Multi-County Grand Jury Indictments Tossed On Technicality

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Criminal charges issued by a multicounty grand jury are being dismissed on a technicality that could threaten previous criminal charges from grand juries. <br/><br/>An Oklahoma County

Thursday, January 4th 2007, 8:40 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Criminal charges issued by a multicounty grand jury are being dismissed on a technicality that could threaten previous criminal charges from grand juries.

An Oklahoma County judge is dismissing felony charges against four prominent Hinton residents and three other people in connection with a failed cocoa plant. Special Judge Roma McElwee says the grand jury was unconstitutional and prejudicial because two alternate jurors were present when the 12 regular jurors heard testimony about the plant.

Prosecutors say they will appeal.

The seven men were charged with conspiracy and embezzlement in connection with the cocoa plant that was funded with public money. The plant was shut down following a federal patent lawsuit against it.

Other people indicted by grand juries _ including former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher _ could bring up the same issue. An attorney for Fisher says there is a possibility he will raise the same argument.