Criminal Defense

Have you been charged with a DWI in Texas? The State takes DWI and other offenses related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol very seriously. The potential penalties you face should you be charged with a DWI are severe and can have a lasting impact on life as you know it. As such, you should be prepared to mount a strong defense against the DWI charge. Here are some of the most common defenses raised against a Texas DWI charge.

Common Defenses to a Texas DWI Charge

For starters, challenging the validity of tests administered during a DWI stop or thereafter is a very common, and often effective, defense strategy in combatting a DWI charge.
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Did you know that assault is one of the most often committed crimes in the U.S.? In fact, even here in Texas, assault charges have increased in recent years. A serious charge, assault can have far reaching consequences beyond the initial fines and other penalties you may incur if your assault charge becomes an assault conviction landing on your criminal record. Fortunately, there are a number of solid defenses strategies that can be employed to help you avoid criminal liability for assault.
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In the face of criminal charges, it is not the time to try and go it alone. Retaining dedicated legal counsel can be the most important decision you make in your life. It can mean avoiding lengthy prison time and steep fines. It can mean avoiding carrying a criminal record around with you everywhere you go, from job interviews to housing applications. The reasons you should hire a criminal defense attorney are worth highlighting as life changing consequences hang in the balance if you are confronting criminal charges.
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When a person is charged with committing a crime, there are a number of defense strategies that can be employed to help them be acquitted. Most commonly, a defense strategy will involve undermining the prosecution’s case. After all, as all defendants are innocent until proven guilty, the burden rests with the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. By undermining the prosecution’s case, doubt is cast on it and it can be a barrier to having the jury convinced of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest legal burden to meet in the U.S.
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Conviction of a misdemeanor in Texas is a serious matter. While the penalties may not be as severe as those of a felony conviction, it can still change the rest of your life. In addition to steep fines and jail time, a misdemeanor conviction can also make it difficult for you to find a job and secure housing. Here is what you can expect to potentially face if you are charged and convicted of one of the three classes of misdemeanors in Texas.

What are the Three Classes of Misdemeanors in Texas?

Texas law divides misdemeanor offenses into three different classes.

Drug crimes are a serious business. Texas has cracked down on drugs and prosecutors will show little mercy to those facing drug charges. Not all drug charges will be considered felonies, but many are. Felonies are more serious offenses than those at the misdemeanor level. They come with harsher penalties and can cause problems well beyond the period of incarceration you may be ordered to serve or the fines you may be ordered to pay.
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Texas means business when it comes to driving while intoxicated. The penalties are severe and the prosecutors will go after defendants with the full force and resources of the state. The consequences of being found guilty of driving while intoxicated (DWI) are serious, right from the start. This means that even if it is only your first DWI, you will be faced with some devastating fallout. Here, we’ll discuss what can happen upon conviction of your first Texas DWI.
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When it comes to the criminal justice system, knowledge is power. It is beneficial to be aware of what defines certain criminal violations as well as the potential penalties should a person be convicted of such a violation. Many types of crimes are subdivided into levels of severity with certain aggravating factors raising the severity of the crime as well as the potential penalties. Here, we will go over how Texas law defines assault and its different levels.

What Qualifies as Assault in Texas?

Texas law defines assault generally as when a person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another or intentionally or knowingly threatens another with bodily injury.
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If you have been convicted of a crime in Texas, it is likely that part of your sentence will include a probationary period. Probation, also known as “community supervision, involves a period of you out in the community that is still monitored by the court through the assignment of a community supervision officer with whom you will need to periodically check in with. During probation, you are required to comply by certain stipulations of your probation, follow established guidelines, and comply with the law. This means that being charged with a Read more . . .

Let’s face it, having a criminal record can make life tough. It can come up and cause problems on your employment applications. It can cause problems on housing applications. Fortunately, if you have been charged with a crime in Texas, you may be eligible for deferred adjudication.

What is Deferred Adjudication?

Deferred adjudication is comparable to court-ordered community supervision, commonly referred to as “probation,” but the person accepts responsibility for a crime without a conviction going on their record.

There is a lot of legal jargon that is thrown around in conversation, on the news, and elsewhere. Sometimes, it gets all jumbled up and ends up being misused in everyday life. The legal terms “burglary” and “robbery,” for instance, are often used interchangeably. The reality is, however, that they are two separate crimes that are applicable under two different sets of circumstances and a conviction of one will carry a different set of consequences than conviction of the other. Let’s take a look at what burglary and robbery actually are in the legal sense.