Confessions, Good for the Soul, Not Your Houston Criminal Defense

Confessing one's sins can help a person feel renewed.  However if your charged with a crime, like take for instance, Capital Murder, it might not be a good idea to make that confession in the local newspaper.

Today the Houston Chronicle ran a front page story about the confession of a teenager. It wasn't about Lindsay Lohan in a Disney movie, rather if was the portrayal of an 18 year old charged with Capital Murder for allegedly killing a classmate's mother in a murder for hire killing. A few days ago the Chronicle ran a story of another accused Capital Murderer and his details of why he allegedly bludgeoned the mother of his children to death with a crowbar. A killing he claims was justified.

Memo to those accused of crimes, the Houston Chronicle isn't your friend and will not make things better for you. Read the Sports page, comics or whatever your interest is, but don't do interviews detailing your allegedly illegal acts. It might be a great read for everyone else but it will be detrimental to your defense.

If you are someone you know is in need of a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer, call Texas Board Certifed Attorney Mario Madrid at 713-877-9400.

A Happy Ending To A Houston Felony Case...

I am going to preface this blog entry by saying that I am not one to typically brag about myself on this blog, but this case warrants a mention.  As a criminal defense lawyer in Houston, I hate to admit that most of my clients do not stay in touch with me until they need my help again or someone they know needs my help.  Today, I was fortunate enough to receive some uplifting news from a former client's mother.  Her son made both of us proud after he was able to secure a three year worldwide modeling contract.  Previously, I was able to get a very favorable outcome on his felony case.  This is one of the many reasons that I chose my profession to help others. 

Could the New Texting While Driving Law Lead to More DWI Arrests in Houston?

I have mentioned that texting while driving is more dangerous then driving while intoxicated before on this blog.  Studies after studies have shown this to be true.  While Mothers Against Drunk Drivers would argue against that position it is clearly a problem throughout the United States.  Not surprisingly, the federal government is formally banning truck and bus drivers from sending text messages while driving.  It is only a matter of time before similar legislation reaches the state of Texas.  Already small municipalities like West University ban texting while driving.  So you better send those messages while you can or better yet wait until you arrive at your destination.

By having this law in effect it will arm police agencies with a another flimsy reason to stop someone while driving.  Despite the unlikelihood that an officer will be able to prove that a person was texting when they were driving it will not matter because when a DWI arrest is made the driver rarely gets ticketed for the traffic violation.  The alleged traffic violation is the probable cause for the stop.

Contacting A Houston Criminal Defense Attorney

We enjoy reading emails from people, but lately we have received some that are way too long. to read.  If you can not say what you want to say in one or two paragraphs please pick up the phone and call our office.  We are very easy to reach when we are not in trial.  It would save you a lot of your time.  I must admit that when I receive a long email from our contact form on this blog I think it is something that has been cut/pasted and emailed  to several other criminal attorneys in Houston.  While that might not be the case, I am conscious that I am not giving as much attention as I would  if had received a phone call.

If you are seeking the help of a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer please call our law firm at (713) 242-1779..

The Best Houston DWI Lawyer or an Overhyped Prospect?

Major League Baseball Spring training is around the corner this year.  Like most every year there will be a handful of prospects that will be deemed the next superstars of baseball.  Last year Matt Wieters, catcher for Baltimore Orioles, was the can't miss prospect of 2009.  While he did well for a rookie he has a long way to go before he becomes an elite catcher.  This year Stephen Strasburg, a Washington Nationals pitcher, is ticketed for stardom.  Over the years there have been many players that were in the same position.  For example, Brien Taylor was the Yankees first pick in the 1991 major league baseball draft, but was never able to reach the major leagues for any team.

Similarly, I know there are Houston DWI Attorneys that hype themselves up tremendously.  They only talk about how great they are without listening to what the client needs.  They guarantee the outcome of a case before even going to court and "bad mouth" other DWI lawyers. Here are some suggestions if you confront one of these attorneys.  First, go to the Texas State Bar to see if they have been sanctioned.  Second, go to avvo.com where lawyers are independently ranked by that website.  Third, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they are listed with them and how they are rated. Fourth, search online for specific information on the attorney.  Lastly, get all the guarantees in writing before becoming their client. 

Houston DWI Attorney Sharing Interesting Facts and Truths about Young Adult Drinking and Driving

Drinking and then driving is a very costly, unhealthful and dangerous combination for anyone but this post mostly provides facts about drinking and driving for young adults who have either newly started to drive or have newly started to drink.  That is why, as DWI Attorneys we advise you to let your young adult to know about the affects of driving and driving. They should know about the laws about drinking and driving in Texas and they should know how alcohol can affect their body system and impair their driving abilities. Being more aware than before, the young adult can make better decisions about drinking alcohol and then driving.

Some facts about alcohol that everyone should know of are that alcohol can affect your brain; it reduces coordination, reflexes, vision and causes memory lapses and poor judgment. This is another reason why a intoxicated person may make a bad decision and consider themselves fit enough to drive. If you consume alcohol regularly, then know that alcohol can negatively affect every organ of your body and get absorbed in your bloodstream increasing the risk of many diseases. It reduces your self-control, depresses your nervous system and can produce a risky behavior in you. A large amount of alcohol consumption can even cause alcohol poisoning which can be fatal.

In Texas, having a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or more while driving is one of the three ways the government may prove that a person was intoxicated when driving. Even though different people's bodies respond differently to varying levels of alcohol, the 0.08 limit has been set. by the Texas legislature.  According to certain studies, two in five Americans will be involved in alcohol-related, (but not intoxicated) car accidents at one point in their lives and it is also estimated to be the leading cause of death for many American young adults. Factors like fatigue, lack of food, health, emotions and drugs (prescribed or non-prescribed) can actually increase the effects of alcohol on your body. Although, such facts about alcohol may not seem that significant but when you make the decision of drinking and then driving, these facts can become crucial to determine your Blood Alcohol Content.  If pulled over by the police they may ask you to submit to field sobriety tests and later a breathalyzer test that you are not forced to do. Furthermore, they will threaten you that your driver's license will be suspended if you do not take the tests.  That is not true!  You have the absolute right to refuse all tests and keep your license from being suspended.

Nevertheless, in such a situation you will always be better off hiring a DWI attorney, especially if you have a previous DWI conviction. A DWI lawyer who is reputable and experienced can make a lot of difference in your case. He or she can prepare you mentally for this experience, guide you about your DWI case and may even be successful enough to disprove the authenticity of the evidence of the prosecution.

Although, a DWI offense can be frustrating and can hamper your future life, especially if you are just starting out in your career; it still helps tremendously to have a DWI lawyer who can mentally support you and keep you better informed about your trial. At any cost, educate yourself about driving while intoxicated, know about the laws and try to avoid drinking before you are of the legal age.  You can either drink and not drive while intoxicated or avoid drinking all together if you want to avoid a false DWI arrest!

If you need the assitance of a DWI Lawyer in Houston please call our law firm at (713) 242-1779.

Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

As a Houston Criminal Defense lawyer I look forward to my next trial.  However, after a year of going to court and trying cases I now look forward toward to my docket slowing down.  Typically this happens on the last two weeks of December since this is the only time that since jury summons are not mailed out during this time of the year.  For this reason, I try to catch up on the things I neglect throughout the year.  For example, I try to schedule as many doctor appointments as I can during this time and take my longest vacation of the year.

Once the new year starts it is a different story.  The month of January is already full for me with trials.  I have at least one case set for trial each week of the month, if not more.  Luckily, I try to avoid both myself and my business partner being in trial at the same time so we do not neglect our otter clients.  At The Martinez Law Firm we appreciate that our clients do not want to be waiting around all morning when they could be back at work.  It never fails that the first two weeks of January are go, go, go since the courts have delayed trials from end of the previous year.