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Burglary of a Motor Vehicle is Not the Same as Breaking Into a TX Home

Auto Theft | Burglary

Motor vehicles are often a tempting target for break-ins — they’re frequently left unattended, are easy to enter, and contain valuables such as navigation and audio equipment that are easily viewed through windows.

If you break into a motor vehicle, you might find yourself facing Texas theft charges. The question you have is ‘what kind.’

While facing any “burglary” charge is scary enough, penalties for breaking into a car are actually different from what you’d face for breaking into a home, although they’re still quite serious.

To clarify this important difference, we’ve put together a guide covering Texas burglary of a motor vehicle, and how these differ from other burglary charges.

Texas Burglary vs. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle

Fort Worth Rioters May Now Face Assault Charges

Assault | Rioting

In late May, Fort Worth erupted into demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd. When protests on May 31 became heated, several dozen protesters were arrested and at least 50 were hit with rioting charges.

In the weeks following the protests, Police Chief Ed Kraus announced that the rioting charges the protestors face would be dropped. However, far from being let off the hook, certain protestors may face more serious charges including assault, assault on a peace officer, and criminal mischief.

The Department alleges that while the majority of protestors were peaceful, some participants had caused damage to property and threatened the lives of officers. According to the police department, these protestors will be investigated and prosecuted to the [...]

Off-line Fraud Crimes in Texas: Forgery Is Not Dead?

Forgery | Fraud

For most young people, the idea of fraud conjures images of elite hackers breaking into databases and then selling the data on onion networks. Back in the day though, it used to mean writing fraudulent checks or similar low tech methods.

Police in Dallas had quite a surprise recently after reports of a local bank being the victim of one of these more traditional fraud crimes. The case involves a woman suspected of cashing a stolen check using a fake Texas ID.

We’ll take a look at the specifics surrounding fraud crimes and forgery. After looking at the definitions we’ll go into the charges that these crimes can potentially carry and some potential defenses an experienced attorney may use.

What

Is It Legal to Carry a Weapon While Wearing a Face Mask in TX?

Gun Crimes | Weapons Crimes

Despite having blocked local officials from requiring people to wear masks in April, Governor Greg Abbott issued an official order that requires the use of face masks in public earlier this month. The order went into effect on Friday, July 3 at 12:01 p.m. The major reversal comes as coronavirus cases soar and the state scrambles to get the surge under control.

According to the statewide order, masks must be worn over the nose and mouth in public places in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases. Under the law, public spaces where masks must be worn include businesses and buildings open to the public, in addition to outdoor public areas where social distancing is not feasible.

The law [...]

Pulled Over in TX? Know Your Rights To Prevent a DWI Arrest

Drunk Driving | DUI

Just because you are pulled over by the police in the state of Texas does not mean you are automatically guilty of a crime. Nor does being pulled over automatically mean your rights are suspended.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are pulled over by police on Texas roads. These stops are made for a variety of reasons. If you are ever one of these people, you need to remember that you still have rights if you want to avoid problems. This is particularly true where DWIs are concerned.

In this post, we’re going to cover what your rights are in the event you are pulled over by the police and what you should do. Remember that these [...]

TX Protestors Not the Only Ones Facing Criminal Trespassing Charges

Criminal Trespass | Trespassing

One of the great things about the United States is the right to own private property. While each state has different laws surrounding property ownership, they all agree that private property is essential and trespassing is a crime.

Over the past several weeks, a large number of stories involving people being arrested for criminal trespass have been about protestors being hauled in by police. However, not every case lately involves those protesting…

In fact, one Dallas police officer found out recently that property laws are applicable to everyone — including those in law enforcement — when the officer in question was arrested after trespassing on the property of his ex-spouse.

Because private property can sometimes be a complex subject, [...]