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Recent Blog Posts
How Can I Defend Against a Manslaughter Charge in Texas?
Manslaughter is a type of criminal homicide that carries serious penalties. Someone who faces a manslaughter charge in Texas may face heavy fines and prison time. It is important, therefore, to have the best defense possible if you are charged with manslaughter. An essential part of this is understanding the various defenses that can be employed against a manslaughter charge.
The first step toward building a strong case is hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer. This article will discuss what manslaughter is, its defenses, and how to contact a Texas manslaughter defense attorney.
What Is Manslaughter?
Under Texas law, manslaughter is when a person causes the death of another with reckless behavior. "Reckless" means the defendant understood the risks of his or her actions and engaged in that behavior anyway, with conscious disregard for the danger to others. This definition is fairly broad and abstract, so manslaughter cases can be complex.
Can I Remove My Name From the Sex Offender Registry
People who are convicted of sex crimes in Texas are required to join a sex offender registry. These offenses include:
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Indecency with a minor
- Possession of child pornography
- Solicitation of a minor
The sex offender registry is open and available to the public. Being in this database exposes a person to public humiliation and ridicule. Many times, it limits where an offender can live because residential communities often bar sex offenders from moving in. It also limits employment opportunities because many businesses do not want to suffer bad publicity if they are discovered to be hiring a sex offender.
Getting off the list, or deregistering, is not an easy process. This article will discuss how sex offenders can be deregistered from the system, but it is best to consult a Texas criminal defense attorney about whether you are eligible for deregistration.
How Can Prior Convictions Affect a Current DWI Case?
Texas has had as many as three drunk driving deaths a day and is ranked as the third-worst state in the country in terms of intoxicated driving fatalities. Last year, over 42 percent of all traffic deaths in Texas were caused by drunk drivers, 28 percent of whom had more than double the legal limit of alcohol in their systems.
The state is making efforts to crack down on intoxicated drivers. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense that can trigger severe penalties including heavy fines, license revocation, and even jail time. The sentences vary, however, depending on whether a DWI is your first offense.
This article will discuss basic DWI laws, the penalties for DWI offenses, and how to contact a Texas DWI defense attorney who will protect your rights.
Potential Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Texas
Aggravated assault is a serious crime in Texas, carrying significant legal consequences. Understanding the potential damages and defenses is crucial for anyone facing such charges. A Texas lawyer can help you understand the nature of aggravated assault, defenses, and the importance of legal representation in these cases.
What Makes an Offense an Aggravated Assault?
In Texas, an assault becomes aggravated when certain factors elevate the severity of the offense. These factors typically involve the use of a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury to the victim. For instance, if an individual uses a firearm in an assault, even if they do not discharge it, the offense can be classified as aggravated assault. Similarly, if the assault causes severe injuries such as broken bones, disfigurement, or injuries requiring extensive medical treatment, authorities may charge it as aggravated assault. The law also considers the identity of the victim; assaults against public servants, security officers, or emergency services personnel are often treated as aggravated offenses. Classifying the assault as aggravated assault considers the perpetrator’s previous conviction for a similar offense and their relationship to the victim (family member or intimate partner).
Probation Violations in Texas
Many studies have shown that incarceration as punishment for crimes might be more harmful to society than helpful. Being removed from the people you love and imprisoned with others who have committed crimes can reinforce the idea that you are not welcome in your community, and the isolation can keep you in a life of crime rather than motivate you to change your ways.
That is why judges sometimes offer probation instead of incarceration, especially for nonviolent crimes. The idea is that receiving this second chance can influence you to turn your life around. Probation comes with various conditions and requirements that you must abide by or face possible imprisonment. Accusations of probation violations are a serious matter that can have severe consequences. This article will explain what happens when someone is accused of violating the terms of their probation. If this happens to you, speak with a trusted Weatherford, TX criminal defense lawyer who can fight hard to keep you out of jail.
Will I Go to Jail for the Unlawful Carry of a Gun?
While Texas tends to have more relaxed gun laws than other states, and these laws typically favor the gun owner, you are still subject to certain restrictions about where you can carry your weapon. If you plan to own a firearm, it is important to understand where you can and cannot carry it, ensuring you avoid a weapons charge and associated penalties, such as jail, if you are caught unlawfully carrying your firearm.
A knowledgeable Texas weapons charges lawyer can help you build a defense if you find yourself facing a weapons charge for unlawful gun carry.
When Is It Considered Unlawful Gun Carry?
In Texas, the state’s Penal Code outlines the circumstances where carrying a weapon is unlawful. Carrying a weapon while the following apply may result in an unlawful carry charge:
What Is Aggravated Assault in Texas?
Texas defines assault and aggravated assault differently, and these are two different criminal charges in the state. If you are facing an aggravated assault charge, it is important to understand the difference between aggravated and simple assault, including the penalties that aggravated assault carries. An experienced Texas aggravated assault defense attorney can help you further understand your rights and legal options concerning these charges.
Understanding Texas Aggravated Assault
Unlike ‘simple assault,’ which is generally a misdemeanor charge, aggravated assault in Texas can be penalized quite harshly. The Texas Penal Code defines aggravated assault as the following:
- Knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causing serious bodily injury to another person, including the other person’s spouse
Challenging a First-Offense DWI Charge in Texas
Being arrested and facing criminal charges can be an overwhelming experience, especially if this is your first run-in with the law. For example, if you are facing first-offense DWI charges in Texas, you may be unaware of the different legal strategies available to you as you look to fight these charges. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to learn more about your options.
At Soraya Joslin, P.C., Attorney Joslin is a seasoned legal professional who has worked on countless cases defending clients against first-offense DWI charges. When you retain Attorney Joslin’s services, you can feel confident knowing that you have an attorney who will work with you through every step of your case to ensure you have the best available chance at beating the charges and getting on with your life. Here are some of the strategies she may use to fight your charges.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Texas
Facing an assault with a deadly weapon charge in Texas carries many issues of concern. The first of which is hiring experienced and knowledgeable legal representation to protect your rights. An attorney can help you understand the charges and mount a solid defense to get the charges dropped or reduced.
Aggravated Assault
In Texas, assault is placed into two categories – simple assault and aggravated assault. Simple assault is when a person knowingly, recklessly, or purposefully greatly injures another person or threatens to do so. Aggravated assault is an elevated form of simple assault that occurs when a person causes serious bodily harm or flashes a deadly weapon during the assault. Texas maintains aggravated assault as a second-degree felony. This charge can escalate to a first-degree felony when other aggravating circumstances are involved, such as using a deadly weapon.
The Consequences of Subsequent DWI Convictions
Repeat driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders will likely face considerably harsher penalties than that of a first-time offender. Most first-time DWI offenders will receive a misdemeanor charge with a fine of up to $2,000 and a minimum driver’s license suspension of three months. However, even a first-time DWI offense can become a felony when specific criteria are met. Legal representation is crucial when dealing with a second, third, or subsequent DWI charge. Contact a lawyer with DWI defense experience to see what can be done.
What Texas Considers a DWI Offense
Driving while intoxicated in Texas means that a driver did not have regular use of their mental or physical faculties due to the use of alcohol, drugs, or another controlled substance while operating a motor vehicle in a public place. A DWI charge can also be issued if the driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. A first-time offense without aggravated factors is considered a Class B misdemeanor and requires a minimum jail term of 72 hours. If that same driver is found to have an open alcohol container in their immediate possession, the jail term is extended to a minimum of six days. A BAC of 0.15 percent or higher raises the charge from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor.
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From our office in Weatherford, we represent clients in communities throughout Parker County, Wise County, Jack County, Eastland County, Johnson County, and Hood County, including Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Springtown, Mineral Wells, Briar, Azle, Decatur, Bridgeport, Jacksboro, Cleburne, Keene, Joshua, Burleson, Alvarado, Granbury, Oak Trail Shores, DeCordova, Pecan Plantation, Eastland, Cisco, and Ranger.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
