Criminal Defense 

Our firm is committed to zealous advocacy, due process and justice for persons accused of crimes. Our practice includes both Texas and Federal criminal defense. We are committed to integrity and ethics in criminal defense practice. We are further committed to upholding the Constitution and protecting the rights of our clients.

MISDEMEANORS

Misdemeanors are crimes for which the maximum penalty is up to one year in prison. The type and severity of the alleged offense will determine whether an individual is charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.

Although misdemeanors carry lesser penalties than felonies, the social impact of any criminal conviction is very serious. Many people have difficulty finding employment and may even be terminated after a conviction on a misdemeanor.

If you are accused-of or charged-with a misdemeanor you should take this matter very seriously. Contact an attorney immediately to advise you of your rights before making any statements or agreements.

FELONIES

You should never plead guilty to a crime before speaking with a qualified attorney. This is particularly so if you are under investigation for, accused of, or charged with a felony. Felony convictions are very serious and carry lifetime ramifications.

The sentences for felony convictions vary from probation to life in prison.

Do not delay in contacting our firm or some other qualified criminal defense attorney if you are under investigation for, accused of, or charged with a felony offense.

RECORD SEALING AND EXPUNCTION

Long  after a person is acquitted of a crime or has paid their debt to  society, they may be dealing with the social consequences. For example,  when someone is arrested and charged with a crime, even if the charges  were dismissed it still appears on a background check. Although this  dismissal should not be used against the individual, often times it is.  An expunction is appropriate where an individual has been acquitted or  the charges dismissed.

Even  if a person is convicted of a crime or received deferred adjudication,  they may be eligible for non-disclosure of the offense. Non-disclosure  is not available for all types of crimes, and information may be  disclosed to state agencies and educational institutions.

PROBATION AND DEFERRED ADJUDICATION

Probation

The decision to allow probation for someone convicted of a crime is within the discretion of the trial judge.

If you were found guilty or if your sentence was suspended, you may have been placed on court-ordered probation for a specified period of time. If you successfully fulfill the probation requirements, you will not be sent to jail or prison. Probation requirements typically include regularly reporting to a probation officer, and remaining drug free, performing community service for a specific number of hours, and paying fines and/or restitution.

If you do not successfully completing the requirements of your probation, your probation officer may file a motion to revoke your probation. If so, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible, as the judge may sentence you to jail, extend your probation or take other very serious action. Some courts allow individuals on probation to file a motion for early termination, or modify the conditions of probation. These matters require complex legal arguments and are best handled by an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Deferred Adjudication

Deferred adjudication is a second chance to avoid a guilty finding and criminal sentence. If you have received a deferred adjudication, the judge has decided that there was enough evidence to find you guilty, but deferred the guilty finding while he places you on community supervision, i.e. probation.

If you successfully fulfill the conditions of your probation, you will not be sentenced to jail and there will be no guilty finding on your criminal record. But if you fail, the judge can sentence you to any term within the range of punishment for your crime. The law does not allow deferred adjudication for some crimes.

BOND FORFEITURES AND MOTIONS TO ADJUDICATE

If you are free on bond and fail to meet the one of the requirements of bond, the Court may decide within its discretion to revoke your bond and issue a warrant to place you in jail. You bond may be revoked for reasons as simple as showing up late for court. If your bond is revoked you should contact an attorney immediately, as there may be options to avoid being jailed. Your chances of avoiding a lengthy jail stay are greatly increased through the efforts of an attorney with skill and experience in this area.

If a person on deferred adjudication fails to comply with some term of their probation, the Court in its discretion may revoke the deferred adjudication and sentence the individual to jail or prison time. An experienced and skilled attorney is critical to assisting you in navigating this very treacherous area of the law.

Our legal practice can also help you with:

Please contact our firm for more information.