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Credit card abuse in Texas is a serious crime that covers a wide range of fraudulent activities involving credit and debit cards. If […]

Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer Aggravated Assault of a police officer is a serious criminal charge in Texas, carrying severe penalties.  Aggravated […]

The Scottie Scheffler Assault of a Police officer serves as a great example of how a person can find themselves charged with a […]

 Texas Felon Gun Possession is third degree felony that has a penalty range of two to ten years in prison and a fine […]

 Texas Car Theft is a serious crime that can lead to significant legal consequences. In the penal code Texas Car Theft is called […]

Texas extortion law, prohibit a person from obtaining property or services from others through coercion or threats. In Texas, extortion is typically covered […]

The Rashee Rice criminal case involving hit-and-run and aggravated assault charges has brought attention to criminal cases involving car wrecks. Anytime professional or […]

  What makes the best Dallas criminal lawyers?  D magazine comes out with a list of best Dallas lawyers and the best Dallas […]

 What are the defenses to hit and run charges in Texas. That is the question anyone ask that is charged with hit and […]

In Texas, leaving the scene of an accident, commonly referred to as a hit-and-run, is a serious offense. The penalties for leaving the […]

Is Voyeurism a crime in Texas? Yes, it is. Under Texas law voyeurism becomes a crime when a person secretly observes or spies […]

In Texas, the statute of limitations for rape, also known as sexual assault, varies depending on the severity of the offense and the […]

Extortion law in Texas is a serious criminal offense that involves coercing someone into giving up money, property, or services through threats, intimidation, […]

In Texas, indecency with a child by exposure is a serious criminal offense outlined in Chapter 21 of the Texas Penal Code. This […]

Texas Sudden Passion defense is a trial strategy that can be used in the punishment stage of a trial in a murder case.  […]

Lawyer Richard Hibey known for representing high profile clients and controversial cases died February 19, 2024. Hibey represented ousted Philippines ruler Ferdinand Marcos […]

A Texas Class C Assault charge is an assault that does not include pain or injury. Since it is a Class C charge […]

Texas Felony Driving While Intoxicated arrest is a serious crime which can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life. In Texas you […]

Texas Stalking Law is a felony that involves harassing or following someone repeatedly, in a way that causes them emotional distress or fear […]

 TEXAS INDECENT ASSAULT LAW The Texas Indecent assault Law is a serious criminal offense that can result in significant consequences for the accused, […]

How does the statute of limitations work in Texas law? Most people have heard about the statute of limitations in criminal cases. How […]

The Texas Accomplice law can have serious consequences. I recently answered the question, ” When can I be charged as an accomplice?” I […]

When can a person be charged as an accomplice? In Texas, a person can be arrested and charged as an accomplice if they […]

In Texas, the crime of hindering apprehension or prosecution, also known as hindering prosecution, is defined as intentionally obstructing, impeding, or preventing the […]

In Texas abandoning or endangering a child charge is a felony offense.  Texas abandoning or endangering a child is committed when a person […]

How to bond out of jail in Texas. That is the first goal a person faces when they have been arrested. When a […]

A Texas probation revocation motion is a very serious problem for anyone who is on probation in Texas. Thousands of Texans are placed […]

The Texas mutual combat defense is a legal defense that can be used in cases involving physical altercations between two or more individuals. It […]

In Texas, solicitation of prostitution is a crime. The Texas solicitation of prostitution law is defined as intentionally offering or agreeing to pay […]

In Texas, “drug free zones” refer to areas around certain locations, such as schools and parks, where drug offenses are subject to enhanced […]

In Texas, a person can be charged with Tampering with Evidence if they intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly alter, destroy, or conceal any record, […]

A Reckless Driving Criminal Charge in Texas is a misdemeanor crime. A reckless driving charge is  punishable by  a fine up to $200 […]

Resisting arrest is a serious crime in Texas. Since the crime occurs when a person is actively resisting physical control by a police […]

In Texas, public lewdness is a crime that involves engaging in sexual activity or exposing one’s genitals in a public place where others […]

Texas criminal immunity laws can be very beneficial to a criminal defendant. Texas has very specific types of immunity which grant is statutory […]

Should I take a police polygraph test? This is a question a person ask when they are under investigation by the police. Some […]

If you are arrested in Collin County for Assault it is important to begin preparing your defense right away. Collin County law enforcement […]

Permanent Protective Orders in domestic violence cases occur when the victim in a domestic violence assault wants to go forward with a protective […]

A Domestic Violence Protective Order can occur when a citizen is arrested for a domestic violence assault. In Texas when a person is […]

Consent is often the key to the defense in sex assault charges in Texas. This issue comes up most often in “date rape” […]

There are many defenses to Texas aggravated assault charges under Texas law. A defense lawyer can defend these charges by contesting intent, injuries, […]

When a criminal lawyer is going to present a self defense case in a murder or assault case preparation is essential to a […]

Assault by choking is a felony in Texas. If the police are called to a home and they believe there is any evidence […]

Dallas murder cases reached 200 cases for 2020 and many of the suspects arrested remain in jail on high bonds. The record setting […]

Dallas Aggravated Assault charges are on the increase in 2020. The felony offense of Aggravated Assault carries an penalty range from 2 to […]

The Texas Self Defense laws will be the key to the defense in the recent controversial shooting of Austin protester Garrett Foster by […]

Texas Riot charges are rarely brought by Texas law enforcement. Due to arrest made in protest over George Floyd’s death Dallas Police have […]

The issue of using self defense comes up in assault, aggravated assault, and murder cases quite often. Texas, along with all other states, […]

Due to the recent shelter at home orders Texas Child Abuse cases are on the increase according to hospital officials. A Texas hospital […]

Driving While Intoxicated is a serious charge. Injuring someone while driving while intoxicated is an even more serious charge. Intoxication Assault conditions of […]

Retired Texas Ranger baseball player Josh Hamilton was recently indicted for the felony offense Injury to a Child. The arrest affidavit alleges that […]

Governor Abbott issued an executive order Sunday which will have tremendous consequences for person’s charged with pending violent felonies or have been convicted […]

If you are arrested for a domestic violence charge here is a short list of things you do immediately. Hire a criminal attorney […]

Dallas domestic violence cases have been on the increase according to news reports. Since more people are stuck in their homes due to […]

Governor Abbott declared a state of disaster for Texas because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Most people don’t realize that when the Governor of […]

People who are under criminal investigation always ask, ” When should I talk to the police?” People have a natural inclination to want […]

We often hear the term Probable Cause in criminal law. Police officers must have probable cause to make an arrest or to have […]

Planning a viable defense in a criminal case can be a daunting task. A criminal defense attorney can plan his or her defense […]

As of September 1, 2019 the possession of brass knuckles will be legal in Texas. Under current law the possession of brass knuckles […]

Indecent Assault charges may be used to reduce felony sex charges in Texas. Starting in September of 2021 law enforcement agencies across Texas […]

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Friday that increases the penalty for Groping to jail time up to one year and a fine […]

Street racing penalties in Texas are serious. As long as there have been cars there have been people who like to race each […]

When can a search warrant be sealed? In most cases in Texas the Affidavit for a search warrant is public information. The affidavit […]

Brenda Delgado‘s capital murder trial is set to begin next week. Delgado was arrested in Mexico for the murder of Dallas Dentist Kendra […]

People often ask “When can I carry a gun in Texas. The question of when a person can lawfully carry a firearm in […]

“Can I be arrested for dwi/dui if I wasn’t driving? That is a question many people ask who were in the car when […]

New clients often ask this question. ” Does a police officer always have to read the Miranda Rights to you before he can […]

Ordinary citizens often confuse the words robbery and burglary when describing a personal experience they have had as a victim of a crime. […]

A conviction for engaging in organized crime has severe consequences. The Texas Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity statute, better known as Engaging in […]

Extensive prejudicial pretrial publicity can can create tremendous problems for a defendant to get a fair trial. One tool the courts use to […]

The Dallas Police upgraded criminal charges against Austin Shuffield to Aggravated Assault. Under Texas law a person can commit Aggravated Assault by using […]

Recent developments in the Jessie Smollett attack have suggested the victim may have fabricated the story of the assault. If that turns out […]

Should I talk to the police? That’s the first question a citizen who has come under police suspicion has for the criminal defense […]

The criminal charge of Deadly Conduct can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony under Texas law. The misdemeanor penalty range is […]

Shoplifting  can become  a robbery in Texas very quickly. The bad news is a robbery charge in Texas is a felony. How does this […]

The story of Kevin Spacey’s Sex Assault allegation offers several lessons that can be useful in any case dealing with sexual assault allegations. […]

In the early morning hours of New Years Day two security guards were arrested and charged with murder for the shooting death of […]

The Dallas Police and other local law enforcement agencies have increased their arrest and prosecution of felony family violence cases involving the choking […]

Cowboys Wilson cleared in Frisco road rage case Fox4 News, October 11, 2017 Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson was cleared of all charges […]

Dallas Observer, September 29, 2017 When now Dallas County District Judge Brandon Birmingham started working in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office’s cold […]

FOX4News.com Staff, July 11 2017 ARLINGTON, Texas – The two former Arlington Police Department jailers who accepted a plea deal for the 2015 […]

June 20, 2017 Fox4News DALLAS – A Dallas County grand jury will hear an officer-involved shooting where a 21-year old pregnant mother was […]

June 9, 2016 10:20 PM No-bill decision, followed by re-file of charges – now questions of civil rights violations FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – […]

FOX4News.com Staff – May 4, 2017 A rising chorus of voices is calling for fired Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver to be […]

Dallas Morning News, April 1, 2017 AUSTIN — It’s rare for a judge in Texas to move a criminal trial, and even less […]

April 3, 2017, by Fox4News A former basketball player at Dallas Madison High School who was charged with murder in 2014 is now […]

LynnAnne Nguyen, FOX4News.com, Feb 4, 2017 The boyfriend of missing college student Zuzu Verk has been arrested, one day after police say they found […]

Rebecca Lopez, WFAA, December 16, 2016 Defense attorneys shouted at prosecutors during closing arguments as emotions ran high in the trial of Garland […]

Murder cases in Dallas are on the rise this year. This trend has occurred in many major cities across the United States. The […]

Lauren Zakalik, WFAA “And I thought God, I can do this, and I can serve Dallas County in a magnificent way,” says Faith […]

James Rose, FOX4News The court case that wound up protecting the right to burn an American began with an incident in Dallas during […]

Naheed Rajwani, Staff writer / Dallas Morning News / November 10, 2016 A former Ellis County fireman pleaded guilty Thursday to his role […]

James Rose FOX4News.com/ October 7, 2016 DALLAS, Texas – Court documents say a woman accused of ordering a hit on a Dallas dentist […]

Natalie Solis reports / By: FOX4News.com Staff McKINNEY, Texas – The man convicted of kidnapping Christina Morris two year ago will be sentenced by […]

Cullen Davis gave an interview to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently. This was one of the most infamous murder trials in Texas history and a criminal […]

You just learned a warrant has been issued for your arrest. Now what do you do? Here are four things you should do when […]

Can you shoot a person in the back and still claim self defense? A recent shooting involving a Dallas man in a Waffle […]

Once a citizens has been arrested and the case filed with the District Attorney’s Office, there five ways the case can be disposed.

For the first time a Federal Judge has ruled that law enforcement is required to obtain a search warrant before they  can use technology […]

Dallas Aggravated Assault cases are on the rise. The summer seems to bring a higher number of violent crimes and this year is […]

Once you get over the shock of being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, you will need to start preparing for your defense. Here […]

Jail House Snitches are often used as witnesses by the prosecution in criminal trials. These types of witnesses are very dangerous to the […]

Any time a client’s case has been featured in the news media, the client will ask if we should seek a change of […]

A recent survey shows Texas leads the nation in the number of Teacher-Student sexual assault cases. In 2014, there were 116 accusations and convictions. […]

A judge has ruled the the sex assault case against Bill Cosby will mover forward. A trial date will eventually be set and […]

Good criminal defense attorneys always find ways to improve their skills. One way of doing that is by reading and studying great criminal […]

Johnny Manziel made an appearance in a Dallas courtroom today in order to hear Judge Rob Canas review his bond conditions. Manziel was […]

A Frisco teacher plead guilty to the felony offense of Improper Relationship with Student and received 10 years deferred probation. The teacher , […]

Many times the a Dallas criminal defense attorney can stop a criminal prosecution at the grand jury. Every District Attorney’s Office has different policies, but […]

Tanya Eiserer, WFAA, April 22, 2016 Why did the person suspected of killing of gym instructor Missy Bevers dress in police tactical gear […]

Late Friday night an East Texas jury sentenced Bernie Tiede to 99 years in prison for the murder of Marjorie Nugent. The case […]

The state has rested its case in the punishment trial of Bernie Tiede’s. Tiede’s criminal defense attorneys have begun presenting their defense case and hope […]

Garland Police are investigating hit and run accident that resulted in the death of a 51 year old man. Gary Nawrocki was walking in […]

Mexican authorities arrested Dallas murder fugitive Brenda Delgado Friday evening. Delgado was wanted on a capital murder warrant for the murder of dentist […]

The murder trial for Bernie Tiede begins this week in Rusk County. In this trial the sole issue for the jury to consider […]

Mesquite Police arrested five suspects in an armed robbery of a 7-Eleven store early Sunday morning. According to police, three suspects armed with […]

It has been said many times that jury selection is the most important part of a criminal jury trial. If you don’t wind […]

Earlier this week Farmers Branch police officer Kim Johnson was arrested for the felony charges of murder and aggravated assault. Sunday evening Johnson […]

Jailhouse informants have always been a part of the criminal justice system, usually a very seedy part. Recent events in Orange County, California serve as […]

Lauren McGaughy / Austin Bureau / Dallas Morning News Published: 10 March 2016 AUSTIN — Collin County officials continue to balk at the […]

Two men, Ramiro Sanchez and Michael Manriquez, were arrested by Balch Springs police this past Monday for the felony offense of manufacturing an […]

The Dallas Police Department has referred the Johnny Manziel assault case investigation to the Dallas County Grand Jury. This is an interesting development because […]

According to the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Police Department could file assault charges against Cleveland Browns quarterback and former Aggie Johnny Manziel next […]

The criminal trespass arrest of Avi Adelman by DART police brings up some interesting issues for the prosecution. Adelman is a long-time community […]

The Dallas Police Department announced it has increased its DWI Task Force to 18 officers. In recent years the task force had been […]

A Dallas man was found Not Guilty of committing the offense of theft yesterday in a Dallas Courtroom. Ronald Jackson had discovered his 12 […]

The Netflix documentary Making a Murderer has created quite a stir since it’s release this past December. The series tells the story of […]

This Monday Tonya Couch and her attorneys will have an opportunity to try and have a judge lower her one million dollar bond. […]

Polygraph tests often take place when a criminal case is under investigation. The police often request a suspect to submit to a polygraph […]

Tonya Couch is now back on US soil and will soon be headed to Tarrant County to face the felony charge of Hindering […]

The Texas Open Carry law goes into effect January 1, 2016 and it will be interesting to see how law enforcement handles encounters […]

A former Bandidos Motorcycle Club president was found not guilty by an Abilene jury for the felony offense of Aggravated Assault. Jack Lewis was […]

A judge denied defense motions to toss out the three indictments in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s case. Paxton’s defense team has 30 days […]

Texas lawmakers will be addressing the issue of the rise of Improper Relationship cases between teachers and students in Texas. There has been […]

This week a Tarrant County jury rejected Johnny Patton’s self defense claims and found him guilty of the murder of Richard Slatkin and […]

The Dallas Police are investigating a series of 5 robberies that occurred  on the Katy Trail last week. The robberies are suspected of being […]

Jury selection in a murder for hire capital murder case continued in Lubbock Texas. Dr Thomas Dixon is accused of hiring David Shepard […]

Law enforcement officers often find incriminating evidence in individuals vehicles that have been pulled over and arrested for minor traffic violations. One Texas […]

A Williamson County Sheriffs deputy’s arrested Jose Olguin and Madelena Flores for felony offenses of possession of 91 pounds of marijuana and possession […]

The Arlington Police have arrested Marvin Rodriguez and charged with Aggravated Assault Threatening with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Assault causing Serious Bodily […]

In order to get the issue of self-defense in a Texas murder case the defendant must almost always testify at his or her […]

In the great majority of criminal cases a Texas Judge can place a defendant on deferred probation.  However there are certain felonies in […]

A Dallas man was arrested for Aggravated Assault for shooting another man after an argument in the parking lot of Dallas bar. Employees […]

A McKinney wedding planner, Tina Pope, has been arrested for third degree felony charges of theft. Police allege that Pope took money from […]

Texas is a state in which many illegal immigrants reside. When an illegal immigrant is arrested for a criminal charge the criminal defense […]

A former Richardson teacher was sentenced to 12 year sin prison in a Collin County courtroom today. Roger Kessler had plead guilty to […]

Dallas police arrested Michael Scott for aggravated assault for shooting another man. Officers believe the motive for the shooting was retaliation. The victim […]

Two men that had been charged by the Dallas Police with Capital Murder have been released because police have determined that one suspect was […]

Ft Worth police are investigating a shooting at a bar. When they arrived they failed to find a shooting victim. A man was […]

Police arrested a man in Ft. Bend County for felony possession of marijuana after he was pulled over for a traffic stop. Sheriff Deputies […]

A Dallas Doctor has been indicted on five times for of Aggravated Assault and one indictment for Injury to an Elderly person.  Dr. Christopher Duntsch […]

Dallas man Aaron Mitchell told a DMN reporter that he wasn’t at the scene of a shooting involving a 12 year old boy […]

The Neulander murder case in Syracuse New York is a perfect example of the danger of jurors using their smart phones to get […]

A murder case in Pennsylvania focuses on an interesting hearsay exception that sometimes comes up in murder cases. The exception is called a “Dying Declaration“. […]

Dallas Police will refer Criminal Negligent Homicide charges to a Grand Jury in a case in which a Dallas driver ran over a […]

Former Dallas Cowboy CJ Spillman has been indicted for the felony offense of Sexual Assault. Texas Sexual Assault charges have a penalty range […]

The Dallas Police Department will conduct a No Refusal DWI initiative this Independence weekend. What that means is the police will secure a […]

Texas like most states requires Sex Offender registration for certain sex crimes. The Registration period may be for life or a 10 year […]

The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office believes it will be filing about 400 new rape charges in the coming year. The new charges […]

The Open Carry law passed in Texas which means in January we will be dealing with new laws regarding a citizens right to […]

A Cedar Hill woman was arrested Thursday after she left her 2 year old child in the backseat of a hot car. The […]

A Dallas man was arrested for shooting at a Dallas Police Officer early Sunday. Witnesses report that Juvenal Delbosque was attending a high […]

The criminal offense of Injury to a Child is  a very serious charge in Texas which can effect a person’s freedom, custody of […]

Two Dallas women, Denise Ross and Jimmy Clark, who were charged in February with the with Practicing Medicine Without a License could face […]

A 22 year old Dallas man was arrested on two charges of Aggravated Assault. Police allege that Patrick Klaypenh was riding a Dart […]

Dallas Police brought Engaging in Organized Crime charges against four family members this week. Police allege that family members participated in a forced […]

Federal authorities announced that sixteen people were arrested this past Wednesday on Federal Drug Conspiracy charges involving the distribution of cocaine and crack […]

A Ft. Worth man, Joe Ben Gonzales, was arrested by police after he led them on a two hour pursuit from Ft. Worth […]

Protective Order hearings in Texas Family Violence cases can be very important in a successful defense. In order to get the most value […]

An arrest for  Texas Family Violence assault is very serious business. A conviction for an assault will carry lifelong consequences that can effect […]

A Dallas man was arrested on numerous drugs and weapons charges this past Tuesday after Dallas Police officers stopped his vehicle and preformed […]

For the third time this year law enforcement have arrested a Mesquite Independent School District Teacher with the felony charge of Improper Relationship […]

Dallas County has begun an aggressive program to seize guns from anyone convicted or placed on probation for of a Dallas domestic violence […]

Cross-examination of the witnesses are the keys to a successful defense in a criminal trial. To conduct an effective cross-examination the criminal lawyer […]

Dallas business owners have stepped up efforts to detect and arrest persons they believe have committed shoplifting. Shoplifting activity has been on the […]

Assaults against Security Guards are third degree felonies in Texas. If the assault occurred against a Security Guard who was preforming their duties […]

Texas has seen a rise in arrest for charges of assaults against Security Guards. In recent years the Texas Legislature gave persons who worked a security officers special […]

Plano West football star Soso Jamabo was arrested for the felony offense of Evading Arrest in Kaufman County on Saturday night. Under Texas […]

On Tuesday the Supreme Court made another important ruling on a search and seizure case involving prolonged traffic stops and canine searches. In […]

A criminal lawyer must know which potential jurors who would do the most harm to his client. The number one goal a criminal […]

Drug Free Zones can be critical in Texas drug cases. These are called DFZ by law enforcement and prosecutors.The prosecution uses the finding of […]

When proving a criminal case prosecutors usually have to prove “intent”. However when a prosecutors bring a case of Engaging in Organized Criminal […]

The Texas Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity is a powerful tool used by law enforcement and Texas prosecutors to enhance criminal charges. Generally […]

Rolling Stone Magazine has retracted it’s November story about an alleged gang rape that occurred at a fraternity party at the University of […]

Dallas, like all other cities in Texas, has seen an increase in Dallas Doctor Shopping Charges. The abuse of prescription drugs has greatly increased in recent years. In […]

Everyday people use social media more and more. Everyone communicates by texting or other messaging systems. More and more people post their views […]

Opening statements are very important in Texas Criminal trials. Under Texas law the defense has a right to make an opening statement but […]

The arrest of Robert Durst for a cold case murder in California reminds us of three valuable lessons. 1. Murder cases are always open. Like all […]

I was talking an old veteran criminal attorney the other day about what were the most important factors a person considers when they are trying […]

Dallas residents may have watched WFAA new story on a luxury car found abandoned on the North Dallas Toll road Saturday night. The […]

Almost all police officers use the HGN test as part of their field sobriety test when investigating Dallas DUI charges. Like all field […]

The recent news story of a car theft ring uncovered after a car chase and shooting of a suspect looks to be the […]

When a person is arrested and booked into jail law enforcement personal will search the arrested citizens personal effects during the book in […]

Law enforcement officers will some times seize criminal evidence with out a warrant when they are in the course of their community care-taking […]

The capital Murder trial of Eddie Routh who is accused of murdering Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield began with opening statements yesterday. The […]

The case of a fatal shooting of an individual by a tow truck driver raises the issue of legal justification of deadly force when […]

The Dallas Morning news recently published a story of the former SMU Law School Dean arrested for Solicitation of Prostitution. According to the […]

  What a person is being detained or in  police custody and the authorities obtain consent to search the following 8 factors will be […]

When a police officer arrest or detains a citizen they often request consent of the citizen to search their vehicle. This is warrantless […]

Texas shoplifting charges are covered under the Theft section of the Texas Penal Code. Texas shoplifting charges are usually misdemeanor offenses and can […]

Dallas residents may have read the story of a Dallas theft case that has been delayed for over six years. The case involved […]

The Texas Criminal Trespass law is often used by apartment complex managers or retail store managers  in an attempt to keep individuals they have […]

Every time a Dallas Police officer makes an arrest for DUI he or she will request the suspect to submit to a breath […]

Recent news reports revealed that the Dallas District Attorney’s Office dismissed criminal charges against 9 the Mayor of Hutchins and 8 other defendants who […]

The Dallas Morning News recently printed a follow up article on the Kaufman Prosecutor Murder case which resulted in the conviction of Eric Williams. […]

Home invasion charges were filed against four individuals for Aggravated Robberies that occurred in Frisco, Allen, and Coppell. According to news reports  the […]

  Dallas residents may have read about Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Adkins recent citation for Class C Assault. Dallas Police issues a […]

The Texas Court of Criminal appeals has ruled a Texas law that allowed the police to draw blood from a suspected drunk driver […]

Dallas residents may have seen this recent story in the Dallas Observer regarding a Dallas Police Officer arrested for Felony Domestic Violence charges. […]

One of the defenses available in Texas criminal law is Mistake of Fact found in Section 8.02 of the Texas Penal Code. Mistake of fact […]

Texas Burglary charges are extremely serious and can have life long consequences. The individual facts of each case will determine how strong the […]

A Dallas Murder trial began Monday involving the beating death of a 72 year old woman. The case was featured in the A&E […]

Police often file Texas Burglary charges when they have only circumstantial evidence. In fact it is rare when the police actually arrest a […]

Texas burglary crimes are extremely serious. If a house or building is involved then the penalty range can extend up to life in […]

Criminal informants often become part of Texas criminal cases. This is especially true in drug dealing prosecutions. The police use confidential informants to […]

To conduct a successful jury selection in a Texas criminal trial the criminal attorney must make the jurors feel that they can give […]

In a criminal trial the most most important part of any trial is the jury selection. Jury selection is by far the most […]

Dallas Residents may have watched news reports about a man arrested after a standoff with Grand Prairie police officers. Police say Jose Silva […]

The Adrian Peterson indictment for the felony charge on Injury to a Child illustrates how emotional the public can be for such a […]

One of the most effective ways to destroy a the credibility of a witness is to cross-examine a witness on statements or circumstance’s showing […]

Cross-examination is the most important tool a criminal attorney has in his arsenal. When preparing for trial an experienced criminal attorney should keep […]

I believe a criminal lawyer can always increase his or her skills by reading about the great criminal lawyers of the past. One […]

Texas Date Rape charges are very serious and can carry life changing consequences. If you are being investigated for Texas Date Rape charges […]

Responding to increased scrutiny on college date rape allegations California Legislators passed a Yes Means Yes law this past week. The new law […]

The aquittal of a Southeast Texas man serves as an excellent example of the how a sympathetic defendant can effect a jury’s verdict. […]

On Thursday Denton County jury sentenced a Ponder man to life in prison for plotting to have his wife murdered. The trial had lasted […]

When using self-defense when defending as murder case the defendant must admit to  causing the act the ended the victims life. Usually that […]

Texas authorities filed an arrest warrant for a Minnesota man for a murder in a Denton hotel room that happened over 30 years […]

A Collin County judge ruled that teenager Adam Staup must stand trial as an adult on a murder charge. The case involves the […]

Texas self-defense law is some times called an ordinary defense as opposed to an affirmative defense. That is important because under Texas law […]

Under Texas Self-Defense law the defendant must almost always testify at trial in order to get a self-defense instruction to a jury. At […]

Under Texas  Husband-Wife privilege certain communication are considered privileged and the state can be prevented from obtaining testimony regarding privileged matters. This rule […]

Dallas Police arrested two men after an hour long chase high that involved multiple police agencies and a helicopter. Texas Felony Evading Arrest […]

Prosecutors will some times subpoena an accused spouse to a criminal trial. In Texas there exist a Husband -Wife Privilege which may prevent […]

Dallas residents may have recently read of the arrest of a retired teacher for the felony offenses of Sexual Assault of a Child […]

Last month  an Austin attorney was arrested for Solicitation of Prostitution. The arrest warrant alleges that the defendant responded to an on-line ad […]

A continuing series in the Dallas Morning News highlights Dallas Domestic violence cases. Domestic violence is a serious issue that has tragic effects on […]

If a Texas police officer smells alcohol on a drivers breath then there is about a 95 per cent  chance the driver will […]

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that police officers would be required to obtain a search warrant before searching the contents of the person’s cell […]

Texas felony assault choking charges are very serious and steps should be taken to defend against the allegation immediately. These case often become […]

Felony Assault Choking charges are often filed when the police are called to answer a domestic violence report. In 2008 the Texas legislature changed the […]

Dallas Cowboy player Josh Brent was released from jail over the weekend and placed in a residential treatment facility for 45 days. Brent […]

In any criminal trial it is essential that the criminal attorney be able to destroy the credibility of a witness if at all […]

In a criminal jury trial the credibility of the witnesses is the key to a guilty or not guilty verdict. If the credibility […]

A Desoto teacher was arrested on two different charges of sexual assault this past week. The teacher worked in the alternative school in […]

A study made by the experts at Force Science Institute has found that experts can not accurately determine the location of a shooter […]

Dallas residents may have read news stories in Time Magazine regarding the epidemic of rape allegations on college campuses. Here in Dallas their […]

This week a Dallas County Grand Jury declined to indict two men for a murder that occurred in February. The defendants had been […]

Texas law enforcement agencies have announced task force crackdowns for DUI and BWI violators for Memorial Day weekend. All over the state police […]

When selecting a jury in Texas the criminal lawyer must always ask jurors about reasonable doubt. Under Texas law the jury will not […]

The Dallas Police Department has a DWI task force which targets suspected impaired drivers. When these officers pull over a driver they will […]

Dallas Organized Retail Theft charges have increased in recent months. The Dallas Police Department has targeted this type of offense and is using […]

The Texas Improper Photography law has come under close scrutiny in recent months. Last fall an appeals court in San Antonio struck down […]

In every trial a criminal attorney must decide if he or she will call he defendant to testify. If the criminal attorney is […]

FIVE GOALS FOR GETTING SELF DEFENSE EVIDENCE READY FOR TRIAL Texas self defense law can be very helpful to the criminal lawyer who […]

 Magazine announced it’s 2014 list of Best Lawyers In Dallas this past week and I was humbled to once again be included in […]

Expert witnesses can be extremely valuable witnesses when proving a self-defense case in trial. There 3 types of experts that are typically called […]

I wanted to send a shout out to Craig Henry who is a great criminal lawyer. Last year I had the privilege of […]

To win a Texas self defense case the criminal lawyer must extensively prepare by locating witnesses and gathering supporting documents to prove the […]

In order to win a self defense case the criminal attorney must begin preparing the case at the moment he or she is retained. Gathering the facts […]

A short time ago I read about  Austin attorney  Gavin Villareal’s recent jury duty experience. There is another interesting article written by Benson Varghese “10 […]

The other way to get a victims prior violent acts into evidence is through the First Aggressor theory. This scenario occurs when the […]

Under Texas self-defense law the “victim’s” previous violent acts can become admissible at trial under two theories. This type of evidence is extremely […]

Texas self-defense law can be a powerful weapon when defending a client charged with murder or assault. Every society has laws for self-defense. Juries understand […]

When a criminal lawyer is able to develop a good self-defense case in a felony assault or murder case he or she should […]

The issue of self-defense often arises when a person is arrested for murder or assault charges. The best criminal attorney’s use self-defense facts […]

The Dallas Morning News has a story on the annual Crimes Against Women’s Conference which begins today. Family violence advocates, prosecutors and police […]

A self-defense claim can be a very effective weapon for a criminal lawyer to use against any type of assault or murder charge. […]

Austin attorney Gavin Villareal recently wrote an article in the Texas Lawyer about his experience of going though jury selection in a Travis County […]

Many people are surprised to learn that our appellate courts have ruled that it is fine for police officers to use deception when they […]

It was recently reported on WFAA that the Dallas Police have reopened their investigation into the 2010 shooting death of Tobias Mackey by […]

I f you have been arrested for driving while intoxicated it is critical that you request a hearing within 15 days for several […]

Dallas residents were out in force at various St. Patrick day celebrations this weekend. The Dallas police were also out in force for […]

1. Do not consent to an interview with the police. It is a natural instinct to want to cooperate and interview with a […]

Dallas resident’s may have read in the Dallas Morning News that a recent study shows the Dallas sex trade generates 99 million dollars […]

Abraham Lincoln is known as one of our country’s greatest presidents. Prior to becoming President Lincoln was a very successful trial lawyer and […]

Under Texas law a judge will make the final decision as to whether a defendant’s bond should be lowered. There are many reasons a […]

Spring break is here which means thousands of college students will be headed to Texas beaches to celebrate a week off from school. […]

How should a lawyer proceed if the client is charged as an accomplice or party under Texas law? First and foremost the criminal […]

Texas has seen an increase in arrest for the felony offense of Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student in the past year. The […]

Under Texas law, as in most states, a person can be charged with a criminal offense as an accomplice. If a person assist, […]

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has ruled that a person retains a legitimate expectation of privacy in the contents of his cell […]

Under Texas law the felony offense of aggravated assault may be proven in different ways depending on the facts of each case. When there is […]

Under Texas law any defendant who is charged with a felony has a right to an examining trial. Texas examining trials allows the […]

The Dallas domestic violence case involving Judge Carlos Cortez is a good example of the national trend in police investigations in domestic violence […]

Texas self-defense laws are available in many assault cases. A person arrested on assault charges know that there are serious ramifications. Any crime […]

When the subject of best criminal trial movies is discussed many people select To Kill a Mockingbird. I love that movie but as […]

No Bills by a Texas Grand Jury for Murder is rare, but even more rare is a No Bill when the murder involves the […]

Dallas police Chief Brown wants his officers to utilize social media more often and encourages officers to issue tweets from crime scenes or […]

Last week Dallas residents like everyone else in the country were shocked to learn of the tragic death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman due […]

An article from The Jury Expert Blog discusses the defense strategy of blaming the crime on another suspect. Often times a criminal defense […]

Texas murder cases are easily the most intense investigations conducted by law enforcement. When a citizen has been violently murdered the police assign their […]

The punishment verdict in the Josh Brent Intoxication Manslaughter trial has received a lot of attention in the media. There was public outrage that […]

The cause of death is the major question in the investigation of the death of a 10 year old boy in Frisco Texas. […]

Dallas residents know that there has been a public push to stop domestic violence. In recent years, police officers in Texas have been […]

Texas lie detector test or polygraph examinations as they are officially called, often come up in criminal cases. The police will use polygraphs […]

I have just finished reading Not Guilty-The Story Of Samuel S. Leibowitz by Fred Pasley. It is a great biography that was written in […]

In a rare decision a Texas Murder Conviction was overturned on appeal. The 2nd Court of Appeals reversed the murder conviction of Charles […]

Dallas Police Chief Brown recently change police department shooting policies on officer shootings allowing a 72 hour cooling off period before the officer […]

A Texas prosecutor has been charged with the felony offense of Aggravated Assault in Harris County. Prosecutor Susan Sciacca was charged with the […]

For any criminal lawyer who wants to keep improving their jury selection skills I suggest they read and re-read Mark Bennett’s 16 Rules for Better Jury […]

The Dallas Intoxication Manslaughter case of Ex Dallas Cowboy Player Josh Brent is going to go to the jury this Tuesday. Both sides […]

Dallas area residents may have recently read about a former Tarrant County Sherriff’s deputy Jonathan Helm who was convicted of one count sexual assault and […]

I am always interested in other lawyers’ observations on jury selection. A criminal lawyer can always learn from others. Earlier this week I […]

One of the greatest criminal lawyers of this past century was Jerry Giesler. Gielsler began to practice law in Las Angeles in 1910 under the […]

In Texas almost every criminal investigation the investigating officer will eventually contact the person who is being accused of a crime and ask them to […]

A Dallas Animal Cruelty case was featured in the Dallas Morning News today. The defendant plead guilty as a jury was called up […]

2013 showed an increase in the felony charge of Improper Relationship Between Teacher and Student cases in Texas. It seemed like these types of […]

A study of 700 plus felony trials in Florida revealed that older jurors are more likely to convict than younger jurors. Researchers found that when […]

I was recently quoted in the Texas Lawyer Blog regarding the reasons the Death Penalty verdicts have dropped nation wide and in Texas. […]

  I often read biographies of famous criminal trial lawyers. They have lead very interesting lives and one can always learn from other […]

Eric Nicholson of the Dallas Observer makes a very good point in his recent post regarding Lt. Governors David Dewhurst’s comments expressing outrage […]

Recently The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed The Court of Appeals in Burch v. State, 401 S.W.3d 634(Tex. Crim.App.2013) reversed and remanded a […]

Exempted from discovery under the Michael Morton Act is “work product of counsel for the state in the case and their investigators and […]

I just finished reading Anatomy of a Murder and I found it to be one of the most accurate novels about a criminal […]

The Michael Morton Act will apply to all criminal cases that are filed as of January 1st, 2014. It represents the first significant […]

If your case was set on a day where the court was closed due to the recent ice storm; you need to contact […]

The great criminal defense blog, Simple Justice, has an excellent post about juries and their ability to follow jury instructions. The case cited occurred in Stamford, […]

Well known criminal justice blogger Grits for Breakfast recently raised a very good point regarding Dallas Police Chief Brown’s policy change allowing a police […]

It is becoming more and more popular for police agencies to secure blood tests from people charged with dwi, drunk driving, or dui. […]

   Unfortunately, you cannot rely on your spouse to do the right thing and try to stop the bogus charges of family violence […]

Anyone held in jail for a criminal charge should be aware that every phone call they make from jail is not only recorded […]

Any good criminal trial lawyer is always searching for ways to improve their trial skills. One way to do that is to study […]

WFAA filmed the first trial of Lee Harvey Oswald and aired the edited version in June. The courtroom we used was in the […]

This past year I was asked to participate in a mock trial of Lee Harvey Oswald by the State Bar of Texas, The […]

Following up from my previous post, reproduced below is an opening statement from the Lee Harvey Oswald defense team.  I believe this would […]

For the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of President Kennedy, my law partner Toby Shook and I were asked to participate in […]

Date Rape refers to a sexual assault case in which the two people have gone out on a date and at some point […]

The holiday season is upon us once again which means lots of office parties and celebrations. The holiday season also means that law enforcement […]

With todays social media more and more lawyers are using the internet to find out information on jurors. Now when a jury panel […]

Now that texting has become one of the primary forms of communication in our society it’s not surprising that a person’s text often […]

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20131108-former-texas-prosecutor-gets-jail-for-wrongful-conviction-that-sent-man-to-prison-for-nearly-25-years.ece Ken Anderson the prosecutor who convicted  an innocent Michael Morton for the murder of his wife agreed to serve 10 days in […]

The Jury deliberating in the punishment phase of a Capital Murder case in Dallas County was sent to their hotel last night after […]

Today I was asked by KRLD about the goal in  closing arguments in the penalty phase of a Death Penalty case that is being tried […]

From the Dallas Morning News — Experts: Charges likely in Dallas officer’s shooting of mentally ill man A Dallas police officer who was […]

You’re at your desk when you receive a panicky phone call from a valued client asking your advice because the client has just […]

www.shookandgunter.com Healthcare fraud has been an investigative priority since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act established a National Healthcare Fraud and Abuse […]

The purpose of sex offender registration is to keep children are safer from dangerous pedophiles. According to the Center for Missing and Exploited […]

Sex crimes have been increasing in Texas over the last several years. In fact, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, over […]

The Texas Department of Transportation reports that there was at least one fatal car accident every day in 2010, with a total of […]