We defend misdemeanors and serious felonies, DUI, drug and assault charges, and federal cases across Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma. If you have been arrested or believe you are under investigation, the time to talk to a lawyer is now, before you say a word to anyone else.
Book a free consultation: Contact us online or call (918) 585-8600. Our office is at 2727 E 21st St #600, Tulsa, OK 74114.
Criminal charges we defend in Tulsa
We represent people facing a wide range of charges, in both state and federal court:
- DUI and DWI, including refusals and felony DUI
- Drug possession, distribution, and trafficking
- Assault and battery, including domestic assault
- Theft, burglary, larceny, and other property crimes
- Weapons and firearms charges
- White-collar and fraud offenses
- Violent felonies
- Juvenile criminal matters
- Probation violations
- Expungement of past records
Whatever you are facing, the first step is the same: protect your rights and say nothing until you have a lawyer.
Federal versus state criminal defense, and why it matters
Most Tulsa defense lawyers handle only state cases. Todd Tucker defends in both Oklahoma state court and federal court, and the difference is enormous. State charges move through the Tulsa County District Court. Federal charges move through the U.S. District Court for the Northern or Eastern District of Oklahoma, where the rules, the prosecutors, and the sentencing guidelines are far tougher. A federal case is not a bigger state case; it is a different world, and you want a lawyer who works in it. If you are facing a federal investigation or indictment, do not wait, and do not assume your usual lawyer can handle it.
The Oklahoma criminal case process, step by step
Knowing what is coming lowers the fear. Here is the typical path of a Tulsa criminal case.
Step 1: Arrest and booking. You are taken into custody and processed. This is the moment to stay silent and ask for a lawyer.
Step 2: Bond. The court sets bail or bond. We move quickly to get you released on terms you can manage.
Step 3: Arraignment. The charges are formally read and you enter a plea. We are with you so nothing is admitted by accident.
Step 4: Preliminary hearing (felonies). In a felony case, a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed. This is an early chance to attack a weak case.
Step 5: Pretrial motions. We file motions, including motions to suppress evidence gathered through an illegal stop or search. Winning a suppression motion can gut the State’s case.
Step 6: Plea or trial. Most cases resolve by negotiation, but we prepare every case as if it is going to a jury, because that is what gives a negotiation its power.
Step 7: Sentencing and appeal. If there is a conviction, we fight for the best possible sentence and preserve your right to appeal.
A misdemeanor carries up to a year in county jail. A felony carries more than a year and can mean prison, so the classification of your charge changes everything. For plain-language basics, Oklahoma Legal Aid maintains a criminal-law resource library, and Tulsa County court information is available through the Oklahoma State Courts Network.
Tulsa DUI defense and your driver’s license
A Tulsa DUI starts two separate cases at once, and most people only know about one. There is the criminal case in court, and there is a separate driver’s license revocation through the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety under the state’s implied-consent law. The DPS clock is short. You generally have only a brief window, often about fifteen days from the arrest, to request a hearing and try to save your license. Miss it, and the revocation can take effect no matter what happens in the criminal case. We handle both tracks, and we move fast on the license deadline so you do not lose your ability to drive by default.
Constitutional and suppression defense
Many cases are won not in front of a jury but on a motion. The Fourth Amendment protects you from unlawful stops, searches, and seizures. When police cut corners, the evidence they found can be thrown out. We scrutinize every traffic stop, every search, and every interrogation for constitutional violations, and we file suppression motions to exclude evidence that should never have been gathered. Sometimes that is the whole case.
The former-prosecutor advantage
This is something most Tulsa defense firms cannot offer. Founding partner Jim C. McGough is a former Tulsa County prosecutor who was named Misdemeanor Prosecutor of the Year and now serves as Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Collinsville. Founding partner Catherine Welsh is a former Assistant District Attorney. They know exactly how the State decides what to charge, how it values a case, and where its weak points are. When your defense team has sat in the prosecutor’s chair, you are not guessing about the other side’s playbook. You are reading it.
Meet your defense team
Your case is handled by attorneys you can name, not a referral mill. Todd Tucker leads the firm’s criminal defense practice and represents clients in both state and federal court. Read Todd’s full bio. Attorney James C. Asbill also defends criminal and juvenile matters and brings courtroom litigation experience to every case. Read James’s bio. Behind them stand the firm’s former-prosecutor founders, Jim McGough and Catherine Welsh.
Expungement: clearing your Oklahoma record
A past arrest or conviction can follow you for years, costing you jobs and housing. Oklahoma law allows many people to expunge records, sealing them from public view, after a dismissed charge, a completed deferred sentence, or a qualifying conviction and waiting period. We can review your record, tell you honestly whether you qualify, and handle the petition. A clean record is sometimes the most valuable thing a defense lawyer can win for you.
What criminal defense costs and your free consultation
Every case is different, so we do not pretend one price fits all. We are honest about it up front and quote your fee at the free consultation, before you owe anything.
Federal cases and serious felonies are quoted individually because the work involved varies so much. What never changes is this: the cost of a conviction, to your freedom, your record, and your earning power, almost always dwarfs the cost of a real defense.
Why Tulsa families trust Welsh & McGough
State and federal experience. Todd Tucker defends in both courts, an option many Tulsa firms cannot offer.
Former prosecutors on your side. Our founders charged cases for the State. Now they use that insight to defend you.
We prepare every case to win at trial. That preparation is exactly what drives a strong plea when a plea is the right call.
Straight answers and no false promises. We will tell you honestly where your case stands. Browse all of our legal services to see the full team.
Tulsa criminal defense FAQ
What should I do immediately after being arrested in Tulsa?
Stay silent and ask for a lawyer. You are not required to answer questions or explain yourself, and anything you say can be used against you. Politely decline to talk about the case until your attorney is present, then call us.
What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Oklahoma?
A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in county jail. A felony is punishable by more than a year and can mean state prison. Felonies also carry a preliminary hearing and far more serious long-term consequences.
What is the difference between a state and a federal criminal charge?
State charges are prosecuted in Oklahoma courts, like the Tulsa County District Court. Federal charges are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern or Eastern District of Oklahoma, under tougher rules and sentencing guidelines. Todd Tucker defends both.
I got a DUI. Will I automatically lose my license?
Not automatically, but you must act fast. An Oklahoma DUI triggers a separate driver’s-license revocation through the Department of Public Safety, and you generally have only a short window, often about fifteen days, to request a hearing to protect your license. We handle that deadline along with your criminal case.
Can evidence from an illegal search be thrown out of my case?
Often, yes. If police violated your Fourth Amendment rights with an illegal stop, search, or seizure, we can file a motion to suppress that evidence. If the motion succeeds, the State may be left with no case.
Can I get my Oklahoma criminal record expunged?
Many people can. Oklahoma allows expungement after dismissed charges, completed deferred sentences, and certain convictions with a waiting period. We can review your record and tell you whether you qualify.
Do I really need a criminal defense lawyer?
The State has trained prosecutors and police working to convict you. The deadlines, the rules of evidence, and the consequences are unforgiving, and a mistake can cost you your freedom. Almost everyone facing a real charge needs a lawyer.
How much does a criminal defense attorney in Tulsa cost?
Misdemeanors typically run $1,500 to $3,500 and felonies $3,500 to $10,000 or more, depending on the charge. Federal cases are quoted individually. We give you a clear fee at the free consultation.
How long will my criminal case take?
A simple misdemeanor may resolve in a few months. Felonies and contested cases take longer, sometimes a year or more, especially if motions or a trial are involved. We give you a realistic timeline once we know the facts.
What happens at an arraignment and a preliminary hearing?
At arraignment, the charges are read and you enter a plea. At a felony preliminary hearing, a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to send the case forward. Both are early chances to challenge the State’s case.
How does having former prosecutors on your team help my defense?
Our founders decided what to charge and how to value cases for the State. That experience tells us where a prosecution is strong, where it is weak, and how to push for the best outcome for you.
Talk to a Tulsa criminal defense attorney now
If you have been arrested or charged, every hour matters. Talk to a Tulsa criminal defense attorney who defends both state and federal cases, knows the prosecution from the inside, and will fight to protect your rights.
Call (918) 585-8600 or contact Welsh & McGough online. Office: 2727 E 21st St #600, Tulsa, OK 74114