Category: Criminal Defense

More Than 160 Drug Convictions Tied to Houston Officers are Dismissed

Criminal Defense | Drug Crimes | Police Misconduct

Drug charges are never to be taken lightly. In severe cases, conviction can result in years in prison and extremely high fines. However, just as there are laws that regular people must follow in order to avoid being arrested and prosecuted, police officers have rules and regulations that have to be obeyed as well. If this doesn’t happen, your case can be dismissed.

This is exactly what happened recently in Houston, where more than 160 cases were dismissed due to faulty arrests and police corruption. Moreover, as ABC News describes, “Prosecutors expect more cases will be dismissed. Earlier Wednesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared that one of the individuals whose case was dismissed earlier this year…was innocent.” The [...]

How a Defense Strategy Can Change When a TX Assault is Aggravated

Assault | Criminal Defense

Assault is considered a violent crime, but the severity of what someone is charged with depends on the circumstances surrounding an incident.

Generally speaking, there are two classes of Texas assault charges – simple assault and aggravated assault. Crimes range from misdemeanor charges to felony sentencing.

Because of the vast difference in penalties associated with an aggravated assault conviction, it is vital to have a defense strategy that is tailored to your specific case.

Let’s take a look at how the law defines these two classes of assault, and how your defense strategy might change when assault charges are aggravated.

Simple Assault in Texas

A simple assault is charged when a person knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causes injury to someone [...]

What Makes a Good Texas Criminal Attorney?

Criminal Defense

When it comes time to hire a private criminal attorney in Texas, there is no room for messing around. Even misdemeanor charges can result in lost wages, jail time, and a stain on your criminal record.

Convictions add up, and they will only extend the amount of penalties if you are found guilty on subsequent charges. Defendants must fight back with aggressive strategies and the best help that they can get.

Unfortunately, not all Texas defense lawyers will be able to get you the outcome that you are looking for. The time you put into doing research and consulting with different attorneys is an investment in your future, so don’t take the process lightly.

Use these tips to help [...]

Why Criminal Diversion Programs are Good for Everyone in Texas

Criminal Defense | Diversion Programs

In Texas, 20-30% of offenders released from prison go right back there within three years of release. This suggests that, in many cases, traditional prosecution and sentencing is ineffective in preventing future offenses.

Why does this happen?

One of the biggest reasons is that once an individual has spent time in prison, obtaining gainful employment or a college education is much more difficult. In many cases, former offenders may turn back to illegal activities because they find that they are otherwise unable to support themselves.

This can lead to a vicious cycle of repeat offenses, bringing harm to the victims of these crimes, and placing a substantial burden on the criminal justice system.

In contrast, research has shown that diversion [...]

Texans’ Right to Remain Silent – How Miranda Rights Really Work

Criminal Defense | Miranda Rights

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…”

We’ve all heard this phrase in movies and television, but how do these rights actually work in the real world? If you are arrested and law enforcement officers are asking you questions, will all of your answers be evidence used against you? If you are pulled over for possibly driving under the influence, will your silence get you off free?

Let’s explore Miranda rights and how they work in Texas when you interact with law enforcement.

What Are Miranda Rights?

Miranda vs. Arizona was a Supreme Court case that looked at the conviction of Ernesto Miranda. Miranda was unaware that he could invoke [...]

Types of Felony Charges and Penalties in Texas

Criminal Defense | Felonies

Texas law categorizes crimes as misdemeanors or felonies, then breaks each of those categories up into various levels of charges. Felonies alone are divided into six different levels.

In this post, we will detail the different possible felony charges that you can find yourself up against in Texas, as well as the associated penalties.

State Jail Felony

Penalties:

• State jail sentence of 180 days to 2 years
• A fine of up to $10,000

Examples include:

• Theft of property valued between $1,500 and $20,000
• Theft of a firearm
• Abuse of debit or credit cards
• Possession of less than one gram of a Schedule 1 drug

A state jail felony is the default charge for crimes identified as felonies but without specific [...]