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State of Oklahoma v. Joseph Matthew Ballew
Date: 02-19-2026
Case Number: CF-2025-2225
Judge: Michelle Keely
Court: District Court, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Plaintiff's Attorney: Katie Koljack
Defendant's Attorney: Michael French
Description:
Tulsa, Oklahoma criminal defense lawyer <a href="https://www.morelaw.com/lawyers/atty.asp?f=Michael&l=French&i=57282&z=74119" target="_new">Michael French</a> represented the Defendant charged with larceny of an automobile in violation of 21 O.S. 1720, which provides:
Any person in this state who shall steal an aircraft, automobile or other automotive driven vehicle, construction equipment or farm equipment shall be guilty of a Class D1 felony offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of this title if the value of the vehicle is less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or shall be guilty of a Class C2 felony offense and shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20M of this title if the value of the vehicle is Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or greater, or by a fine in an amount that is equal to three times the value of the property that was stolen but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the person shall be ordered to pay restitution pursuant to Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Title 21 O.S. 20N provides:
B. Any person convicted of a Class D1 criminal offense set forth in this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than five (5) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. 1. Every person who, having been previously convicted of one or two Class C or Class D criminal offenses, commits a Class D1 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than one (1) year nor more than seven (7) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. Every person who, having been previously convicted of three Class C or Class D criminal offenses, or one or more Class Y, Class A, or Class B criminal offenses, commits a Class D1 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than ten (10) years and shall serve at least thirty percent (30%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. Unless specifically exempted pursuant to subsection E of this section, Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to Class D1 criminal offenses.
E. The criminal offenses listed in paragraphs 98, 108, 212, 213, and 229 of subsection A of this section shall be exempt from the penalty provisions provided for in subsections B and C of this section. Persons convicted of the criminal offenses provided for in paragraphs 98, 108, 212, 213, and 229 of subsection A of this section shall be punished in accordance with the corresponding penalties provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes including Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
F. All Class D1 criminal offenses shall be punishable by the corresponding fines as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes.
21 O.S. 20M:
B. Any person convicted of a Class C2 criminal offense set forth in this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than seven (7) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. 1. Every person who, having been previously convicted of one or two Class C or Class D criminal offenses, commits a Class C2 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than ten (10) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. Every person who, having been previously convicted of three Class C or Class D criminal offenses, or one or more Class Y, Class A, or Class B criminal offenses, commits a Class C2 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than twelve (12) years and shall serve at least forty percent (40%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. Unless specifically exempted pursuant to subsection E of this section, Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to Class C2 criminal offenses.
E. 1. The criminal offenses listed in paragraphs 1, 2, 52, 53, 54, 55, 63, 65, 67, 68, 76, and 77 of subsection A of this section shall be exempt from the penalty provisions provided for in subsections B and C of this section. Persons convicted of the criminal offenses provided for in paragraphs 1, 2, 52, 53, 54, 55, 63, 65, 67, 68, 76, and 77 of subsection A of this section shall be punished in accordance with the corresponding penalties provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes including Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. The criminal offense listed in paragraph 64 of subsection A of this section shall be exempt from the penalty provision provided for in subsection B of this section. Persons convicted of the criminal offense provided for in paragraph 64 of subsection A of this section shall be punished in accordance with the corresponding penalties as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes including Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The provisions of subsection C of this section still applies to the criminal offense listed in paragraph 64 of subsection A of this section.
F. All Class C2 criminal offenses shall be punishable by the corresponding fines as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes.
Any person in this state who shall steal an aircraft, automobile or other automotive driven vehicle, construction equipment or farm equipment shall be guilty of a Class D1 felony offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of this title if the value of the vehicle is less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or shall be guilty of a Class C2 felony offense and shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20M of this title if the value of the vehicle is Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or greater, or by a fine in an amount that is equal to three times the value of the property that was stolen but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the person shall be ordered to pay restitution pursuant to Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Title 21 O.S. 20N provides:
B. Any person convicted of a Class D1 criminal offense set forth in this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than five (5) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. 1. Every person who, having been previously convicted of one or two Class C or Class D criminal offenses, commits a Class D1 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than one (1) year nor more than seven (7) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. Every person who, having been previously convicted of three Class C or Class D criminal offenses, or one or more Class Y, Class A, or Class B criminal offenses, commits a Class D1 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than ten (10) years and shall serve at least thirty percent (30%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. Unless specifically exempted pursuant to subsection E of this section, Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to Class D1 criminal offenses.
E. The criminal offenses listed in paragraphs 98, 108, 212, 213, and 229 of subsection A of this section shall be exempt from the penalty provisions provided for in subsections B and C of this section. Persons convicted of the criminal offenses provided for in paragraphs 98, 108, 212, 213, and 229 of subsection A of this section shall be punished in accordance with the corresponding penalties provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes including Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
F. All Class D1 criminal offenses shall be punishable by the corresponding fines as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes.
21 O.S. 20M:
B. Any person convicted of a Class C2 criminal offense set forth in this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than seven (7) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. 1. Every person who, having been previously convicted of one or two Class C or Class D criminal offenses, commits a Class C2 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than ten (10) years and shall serve at least twenty percent (20%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. Every person who, having been previously convicted of three Class C or Class D criminal offenses, or one or more Class Y, Class A, or Class B criminal offenses, commits a Class C2 criminal offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than twelve (12) years and shall serve at least forty percent (40%) of the sentence imposed before release from custody including release to electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 510.9 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. Unless specifically exempted pursuant to subsection E of this section, Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to Class C2 criminal offenses.
E. 1. The criminal offenses listed in paragraphs 1, 2, 52, 53, 54, 55, 63, 65, 67, 68, 76, and 77 of subsection A of this section shall be exempt from the penalty provisions provided for in subsections B and C of this section. Persons convicted of the criminal offenses provided for in paragraphs 1, 2, 52, 53, 54, 55, 63, 65, 67, 68, 76, and 77 of subsection A of this section shall be punished in accordance with the corresponding penalties provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes including Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
2. The criminal offense listed in paragraph 64 of subsection A of this section shall be exempt from the penalty provision provided for in subsection B of this section. Persons convicted of the criminal offense provided for in paragraph 64 of subsection A of this section shall be punished in accordance with the corresponding penalties as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes including Section 51.1 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The provisions of subsection C of this section still applies to the criminal offense listed in paragraph 64 of subsection A of this section.
F. All Class C2 criminal offenses shall be punishable by the corresponding fines as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes.
Outcome:
02-19-2026 DEFERRED
JUDGE MICHELLE KEELY: DEFENDANT PRESENT, NOT IN CUSTODY, AND REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL FRENCH. STATE REPRESENTED BY KATIE KOLJACK. COURT REPORTER: TINA HALE. DEFENDANT SWORN IN OPEN COURT. DEFENDANT ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY. DEFENDANT WAIVES RIGHT TO JURY/NON-JURY TRIAL. COURT ACCEPTS PLEA AND WITHTHOLDS FINDING OF GUILT.
COUNT 1) COURT WITHHOLDS FINDING OF GUILT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS UNTIL DEFERRED REVIEW DATE OF 2/15/2029 AT 9AM IN ROOM 401. DEFENDANT ASSESSED: $500.00 COURT FUND, $250.00 VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND, PLUS COSTS.
DEFENDANT IS TO BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO PAY $2,500.00 IN RESTITUTION PER SCHEDULE.
DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO FOLLOW ALL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION.
DEFENDANT IS ADVISED TO NOT USE/POSSESS MARIJUANA UNTIL AND UNLESS THERE IS A HEARING TO MODIFY RULES OF PROBATION.
DEFENDANT ADVISED OF APPEAL RIGHTS. RULE 8 ISSUED. J & S ISSUED. BOND EXONERATED.
JUDGE MICHELLE KEELY: DEFENDANT PRESENT, NOT IN CUSTODY, AND REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL FRENCH. STATE REPRESENTED BY KATIE KOLJACK. COURT REPORTER: TINA HALE. DEFENDANT SWORN IN OPEN COURT. DEFENDANT ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY. DEFENDANT WAIVES RIGHT TO JURY/NON-JURY TRIAL. COURT ACCEPTS PLEA AND WITHTHOLDS FINDING OF GUILT.
COUNT 1) COURT WITHHOLDS FINDING OF GUILT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS UNTIL DEFERRED REVIEW DATE OF 2/15/2029 AT 9AM IN ROOM 401. DEFENDANT ASSESSED: $500.00 COURT FUND, $250.00 VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND, PLUS COSTS.
DEFENDANT IS TO BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO PAY $2,500.00 IN RESTITUTION PER SCHEDULE.
DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO FOLLOW ALL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION.
DEFENDANT IS ADVISED TO NOT USE/POSSESS MARIJUANA UNTIL AND UNLESS THERE IS A HEARING TO MODIFY RULES OF PROBATION.
DEFENDANT ADVISED OF APPEAL RIGHTS. RULE 8 ISSUED. J & S ISSUED. BOND EXONERATED.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of State of Oklahoma v. Joseph Matthew Ballew?
The outcome was: 02-19-2026 DEFERRED JUDGE MICHELLE KEELY: DEFENDANT PRESENT, NOT IN CUSTODY, AND REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL FRENCH. STATE REPRESENTED BY KATIE KOLJACK. COURT REPORTER: TINA HALE. DEFENDANT SWORN IN OPEN COURT. DEFENDANT ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY. DEFENDANT WAIVES RIGHT TO JURY/NON-JURY TRIAL. COURT ACCEPTS PLEA AND WITHTHOLDS FINDING OF GUILT. COUNT 1) COURT WITHHOLDS FINDING OF GUILT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS UNTIL DEFERRED REVIEW DATE OF 2/15/2029 AT 9AM IN ROOM 401. DEFENDANT ASSESSED: $500.00 COURT FUND, $250.00 VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND, PLUS COSTS. DEFENDANT IS TO BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO PAY $2,500.00 IN RESTITUTION PER SCHEDULE. DEFENDANT IS ORDERED TO FOLLOW ALL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION. DEFENDANT IS ADVISED TO NOT USE/POSSESS MARIJUANA UNTIL AND UNLESS THERE IS A HEARING TO MODIFY RULES OF PROBATION. DEFENDANT ADVISED OF APPEAL RIGHTS. RULE 8 ISSUED. J & S ISSUED. BOND EXONERATED.
Which court heard State of Oklahoma v. Joseph Matthew Ballew?
This case was heard in District Court, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, OK. The presiding judge was Michelle Keely.
Who were the attorneys in State of Oklahoma v. Joseph Matthew Ballew?
Plaintiff's attorney: Katie Koljack. Defendant's attorney: Michael French.
When was State of Oklahoma v. Joseph Matthew Ballew decided?
This case was decided on February 19, 2026.