Cite as: 22 CNCA § 17

A. Every person who has been charged, convicted, has pled guilty or has pled nolo contendere to any crime hereinafter referred to as defendant who contracts to reenact such crime by the use of any movie, book, newspaper, magazine article, radio or television presentation, live entertainment of any kind, or from the expression of his thoughts, opinions or emotions regarding such crime, shall pay to the district court wherein the charges were filed any money or thing of value contracted to be paid to the defendant. The District Court shall deposit such monies in an escrow account for the benefit of and payable to any victim or his legal representative of crimes committed by the defendant.

B. Payments from the account shall be made to the defendant upon an order of the Judge of the District Court wherein the charges were filed upon showing that the money or thing of value shall be used for the exclusive purpose of retaining legal representation for the defendant at any stage of the proceedings arising out of a criminal charge, and that the defendant would otherwise be unable to afford adequate representation.

C. Payments from the account shall be used to satisfy any judgment rendered in favor of a victim or his legal representative, provided said victim brings a civil action, in a court of competent jurisdiction, to recover money against the defendant or his legal representatives within five (5) years of the filing of the charges against the defendant. If no victim or legal representative of a victim has filed suit within five (5) years from the filing of the charges, any money remaining in the account shall be paid over to the Victims' Compensation Revolving Fund. Upon disposition of charges favorable to the defendant, money in the account shall be paid over to the defendant.

D. The District Court wherein the charges were filed shall, once every six (6) months for five (5) years from the date the money is deposited with the Court, publish a notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in each county of the Nation in accordance with the provisions on publication of notices found in 25 O.S. § 101 et seq., notifying any eligible victim or legal representative of an eligible victim that monies are available to satisfy judgments pursuant to this section.

Historical Data

LA 10–90, eff. November 13, 1990.