Former Lincoln County Judge Pleads Guilty To Embezzling When He Was An Attorney

Craig Key was indicted in 2013 by the state’s multicounty grand jury for stealing cattle and a trailer, and embezzling thousands of dollars from injured clients.

Friday, February 5th 2016, 3:56 pm

By: News On 6

Former Lincoln County Judge Pleads Guilty To Embezzling When He Was An Attorney

A former Lincoln County associate district judge previously indicted by the state’s multicounty grand jury pleaded guilty on Friday, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt says.

Craig Key was indicted in 2013 by the state’s multicounty grand jury for stealing cattle and a trailer, and embezzling thousands of dollars from injured clients. Key worked as an attorney before surrendering his law license in 2013 after being indicted.

Key pleaded guilty to 24 counts in 11 filed cases and received a 10-year jail sentence. According to Pruitt's office, Key will serve the first five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, and he will be on probation for the remaining five years. He also was ordered to pay a total of more than $527,000 in restitution to his victims.

The state’s multicounty grand jury has jurisdiction to investigate criminal matters in all 77 counties, assisting local law enforcement as well as handling matters of state interest. The grand jurors meet regularly to hear testimony in the matters being considered by the grand jury. By law, the proceedings are closed to the public.