Criminal Defense

It’s easy to think we know how the criminal process works. A criminal is arrested, read their rights, and then it’s off to jail with them. That’s how TV shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Brooklyn 99 work, and if we haven’t been arrested ourselves, then why should we think otherwise? Or sometimes, we simply…

Drugs are a problem nationwide. Heroin, cocaine, meth…they’re addictive, dangerous, and everywhere.  Not only do they pose a threat and danger to those who use the drugs, but they also create trouble for others. The drug trafficking involved with getting the drugs into Texas, and the creation of more drugs in dens and basements causes…

The legal system can be complex and tricky to navigate, and if you’ve been charged with a crime, you may not quite understand why you’re being charged the way you’re being charged. For one man from Texas, this is exactly the case. Having started and ended a crime in his home state, one might assume…

The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment provides that “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the state where the said crimes shall have been committed.” If you’ve been charged with any crime, you have the right to a fair trial. The selection…

Being charged with a crime of any sort is a challenge, but when the crime in question is a form of theft, the consequences can be severe. While not typically considered “violent” in and of itself, theft is thought to be a sign of moral failing, which means you may find yourself judged at every…

Going to trial can be exhausting, time-consuming, and confusing. When you are facing criminal charges, it can be frightening, too. The law is full of little intricacies, exceptions to rules, and rules without exceptions. However frustrating this may be, this level of detail is meant to protect you and your rights – as long as…

The term “hate crime” entered the American vocabulary sometime in the 1980s and 90s, although the FBI investigated hate crimes as far back as World War I. Hate crimes are serious offenses and the court treats them as such. If you are facing hate crime charges, it is essential you understand the allegations against you…

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…

Will Texas be one of the next states to legalize marijuana? Although it has long felt unlikely here in the Lone Star State, a variety of bills introduced into this year’s legislative calendar might make legalization a reality. With more than a dozen marijuana-related bills pre-filed at the end of 2020, Texas could be poised…

Being pursued by a police officer – for whatever reason – is enough to activate many people’s fight-or-flight response. When forced to make an instinctual choice between the two, it might feel like “flight” is the proper option, especially when resisting arrest is another charge in itself. However, fleeing from arresting officers comes with its…

Many people believe that strangulation, or choking, is a form of assault. And this is true – however, what many people are unaware of is that strangulation is a felony crime. Before 2009, choking or strangling was considered a misdemeanor assault, but legislature passed that year upped intimate partner strangulation and suffocation to a third-degree…

The online world gives people the opportunity to create entirely new personas and personalities. When someone can hide behind their laptop, creating a world that requires no proof that someone is who they say they are, they can create an environment rife for what’s called “catfishing.” Catfishing is using a false persona or identify to…

Violating your probation can cause you some big problems with the Texas criminal justice system. Being put on probation in the first place means that the court trusted you enough to sentence you to probation instead of jail, so any violation of those conditions won’t be taken lightly. If you’re facing criminal charges or have…

Here in Texas, deadly conduct is a criminal act committed when an individual engages in conduct that recklessly places others in immediate danger of serious injury or death. Typically this is reckless or careless use of a weapon and, depending on the circumstances, can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Texas criminal…

You may find yourself in a situation where you’re concerned that there may be a warrant out for your arrest. Perhaps you were involved in an assault, a domestic situation, or believe someone may have reported you for committing a crime. Many people believe that if there’s a warrant, the police or sheriff are going…