Douglas, Haun & Heidemann, P.C. attorney Craig Heidemann did what few attorneys have done, earned two jury acquittals for separate criminal clients within seven days.  In the case of former Mountain Grove, Missouri police officer L. Shepherd, Shepherd was accused of stealing evidence from a felony arrestee.  During trial, Heidemann pointed out that many of the witnesses for the prosecution had serious credibility issues and there was no proof Shepherd committed any crime.  After a two day trial in Wright County, the jury deliberated just 29 minutes before finding him not guilty. 

Four days later, Heidemann returned to trial in Columbia, Missouri where he defended John Bruffett, a Douglas County attorney indicted by a grand jury and accused of committing perjury before the grand jury and seven counts of tampering with judges by sending threatening letters to judicial officials.  The case was prosecuted by a senior criminal litigation attorney from the Missouri Attorney General’s office.  It was tried to a Boone County jury for three days and included riveting testimony from Southwest Missouri judges and lawyers as well as from two handwriting experts.  Heidemann argued that the charges against Bruffett were politically motivated and unfair and there was no evidence Bruffett committed perjury or committed any crime.  After just four hours of deliberation, Bruffett was found not guilty of all counts submitted to the jury.  Heidemann’s criminal trial practice includes serious felonies, misdemeanors and motor vehicle offenses.  He also has a very active civil trial practice covering personal injury, mass tort, civil rights violations and cases involving death and serious bodily injury.