Creek County Criminal Defense & Court Guide

Creek County District Court has Two Courthouses

Creek County is the only county in Oklahoma with two District Court courthouse locations. The main Court Clerk's office is in Sapulpa, and the second division is in Bristow.

The distinction is practical, not just geographical. When you are checking your case, talking with your lawyer, or preparing for the next court date, you need to know whether the case is being handled through the Sapulpa Division or the Bristow Division. Sometimes an arraignment will be held in Sapulpa and the subsequent proceedings will be in Bristow.

Sapulpa Division

The Creek County Courthouse in Sapulpa is located at 222 E. Dewey Avenue, Sapulpa, Oklahoma 74066. The main Court Clerk's office is on the second floor in Suite 201.

Keep the case number, the charges, the next court date, bond paperwork, and any other case documents together if you have them. Those are usually the first things Rob will want to review when you call, but you should still contact him even if you do not have any paperwork yet.

Bristow Division

The Bristow Division of Creek County District Court is located at 110 W. 7th Street, Bristow, Oklahoma 74010. The Bristow Division has its own Court Clerk’s office, and a District Judge is assigned to the courthouse there as well. The building itself is marked Bristow Municipal Building and District Court, which can understandably cause some confusion. If your case is filed in Creek County District Court in Bristow, it is a District Court case. It is not a Bristow municipal case simply because the District Court is housed in the municipal building.

One other important thing to note is that Google Maps currently lists an incorrect address for the Bristow Division of the Creek County District Court. If you ask Google Maps for directions to the Bristow Division, it will route you to the Sapulpa Division. The workaround is to ask for directions to the Bristow City Clerk and it will give you the address and directions to the correct building because the City of Bristow shares the building with the Bristow Division of the Creek County District Court.

How Do I Know Whether My Case Is in Sapulpa or Bristow?

Check the paperwork you received and make sure you know which courthouse is listed for your next appearance. Keep the case number and next court date, then compare that information with the current online docket.

When you search online, pay attention to the court location. OSCN.net and ODCR.net both provide Oklahoma District Court records, and Creek County cases may be listed under either the Sapulpa or Bristow division. Make sure you are looking at the division that matches your court paperwork so you have the correct docket and court information for your case.

Creek County Is Part of the 24th Judicial District

Creek County is part of Oklahoma's 24th Judicial District. Creek County has District Judges assigned in both Sapulpa and Bristow, while the Associate and Special Judges are assigned in Sapulpa. The Special Judges from Sapulpa hear misdemeanor cases and felony preliminary hearings on a rotating basis in Bristow on Fridays. Felony District Court proceedings, after preliminary hearings, are heard in Bristow on Wednesdays. The judge handling a particular proceeding depends on the case and current court assignments. What matters is which judge is handling your case, which courthouse you need to be at, and what is scheduled to happen at the next hearing.

Judges Who Hear Criminal Cases in Creek County

Which judge handles a Creek County criminal case depends on the division and where the case is in the process. The judges relevant to criminal cases in the two divisions are:

Sapulpa Division

• Honorable Robert Getchell, District Judge, Criminal Felony Docket
• Honorable Laura Farris, Associate District Judge, Criminal Felony Docket, Drug Court, DUI Court, and Mental Health Court Docket
• Honorable Pamela Hammers, Special Judge, Arraignments, Misdemeanors, and Preliminary Hearings
• Honorable Jason Serner, Special Judge Arraignments, Misdemeanors, and Preliminary Hearings

Bristow Division

• Honorable Kelly Hake, District Judge, Criminal Felony Docket
• Honorable Pamela Hammers, Special Judge, Arraignments, Misdemeanors, and Preliminary Hearings
• Honorable Jason Serner, Special Judge, Arraignments, Misdemeanors, and Preliminary Hearings

What Happens After a Creek County Criminal Case Is Filed?

What happens next depends on whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor and how far it has progressed. A felony case involves bond proceedings, an initial appearance, a preliminary hearing, later motion and pretrial settings, plea proceedings, trial, and sentencing. A misdemeanor case follows a different path and does not include a preliminary hearing.

Not every case goes through every possible stage. Before the next appearance, Rob will want to know what has already happened, what the State has filed, and what the court has scheduled next.

Creek County Cases and Muscogee Nation Jurisdiction

Creek County is also one of the places where criminal jurisdiction may need to be examined because of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation. Tribal jurisdiction should be examined when the facts involve an Indian defendant or victim. The court that has authority to prosecute the case can depend on where the alleged offense occurred, the status of the people involved, and the nature of the charge. Rob is admitted to practice in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation District Court and all Oklahoma state courts, so he can evaluate the jurisdiction issue when the facts require it.

If Someone Is in the Creek County Jail

The Creek County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search for people being held in Creek County custody. The Sheriff's Office is located at 301 E. Lee Avenue in Sapulpa, and its inmate information roster can help a family member determine whether someone is still being held there.

A person who has just been arrested may not have all of the information about the case or may not be able to make calls easily. A spouse, parent, adult child, or another family member can contact Henson Law Firm with the person's name and whatever information is available.

Before the Next Creek County Court Date

Make sure you know both when and where the next court appearance is scheduled. That second question is especially important in Creek County because of the two separate divisions in Sapulpa and Bristow.

Do not rely on memory from an earlier appearance or assume the next hearing will be in a particular building. Check the latest paperwork and current docket, and tell Rob which Creek County division is listed when you contact the firm.

If You Are Out of Jail on Bond

If you have been released on bond, read the conditions carefully and follow them while the case is pending. Restrictions involving travel, reporting, drug or alcohol testing, weapons, contact with another person, or other conduct can create additional problems if they are violated.

If you do not understand a condition, ask before acting. The actual bond order entered in your case controls, not what someone else was allowed to do in a different criminal case.

If Law Enforcement Wants to Question You

The filing of a criminal case does not prevent police or investigators from trying to obtain additional statements. If law enforcement wants to question you about the alleged offense or another suspected offense, do not answer any questions and ask to speak with your attorney.

Trying to explain your side before you know what evidence the police already have can make the case harder to defend. Statements that seem harmless or helpful when you make them will later be used by the prosecution.

Criminal Charges Henson Law Firm Handles in Creek County

The specific charge determines what the State has to prove, the possible punishment, and which legal and factual issues need to be addressed. Two people can walk into the same Creek County courthouse with cases that require completely different defense strategies. Henson Law Firm handles a broad range of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in Creek County. Related information includes:

• Felonies
• Misdemeanors
• DUI
• Drug Crimes
• Assault and Battery
• Theft Crimes
• Burglary
• Gun Crimes
• Sex Crimes

Useful Creek County Court and Custody Resources

The Creek County Court Clerk provides current contact information for both the Sapulpa and Bristow divisions, along with access to online District Court records. OSCN.net and ODCR.com can also be used to check case information, although you need to pay attention to which Creek County division you are searching.

The Creek County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search and custody information. If someone has recently been arrested and the online information is incomplete, you can still contact Henson Law Firm and start with the information you have.

Hiring Henson Law Firm for a Creek County Case

Henson Law Firm's only office is in downtown Tulsa, and Rob represents clients with criminal cases in both the Sapulpa and Bristow divisions of Creek County District Court. Initial consultations normally begin by telephone, with in-person or video meetings available when appropriate.

If you provide Rob the person's name, the charge, whether the case is in Sapulpa or Bristow, the case number if available, whether the person is in custody, and the next court date, that is the ideal place to begin a conversation. However, do not hesitate to contact Rob if you do not have all of the information.

Learn More About Where We Practice

Rob represents clients in criminal cases in Tulsa and throughout Northeast Oklahoma. The Where We Practice page provides more information about the district, municipal, and tribal courts where Henson Law Firm accepts criminal matters.

If the issue involves whether a Creek County case belongs in state court or the Muscogee Nation court system, the firm's Muscogee (Creek) Nation Criminal Defense resource provides more focused information about representation in that court.