An ARREST is NOT a Conviction
Our law firm is dedicated to fighting for rights of citizens accused of violating a state of Texas criminal statute or a municipal or county ordinance in Texas. After being arrested, most people accused of a crime feel as though they are guilty. Many citizens with criminal cases that can be successfully challenged make a hasty decision to plead guilty or nolo contendere without looking into the chances that an experienced, skilled criminal defense/DWI attorney will be able to help find a total solution [e.g., dismissal,
or acquittal] or at least negotiate an excellent partial solution [e.g., serious offense reduced to a lesser offense, or most of the charges dropped or merged into one charge]. In many of the cases we accept, we are able to accomplish either total dismissal of the most serious charge or charges, or a reduction of that more serious offense to a lesser offense.
Sample case victories are available upon request during the Free Consultation.
We offer you a Free Initial Consultation in all criminal cases. Why? Because we know that most non-attorneys will not be able to identify the good points and the bad points in their criminal case. In over 90% of our case evaluations with prospective clients, we can offer you a specific plan of attack to pursue a legal challenge in court. Plus, most people facing prosecution do not know the penalty or the range of possible consequences of a guilty or nolo contendere plea if that case is ultimately decided against them
If we accept your case to fight for you, the first thing we will do after you hire a member of our law firm is get all available evidence against you, as allowed under Texas DWI law, from the prosecutor, the arresting officer or other police involved in the case, gather all documentary evidence available, go to the scene of the arrest, and help you identify and retain experts such as accident reconstruction specialists, physicians, breath test experts, field sobriety test experts and obtain copies of statements from other fact witnesses. With this information, we will then apply our 60 years of combined experience and give you our written assessment of your opportunities --- if you fight your case --- to either obtain an acquittal, or a dismissal of the charges. Once all "discovery" is complete, we can more precisely assess the likelihood that our firm will be able to obtain a reduction of the serious charges you are facing to a less serious offense. After our investigation, we will also be able to tell you the likelihood that you can avoid jail and save your driver's license from a suspension or revocation.
Our criminal defense lawyers handle all type of criminal cases from murder, sex crimes to speeding and every type of felony or misdemeanor in between. We handle cases statewide, and have developed relationships with attorneys in every corner of Texas (and even outside of Texas) in case we decide that associating with local counsel (or consulting with an attorney in another state) provides the best method of defending your case.
Much of our criminal law practice is dedicated to cases involving alcohol and drugs, particularly Dwi alcohol and DWI -drugs, since crimes involving alcohol or drugs involve a major segment of criminal law where accused clients with too much to lose will seek to retain top-level, highly experienced legal counsel to protect their jobs, their driving privileges and their freedom. No one who has been dehumanized by the DWI arrest process relishes the thought of being sent back to jail.
A conviction for a crime in Texas is permanent. A nolo contendere (no contest) plea is treated as a criminal offense, too, and will stay on your record for life. A criminal conviction is never "expunged" from your record. Never. That is why a decision you make today about your pending case can last a lifetime. The quality of your life and your earning capability over your remaining career can be negatively impacted by a hasty decision to take the cheap route and plead guilty or nolo contendere. Pleading guilty to a DWI is a lifetime bad mistake that you will take to your grave.
A TYPICAL DWI PROBATION
Here are the terms of a standard DWI Probation:
1. Commit no other crimes
2. Pay all fines and court costs (payment schedules are allowed
3. Fines generally run around $800 to $1,000
4. Court costs generally run around $300 to $450
5. Report to probation once a month for 18 to 24 moths
6. Pay $60 a month in probation fees
7. Take a DWI education program ($50)
8. Attend a MADD Victim Impact Panel (VIP) ($20)
9. Take a drug and alcohol evaluation ($30)
10. 24 to 48 hours of community service restitution ($50)
11. Pay $25 to crime stoppers
12. Do not leave the state without permission
13. Do not spend the night outside of Dallas County
14. Do no move (relocate) without court permission
15. *Submit to periodic drug testing (about $35 per test)
16. *Consumer no alcohol
17. **Keep an interlock device in your vehicle ($80 per month)
18. *Have a SCRAM device on your leg ($360 a month)
And of course, if you failed in any one of these requirements, you could be made to serve up to 180 days in jail. With all of these conditions of probation, can you why a weekend in jail might look good to some people?
*Not requires by most judges under most circumstances*
*Required by state law with breath or blood tests 0.15 or higher
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