Dec. 19, 2023 via WLF Facebook page – Falsely Accused of Sex Crimes, Alva Odle, Found Not Guilty by Jury on All Counts after Facing Four Life Sentences
Attorney Wichman is happy to announce a major victory of his out of Johnson County Missouri Circuit Court from this past summer after a three day jury trial was conducted for client Alva Odle, aged 61, whom was found not guilty on all four counts he was indicted for, saving him from the serious possibility of 120 years in prison, with the only possibility of parole having been after 85% of those 120 years were served.
Had Alva been convicted he most likely would have died in prison under that sentence, and he knew that. He was falsely accused of committing statutory sodomy, a sexual molestation type of charge on a family member less then 12 years of age, and was charged with four separate counts of that charge, from different alleged incidents to have occurred over approximately the past five years, each count being a serious ‘off-grid’ felony carrying a punishment each of the minimum of 10 years to the maximum of 30 years or life imprisonment, and each individual sentence having to run consecutive to each other, by law, thereby making it 120 years (or 4 life sentences) he was facing if convicted. Attorney Wichman thought it was most likely all or nothing, as the victim would likely be either believed on all counts or not on any. Mr. Odle was given one plea (settlement) offer early on of approximately 12 years in prison. Any conviction, including that offer, also would make him a registered sex offender and result in lifetime supervision. Mr. Odle declined the offer, maintaining his innocence, deciding to instead go to trial.
Most attorneys are too afraid to take on such a serious matter, let alone go to trial on it, however Attorney Kevin Wichman listened to his story and felt he could help, and did just that with tremendous success.
First on the list of things to do was seek to have Mr. Odle released from jail on bond, during the pendency of his case as to better assist in his defense. His current bail amount was set at $50,000 cash only, and thus out of reach. Attorney Kevin Wichman was able to bring the matter to the Judge, and after hearing arguments on it, the Judge lowered the bond to $10,000 cash or 10%, effectively altering it down to $1,000, instead of $50K, to be released, which Mr. Odle was able to make. While in jail, Alva Odle had lost hope in his release because while there he was housed with other sex offender defendants and spoke with different jail guards, and none had ever heard of any defendant ever actually being released on bond for what he was charged with. Thankfully the Judge was responsive to his pleadings in this matter and he was allowed to be released to assist in his defense, along with his wife and other family and friends.
Attorney Wichman put on a trial in front of 12 jurors, comprised of 7 women and 5 men, (and 1 alternate) that ultimately completely dismantled the States’ case, largely through his effective cross-examination of all the law enforcement officials, children’s division workers, the accuser, along with the victim’s parents and other grandmother whom all made the complaints, and whom were later argued to be at the cruel heart of the fraud that was being perpetrated in order to rid themselves of Mr. Odle, whom they were envious of. Attorney Wichman was able to pull out at trial the real motivations behind their stories and exposed them also for their history of deceit, poor character, and strange beliefs of witchcraft and love of dark spirits and demons.
Attorney Wichman lined up an arguable alibi witness to one count, and numerous witnesses from different aspects of Odle’s long life, whom were eager to testify to help, along with a voluminous 57 different exhibits all used in telling the rest of the story as to get his story and the truth out for the Jury to see. At the end of a very long 3 days of trial, Attorney Wichman gave a compelling closing that summarized the story of the State’s accuser and witnesses into what he described as the “4 C’s”….”1. Confusing, 2. Contradictory, 3. Calculating, and 4. Can’t Remember”, while also including some indirect ‘intimidating tactics’ from their witnesses to the wife of the defendant in trying to get her to not testify on Mr. Odle’s behalf. The jury was told by Attorney Wichman that while, the victim in the case was certainly in a tough spot and needed help, as the household lived in with family was not good, that that is matter for another time, and that right now, Alva Odle, the defendant whose fate they are in charge of, needs their help, as he is the one facing the rest of his life in prison.
In less then two hours, the jury came back unanimously not guilty on all four counts. Alva Odle became a free man immediately and able to return to his life. A man that had no criminal history, no complaints ever of sexual inappropriateness, a loving father and husband and friend to many, retired from after longtime employment with two companies, and in his younger days a volunteer firefighter for that same community, was able to return to his life.
Attorney Wichman was glad to be able to help him and his family out in this matter, to take on a case that few attorneys are willing to take on, and was proud to be able to get extraordinary results, initially on bond, and of course in the all around not guilty verdict on all counts. A rare event to occur on the very serious allegations he faced. As always Attorney Wichman is happy to help those falsely accused to never lose hope, bring the truth to light, and have justice ultimately prevail!
Assisting Attorney Wichman, with the evidence, strategy, and moral support to the family, was his father, Boyd Wichman, a businessman from Olathe, Kansas, whom both Attorney Wichman and the Odle’s are grateful to in helping to achieve the big win.
