Criminal Defense

The United Nations’ Office on Drugs and Crime issued a World Drug Report in 2005, which estimated the size of the global illicit drug market at $320 billion. At the time, the primary concerns were opioids (specifically heroin) and cocaine. It has been 18 years, and the UN’s focus has shifted. In the 2020 report,…

When the world shut down in March of 2020, courts across the nation had no choice but to halt legal proceedings and trials as a safety precaution. At the start of the new year, courts were struggling to find a way to hold trials in a safe environment. Bell County is looking to resume trials…

Texas is primed to pass the most lenient Constitutional carry law in the United States. The change would allow anyone who is over the age of 21 to carry a handgun in the state without licensing or training. When Governor Abbott signs House Bill 1927 into law, Texas would become the largest state in the…

Assault charges can lead to some serious consequences. Aggravated assault, particularly with a deadly weapon, can lead to felony charges and prison time. The definition of “deadly weapon” can be a tricky one. Although it typically means something like a gun, bat, or a knife, it can encompass anything that can cause physical harm to…

Drug trafficking involves the unlawful sale, distribution, transportation, manufacturing, and import/export of controlled substances. This is a federal and felony crime and much more serious than drug possession. Also called drug distribution, penalties for conviction for drug trafficking can vary widely depending on the type of drugs involved, the quantity, and the geographic area of…

Kratom is an herbal supplement derived from a tropical tree called the Mitragyna speciosa. This tree, which is member of the coffee family, is native to Southeast Asia, where people have used its leaves as both a sedative and a stimulant for centuries. Today, people worldwide tout the benefits of kratom for treatment of opioid…

Thousands of people across the United States are in prison due to wrongful convictions. Many of these wrongful conviction cases are due to false confessions. It can be difficult to understand why someone would confess to a crime they did not commit, especially crimes like murder or sexual assault. However, there are a variety of…

Texas State Representative Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, has co-authored the “Second Look” Bill, legislation that would require the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to give certain youth offenders a second look at parole at 20 years, instead of 30 or 40 years. It also requires the Board to look at the personal growth and maturity…

New Mexico is poised to legalize recreational marijuana, with two bills approved and headed to the governor’s desk for signing. The bills, which Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has praised, will legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, and expunge arrest and conviction charges for certain offenses. Retail sales are set to begin no later…

Interactions with law enforcement can be stressful; especially if you are being arrested for a crime you may not have even committed. Not every police officer treats suspects gently, and it is natural to want to argue with or even resist the arresting officer in an overwhelming situation. However, resisting arrest here in Texas can…