Anatomy of a Criminal Indictment

ANATOMY OF A CRIMINAL INDICTMENT by Michael Keehn is both a true story and a guide for the individual under an indictment, what to expect, and what those under indictment can do to help themselves survive the indictment. The author was under indictment for three years and very proactive in his own defense. The author shares his experience with the reader who is seeking guidance in becoming proactive in his (or her) own defense. The book gives sufficient background information for the reader to follow and visualize the path the author traveled to indictment. In short, the author spent eight years of his life designing a never before existing control system for a public utility that resulted in an indictment.It is likely that your attorney will seldom communicate with you in the early stages, this is normal and will be explained. But it does not mean that you cannot communicate to him, and do so in a way that will have lasting impact. Being under an indictment and charged criminally is a very lonely world. You may well feel like a leper, alone and isolated from everyone. You may find yourself avoiding friends because you don’t want to tarnish their character with your own foul coating. In the author’s case, he was surprised to find so many in his community to be very supportive, many of them people he did not know, but who recognized him from his picture from the newspaper and stopped to speak with him and offer moral support. In the beginning there was an initial distrust between defendant and attorney that slowly builds into trust. And this process can be seen as the story unfolds. Therefore, expect to be distrusted unless you are paying the attorney. Even then you may be distrusted, however, it probably won’t be as easily detected. It was the author’s experience that there is tremendous stress the individual under indictment must endure, not allowing emotions to render him (or her) immobilized, and although your defense attorney will probably not help with this issue, this book can help with that. The author also gives the reader solid examples how to analyze the various documents filed by government investigators. Putting the investigative reports and affidavits under a microscope, and then constructing a report is very beneficial, and an example of this process is provided. Following the suggestions for analysis and report construction can be therapeutic. It helps to relieve tension when, with a critical eye, you begin to see the errors and oversight the investigators are making. The book may also be used by a family member or loved one who wishes to help someone under indictment. Included are elusive and hard to find legal documents as examples to provide self help guidance for the pro se / pro per litigant.