I’ve dedicated my legal career to defending my clients. I demand all the evidence. I investigate all the facts, the so-called witnesses and even the police officers. I make it my business to know the law. Cases can be won or lost before you even set foot inside the courtroom.
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Posts by Mary Beth Harrell
How Victim Impact Statements Can Affect an Assault Case
Under the US Constitution, criminal defendants are given the right to face their accusers. Implied, though not directly stated, is the right of an alleged victim to face the perpetrator of a crime. The whole point of a criminal trial is to give both sides a chance to tell their stories and have an impartial…
Read MoreYes, a DWI Conviction Could Affect Your Security Clearance
You have worked diligently your whole life and undergone highly scrutinized background checks. Maybe you provided years of loyal service in a state or federal position, but one mistake has put your career and professional reputation in jeopardy. This is the strict reality that a DWI charge can have if you hold a government position…
Read MoreStay Off Social Media After Being Charged
As good as it may feel to “get things off your chest,” posting on social media after you’ve been charged with a crime of any sort can only hurt you. Those accused of a violent crime like domestic violence or assault should definitely stop posting on all online accounts until their case is resolved, as…
Read MoreIt’s Time to Rethink Drinking Culture in Texas
While no one wants to bring back Prohibition, we may want to reconsider just how casually we treat alcohol consumption in Texas. Not everyone can or should drink, and our love for partying and tipsy bonding is creating a culture of peer pressure most cannot resist. If someone is drinking to excess, we shouldn’t just…
Read MoreVeterans Get Arrested More Than Civilians; Let Us Help
The men and women who bravely serve our country deserve respect, grace, and opportunity when they return, but few, unfortunately, actually get any. Even though people may thank service people in public, the harsh reality is that more and more of our military veterans are being treated like monsters in private. It is no secret…
Read MoreWhat to Expect During a Killeen DWI Arrest
Many of us have experienced it – if you’re reading this, you likely have as well. You’re driving home from an evening out and you see the familiar red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror signaling you to pull over. You had one or two drinks at dinner, so you’re a little worried about…
Read MoreIs a Federal Assault Charge Different from a State Assault Charge?
No two criminal charges are the same, even if they share many similarities and may be classed the same way. Everyone’s case is different, and therefore the charges they face will reflect that. Any criminal charges can carry serious consequences, of course, but certain crimes hold more weight than others, and in some scenarios, you…
Read MoreThe Murdaugh Trial and the Importance of Witness Testimony
Recently, accused killer Alex Murdaugh took the stand in his double-murder trial, and at the same time an unflattering Netflix docuseries about the murders and his own family hit the airwaves. Pundits and experts across the country considered this a risky move, especially considering Murdaugh immediately confessed to what felt like dozens of lies. We…
Read MoreWhen to Plea and When to Fight Your Charges
If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Killeen, Copperas Cove, or anywhere in Central Texas, you may immediately start weighing your options. Should you plead guilty? But you are innocent! Should you fight your charges? But then you might get jail time! There are pros and cons to each, but no matter…
Read MoreWhy Eyewitness Accounts Aren’t Trustworthy
If you were charged with a crime, prosecutors may want to bring in eyewitnesses to help convict you. Or maybe you want to bring an eyewitness onto the stand to help prove your innocence. It seems like a great tactic to use for either side. After all, the eyewitnesses are the people who actually saw…
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