human being results from, the commission or attempted commission of murder of another person, shooting or discharge of a firearm or crossbow with intent to kill, intentional discharge of a firearm or other deadly weapon into any dwelling or building as provided in Section 1289.17A of this title, forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, escape from lawful custody, eluding an officer, first degree burglary, first degree arson, unlawful distributing or dispensing of controlled dangerous substances or synthetic controlled substances, trafficking in illegal drugs, or manufacturing or attempting to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance.

1. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection, the term "synthetic controlled substance" means a substance:

a. the chemical structure of which is substantially similar to the chemical structure of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II,

b. which has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II, or

c. with respect to a particular person, which such person represents or intends to have a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II.

2. The designation of gamma butyrolactone does not preclude a finding pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection that the chemical is a synthetic controlled substance.

3. Such term does not include:

a. a controlled substance,

b. any substance for which there is an approved new drug application,

c. with respect to a particular person any substance, if an exemption is in effect for investigational use, for that person, under Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355) to the extent conduct with respect to such substance is pursuant to such exemption, or

d. any substance to the extent not intended for human consumption before such an exemption takes effect with respect to that substance.

C. A person commits murder in the first degree when the death of a child results from the willful or malicious injuring, torturing, maiming or using of unreasonable force by said person or who shall willfully cause, procure or permit any of said acts to be done upon the child pursuant to Section 843.5 of this title. It is sufficient for the crime of murder in the first degree that the person either willfully tortured or used unreasonable force upon the child or maliciously injured or maimed the child.

D. A person commits murder in the first degree when that person unlawfully and with malice aforethought solicits another person or persons to cause the death of a human being in furtherance of unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing controlled dangerous substances, as defined in the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, unlawfully possessing with intent to distribute or dispense controlled dangerous substances, or trafficking in illegal drugs.

E. A person commits murder in the first degree when that person intentionally causes the death of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or corrections employee while the officer or employee is in the performance of official duties.

Title 21 O.S. 801 provides:

Any person or persons who, with the use of any firearms or any other dangerous weapons, whether the firearm is loaded or not, or who uses a blank or imitation firearm capable of raising in the mind of the one threatened with such device a fear that it is a real firearm, attempts to rob or robs any person or persons, or who robs or attempts to rob any place of business, residence or banking institution or any other place inhabited or attended by any person or persons at any time, either day or night, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction therefor, shall suffer punishment by imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary, or for a period of time not less than five (5) years, at the discretion of the court, or the jury trying the same.

Upon conviction therefor, any person guilty of three separate and distinct felonies, in violation of this section shall suffer punishment by imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary, or for a period of time of not less than ten (10) years, and it is mandatory upon the court to impose no less than the minimum sentence of ten (10) years. The sentence imposed upon such person shall not be reduced to less than ten (10) calendar years, nor suspended, nor shall any person be eligible for probation or parole or receive any deduction from his sentence for good conduct until he shall have served ten (10) calendar years of such sentence.

Title 21 O.S. 1289.13 provides:


Except as otherwise provided by the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act or another provision of law, it shall be unlawful to transport a loaded pistol, rifle or shotgun in a landborne motor vehicle over a public highway or roadway. However, a rifle or shotgun may be transported clip or magazine loaded and not chamber loaded when transported in an exterior locked compartment of the vehicle or trunk of the vehicle or in the interior compartment of the vehicle notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1289.7 of this title when the person is in possession of a valid handgun license pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act.

Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in Section 1289.15 of this title.

Any person who is the operator of a vehicle or is a passenger in any vehicle wherein another person who is licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a handgun, concealed or unconcealed, and is carrying a handgun or has a handgun or rifle or shotgun in such vehicle shall not be deemed in violation of the provisions of this section provided the licensee is in or near the vehicle.

Title 37 O.S. 8 provides:

Except as provided in Section 2 of this act, any person who shall, in any public place, or in or upon any passenger coach, streetcar, or in or upon any other vehicle commonly used for the transportation of passengers, or in or about any depot, platform, waiting station or room, drink or otherwise consume any intoxicating liquor unless authorized by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, intoxicating substance, or intoxicating compound of any kind, or inhale glue, paint or other intoxicating substance, or if any person shall be drunk or intoxicated in any public or private road, or in any passenger coach, streetcar, or any public place or building, or at any public gathering, from drinking or consuming such intoxicating liquor, intoxicating substance or intoxicating compound or from inhalation of glue, paint or other intoxicating substance, or if any person shall be drunk or intoxicated from any cause and shall disturb the peace of any person, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00), nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), or by imprisonment for not less than five (5) days nor more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Outcome: Defendant was found guilty on all counts and recommended a sentence of life imprisonment for the murder and five years on the robbery charged and five months and 30 days on the possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: