Contact Numbers

Main Office and Hot Checks
Phone: 903-763-4515
Fax: 903-763-5105

Crime Victim Liaison / Family Services Coordinator
Phone: 903-763-1243
Fax: 903-763-3126

http://www.mywoodcounty.com/users/0019/images/jwheeler.jpg

District Attorney

Jim Wheeler
E-Mail the District Attorney here

P O Box 689
Quitman, TX 75783-0689
Phone: 903-763-4515
Fax: 903-763-5105

It shall be the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys not to convict, but to see that justice is done.
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. 2.01.

Welcome to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s web page. Our office is located on the third floor of the Wood County Courthouse, in Quitman, Texas, at the intersection of highways 37 and 154.

The Wood County District Attorney’s office represents the State in all criminal cases in the county and district courts of Wood County, as well as representing the State in contested matters in the Juvenile and Justice of the Peace courts. Additionally, we handle asset forfeitures, bond forfeitures, hot check/check fraud cases, child abuse and domestic violence matters, as well as juvenile matters.

The Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s office consists of our elected Criminal District Attorney, three Assistant District Attorneys, a Special Assistant District Attorney who handles appellate matters, an Investigator, a Victim Witness Coordinator, three full-time and one part-time staff members.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click this link to see our FAQ page

Investigations Division

The Wood County District Attorney’s Office employs an investigator who is a certified peace officer as provided by Chapter 2.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Our Investigator assists the prosecutorial staff in the preparation of criminal cases that occur in Wood County, conducts formal investigations for the District Attorney and assists law enforcement from other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis.

Allegations of criminal conduct are first reported to law enforcement in the jurisdiction where they occur, and after receiving law enforcement reports, the Investigator prepares them for review by the District Attorney’s Office to decide what charges, if any, are appropriate.
Additionally, the Investigator plays an important role in trial preparation and subpoenaing witnesses for Grand Jury meetings and for criminal trials.

Wood County Crime Victim Services

The mission of the Wood County Criminal District Attorney - Victim Services Division is to assist victims of crime by providing information, services, and support in an impartial, consistent and compassionate manner during their interaction with the criminal justice system.

Services We Provide

Victim services are free and confidential. The Wood County Criminal District Attorney – Victim Services Division provides the following advocacy and services:

Referral - Confidential referrals to any appropriate medical, counseling or social service agency including the East Texas Crisis Center.
East Texas Crisis Center hotline # 1-800-333-0358.
Referral to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Victim Services Division for information about registering to receive information on a felon housed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. See www.tdcj.state.tx.us/victim/victim-home.htm

Advocacy & Support - Court advocacy, escort and support during all stages of the criminal justice process.

Notification and Explanation - Case status notification for felony level prosecution pending in the 402nd Judicial District Court of Wood County, Texas. Assisting all crime victims with registration through the Texas VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday an automatic notification of court events and changes in county jail status. Victims may register confidentially with VINE toll-free by calling 1-877-TX4-VINE; 1-877-894-8463 from a touch-tone phone 24 hours a day.

Compensation - Assistance to persons applying for reimbursement through the Office of the Attorney General – Crime Victims' Compensation Division. For information and an online application for benefits see www.oag.state.tx.us/victims/victims.shtml

Liaison - Maintain a working relationship with all law enforcement agencies and other service providers.

Crime Victims in Texas Have a Right to:

1. Be protected from further harm or threats for cooperating with prosecution efforts
2. Have the victim's safety considered in the setting of bail
3. Information about relevant court proceedings
4. Information about a defendant's right to bail and the procedures in a criminal investigation and in the criminal justice system
5. Provide pertinent information on the impact of the offense to be considered at the time of sentencing and parole
6. Information about the Crime Victims' Compensation Program
7. Information about parole procedures and to be notified upon the release of the defendant
8. Be provided with a separate and secure waiting area for witnesses at a trial
9. Prompt return of property held as evidence when it is no longer required
10. Have employer notified if testimony requires absence from work
11. Have counseling regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS/HIV) if the offense creates the need
12. Be present at all court proceedings related to the offense, subject to judge's approval
13. Information and an explanation of these rights

Hot Check Division

To Make a Payment to a Hot Check case via credit card- Click Here

Read the Hot Check Newsletter, The Hot Check Informer

The Hot Check/Check Fraud Division of the Wood County is managed by District Attorney’s Office .

This division is responsible for investigation and prosecution of offenses of theft by check.

Cases that can be handled by the Hot Check/Check Fraud Division without the necessity for a police report are those cases where a person writes his or her own check in exchange for goods, services or cash, and in which the victim can identify that person. An investigation by the Hot Check/Check Fraud Division usually involves obtaining documents and analyzing them, interviewing witnesses by telephone or in person, and making attempts to collect restitution.

If you think that the check you were given is forged, you should contact the police agency for the jurisdiction in the area where you received the check. Because investigation of a forgery case requires resources in excess of those available with the Hot Check/Check Fraud Division, we are unable to accept direct complaints on forgery cases.

The Statutory Notice
The first thing you must do to file a theft by check case is to send the appropriate demand letter to the check writer. For checks written since September 1, 1995, the law requires that potential complainants in check fraud cases send a notice letter containing the exact, specific language spelled out in the statute. A proper notice letter includes the statutory demand language, gives the check writer ten days to pay the check, and is sent by certified mail with return receipt requested. Be sure to keep a photocopy of the demand letter that you send. We will need that copy to prove any theft by check case that goes to trial. Once the green receipt card comes back to you, or the returned letter with the green card still attached (do not open the returned letter!), and more than ten days have elapsed, you may take the next step.
The Complaint Form and related documents are available from the Hot Check/Check Fraud Division of the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.

Also, to be added to the quarterly newsletter mailing of the Criminal District Attorney Informer, contact 903-763-4515 or Email

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE MY COMPLAINT FORM IS FILED?

Once a complaint is filed with this office, the check writer is notified and given ten days to pay. If you took a driver’s license or identification number, we will check to see who is the owner of that number according to official records. Once all preliminary documentation is collected, an employee of the Check Fraud Division will look carefully at the documents you submitted and determine whether all elements of theft can be met with the information on hand. If not, the employee will take steps to obtain the necessary documents or call you if further information from you is necessary. If payment is not forthcoming, a case is filed in the appropriate court and a warrant issued for the arrest of the check writer. Additional fines and court costs may be assessed at this time.

If the merchandise or service stolen exceeds $1,500.00 or includes a firearm, cattle, horses, sheep or exotic animals, the case will normally be prepared as a felony. Once charging documents are prepared in a felony case, the case will be presented to the Grand Jury. You will be notified if the Grand Jury wishes to speak with you. If the Grand Jury indicts the case arresting documents will issue.

Once arrest documents issue, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office will take over in arresting the defendant. We cannot take further action until the defendant is arrested and the case appears on the court docket. The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the County Court will prosecute misdemeanor cases and the District Attorney or one of the Assistants will prosecute felony cases in District Court. We will attempt to notify you of all significant occurrences regarding the complaint you filed and the resulting case if you keep us apprised of your current address and telephone number. Keep in mind, though, that it will probably take several months to investigate and file a case. Problems with incomplete or inaccurate complaint forms or in obtaining information or bank records will slow the process. If you have not heard from us in the appropriate time, you may contact our office at 903-763-4515.

HOW DO I GET MY MONEY?

Please understand that we will make every effort to collect restitution for you; however, once a case is filed in Court whether restitution is ordered by the court is determined by the judge and thus is beyond our control. Furthermore, many defendants have no money. They’ve spent or used what they stole from you and they don’t have more money to pay you back. A judge may instead order such a defendant to serve time in jail in order to pay his/her debt to society. In that case, restitution may not be collected.

If, however, restitution is received by this office, the office manager will forward restitution payment to you by office check within a matter of days. In the case of court ordered restitution (usually as a term of probation), you will receive all restitution directly from the Wood County Adult Probation Department, 903-763-2256.