Protecting Your Rights. Defending Your Future.

Stay quiet and ask for a lawyer. You are required to provide your name and basic identifying information, but you are not required to answer questions about what happened or to consent to searches. Politely tell the officer you want to speak with an attorney before answering anything else, then stop talking. Anything you say after that point can be used against you, and people regularly make their cases worse by trying to explain themselves to police.

Yes. Even if you believe you have done nothing wrong, an interview with police is not a conversation, it is an investigation. Officers are trained to ask questions in ways that elicit incriminating statements. You have the right to have counsel present under both the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, and you should use it. There is essentially no downside to declining to speak until your lawyer is there.

Texas misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in county jail and fines up to $4,000, depending on the class. Felonies carry potential prison sentences ranging from 180 days in a state jail facility to life in prison, plus fines up to $10,000 or more. The classification affects not only punishment but also collateral consequences such as voting rights, firearm ownership, and employment opportunities.

Some records can be expunged under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Eligibility generally requires acquittal, dismissal, no conviction, or completion of certain pretrial diversion programs. Other records may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure, which seals the record from most public view. Each case has its own facts, and an attorney can tell you what is realistically available in your situation.

A typical Texas criminal trial involves jury selection, opening statements, presentation of the state's evidence, presentation of defense evidence if any, closing arguments, jury instructions, and deliberation. The state bears the burden of proving every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense is not required to put on any case at all. Misdemeanor juries are six people, felony juries are twelve.

Fees depend on the charge, the complexity of the case, and how far it will likely go. A first-time misdemeanor plea is priced differently than a contested felony trial. We discuss fees openly at the initial consultation and offer flat fees for most matters so there are no surprises. Payment plans are available for many cases.

Most criminal cases in Texas resolve without a trial through dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication, or a negotiated plea. That said, every case is prepared with the assumption that it may try, because prosecutors negotiate differently when they know the other side is ready and willing to put them to their proof. Whether to try a case is your decision with your lawyer's counsel.

Deferred adjudication is a form of community supervision in Texas where the court accepts your plea but defers finding you guilty. If you successfully complete the supervision period, the case is dismissed and you may later be eligible for nondisclosure of the record. If you violate the terms, the court can find you guilty and sentence you up to the maximum for the original offense.

Generally no, but there are exceptions. Police can enter without a warrant if you consent, if there are exigent circumstances such as someone in danger or evidence being destroyed, if they are in hot pursuit of a suspect, or if items in plain view from a lawful vantage point give them probable cause. If officers ask to come in or search, you have the right to politely say no and ask if they have a warrant.

Bail is the money or bond you post to be released from custody while your case is pending. In Texas, magistrate judges set bail at an initial appearance, considering factors such as the offense, prior criminal history, ties to the community, and risk of flight. Bond can be paid in cash, posted through a surety, or in some cases granted on personal recognizance without payment.

Simple misdemeanor cases sometimes resolve in a few months. Felony cases more often take six months to two years depending on complexity, court schedules, and whether the case goes to trial. Some appeals add another year or more. We give you realistic timeline expectations at the start of representation and update them as the case develops.

A motion to suppress asks the court to exclude evidence the state obtained in violation of your constitutional rights. Common bases include unlawful stops, searches without warrants or probable cause, statements taken without Miranda warnings, and improperly conducted lineups. When suppression motions succeed, they sometimes gut the state's case entirely and lead to dismissal.

You have a constitutional right to self-representation, but it is almost always a mistake. The rules of evidence, criminal procedure, and substantive law are technical and unforgiving. Prosecutors are professional litigators. Judges expect both sides to know the rules. Even lawyers who get charged with crimes hire other lawyers.

It can. Certain criminal convictions, including some that look minor under state law, are classified as crimes involving moral turpitude or aggravated felonies under federal immigration law and can lead to deportation, denial of naturalization, or inadmissibility. If you are not a U.S. citizen, the immigration consequences of any plea need to be analyzed before you agree to anything.

Look for an attorney who practices criminal defense regularly, knows the courts where your case is filed, takes the time to explain things clearly, and gives you honest answers about the realistic range of outcomes. Be cautious of anyone who promises a specific result, because no ethical lawyer can guarantee how a case will end. Trust your sense of whether the lawyer is being straight with you.