Houston Criminal Law Journal by Texas Lawyers covering DWI Drunk Driving Arrests, Criminal Defense Charges, Drug Possession, and Assault

Today is July 4th, the celebration of our nation's birth. It was on this day in 1776 that our forefathers risking their lives, declared their independence. To remember and celebrate this we offer you the Declaration of Independence.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. — That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. - Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock trial from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighbouring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the united States of America, in general congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. - And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

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In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch defends a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of the rape of a white woman, Mayella Ewell. Despite significant evidence of Tom's innocence, the jury convicts him. 

We have come a long way since the time that this book was set in. But have we? A couple of weeks ago a man in Harris County was on trial for Capital Murder. During jury selection, while the judge was explaining general legal concepts like the presumption of innocence in an attempt to pick a jury of 12 fair and unbiased individuals, one potential juror explained that he could not give the defendant a fair trial. The reason, because the defendant was black.

Although the potential juror's response may come as shock to many, the honesty is welcomed. To admit prejudice to a roomful of strangers cannot be easy. To admit it to the Honorable Judge Marc Carter, an African-American himself, had to be even tougher. However, what would have happened if it wasn't admitted? The defendant may have ended up with a juror finding him guilty based nothing more than prejudice. The State would not have to prove a thing.

We live in a multicultural and diverse city. We interact with people from all walks of life. But that does not guarantee a fair trial if you are ever accused of a crime. That does not guarantee that you will be presumed innocent. It is up to all attorneys to vigorously defend their client and to strenuously question potential jurors to ensure that their client receive a fair trial. You will surely be found guilty if a jury already thinks you are guilty before a shred of evidence has been presented.

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Today while at the courthouse an attorney asked for advice. I have absolutely no problem with that. I think its a great idea to ask your peers their opinion on legal issues. But this question was something a client should be asking his attorney and an attorney should know the answer. If an attorney is asking the question they shouldn't be practicing criminal defense law.

The question was whether his client was eligible for probation after having served time in TDC for a felony conviction. The answer is no. Not to say that defendants with previous felony convictions don't sometimes get probation with a judges approval either through a Presentence Investigation or through a plea bargain after prosecutor is convinced based on the facts that probation is warranted.

How can an attorney represent someone accused of a felony and not have a basic understanding of the law? It reminds me of the many calls we get asking whether someone can get their record cleared or expunged after a conviction. I always inquire as to what their attorney advised. Some attorneys actually advise that the conviction can be expunged. Other times the client failed to ask what the consequences were.

It is the responsibility of an attorney to explain the options and consequences of a particular legal matter. If you are charged with a crime and paying an attorney to represent you, you should expect the attorney to explain the process and options so that you can make an informed decision. You don't want to be in a position years down the road with a conviction preventing you from getting a job or apartment. We always encourage our clients to come into our office and sit down and discuss the case. You should expect this of your attorney.

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Watching the nightly news I came across a story of a man accused of shooting and killing his wife. It was reported that the couple had 3 children and the victim was 7 months pregnant. The incident was shocking, sad and tragic.

The man has been charged with Capital Murder. While he was in handcuffs the defendant was asked a question by the media and responded that, "She had it coming." Not a good response.

When an accused is charged with serious violent crimes like Murder and Capital Murder, cases are usually tried on punishment. Anyone accused with a crime is innocent until proven guilty, but many of these cases are tried because punishment cannot be resolved.

The defense has to prepare mitigation evidence for the punishment phase of trial in the event that part of trial is reached. A defendant does not help himself or his defense by making these type of statements. If I and many others saw this on the news you know that the Harris County District Attorney's Office is watching and can't wait to use this at trial. The simple and easy rule is: Keep your mouth shut.

If you need a Houston, Texas criminal defense attorney contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038.

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While I understand that the Harris County District Attorney's Office (HCDAO) has a policy of not offering undocumented defendants probation for any case the law disagrees with their position.  Despite the fact that I understand the policy does not mean that I have to agree with it. 

 Recently, I was representing a young woman that was charged with a misdemeanor.  Her parents brought her to the United States when she was just an infant.  She did not play a role in coming to this country herself.  She went to school in Houston and is currently attending college.  She is on target to graduate in one year from  the University of Houston.  She has never visited the country where she was born.  The life she knows is in Houston.  However, according to the HCDAO because she is undocumented she is not being offered the chance to complete probation as punishment.  This is merely a political position by the HCDAO.  The HCDAO is without merit and mistaken.  In fact, some younger prosecutors that I have come across are under the belief that she is not eligible to receive probation at all.  Luckily, this is not the case.  The HCDAO may not offer her probation, but this does not mean that she is precluded from receiving this from a judge or a jury.  When the HCDAO sets a policy it needs to inform the junior prosecutors that despite making this their policy it does not make it the law.

Para personas hispanas:  Escoje un abogado en Houston que hablar Espanol!  Uds. puede recibir probation sin embargo que este en este paiz sin documentos. 

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Frequently, clients think they only have one option in their criminal case.  This could not be further from the truth.  First, everyone is presumed to be NOT Guilty when accused of a crime.  Accordingly, a client has the option of stating that they are" not guilty" or "guilty" of the alleged conduct.  There is a third option of stating "no contest", but this is equivalent to a guilty plea.  Second, just because a person would like to plead guilty means that they must accept the offer made by the prosecution.  In fact, an accused has the option of letting the judge or a jury decided their punishment despite the desire to plead guilty.  Recently, I had a client that did not want to accept the prosecutor's offer as well as not want to go trial on the case.  Luckily for him I was able to convince the judge to give him what he was seeking.  Third, if the client does not want to accept the prosecution's offer, and does not like the judge's idea of the proper punishment they may decide to let a jury decide what the appropriate punishment in their case should be.  This allows the accused to plead guilty to the jury, but in the meantime ask them for the punishment they were seeking from the prosecutor and judge.

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For some reason, a lot of people think that a criminal attorney's work is done after they finish with court in the morning.  I frequently hear "Oh he must have an afternoon tee time" when a a lawyer is trying to move along a conversation with his client especially when they are trying to move along the conversation quickly.  I for one, rarely have time for an afternoon round of golf.  In fact, I am just as busy upon returning to the office as I am in court in the morning.  Take for example this afternoon. Before entering my office I had someone waiting for me and before I finished with that person I had two more appointments waiting.  I try to space my appointments a hour apart to give enough time to see all of them.  When I do not have people waiting for me I return all my messages before starting my afternoon work.  The afternoons are the time a trial lawyer prepares for his upcoming trials by getting his motions ready for filing reviewing the law, and tying up any loose ends.  Most of the time, the work day is over for me before I get a chance to think about the 18 holes that I missed playing.

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This is a common question for a criminal defense attorney.  In Houston, Harris County, Texas most lawyers do not get involved in the initial bonding process.  A lawyer may go to the initial court appearance to attempt to get a client's bond reduced so it is easier for them to bond out of jail, but this is only done when court is in session typically, Monday through Friday during normal working hours.  Most of the time when someone is frantically trying to make a bond it is not during the court's working hours.

The type of person that calls me with the this question is usually someone that has never bonded anyone out of jail previously, or thought they would ever be doing something like that in their lifetime.  The bond is based on the person's criminal history, the nature of the offense, and their ties to the community.  If you would like to view the bonding schedule for Harris County, Texas please click here for a felony and here for a misdemeanor. 

When bonding someone out of jail a person has two options.  They may pay the bond themselves, entirely with their own cash.  While I understand that is easier said then done in the present economic times I would highly recommend this option. One of the benefits of this is that if a cash bond is paid it is eventually refunded in full two months after the case is finished.  Also the person would not be subject to any other contractual obligations other than reporting to their court dates.  Unfortunately, most people do not have the entire bond amount readily available so the second option is using a bonding company to help them bond the person out of jail.  A bonding company charges a fee in the range of 10-15% of the bond amount.  Once the fee is paid it is not returned.  Nevertheless, I would think paying the fee beats sitting in jail while the case is resolved.  Most bonding offices are open 24 hours a day to assist potential clients.  One of the drawbacks of using a bonding company are the contractual obligations.

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As a criminal lawyer in Houston I always get questions from my friends about why more athletes do not get charged with crimes.  They understand that some sports are violent, but a lot of athletes go beyond the game.  For the most part, the Government has refrained from charging athletes for behavior that would be considered criminal.  I think the action of this Cuban baseball player would be considered to be criminal behavior. In fact, it is likely he would be charged with aggravated assault in Houston Texas.

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 You've no doubt read the recent news regarding Toyota Camry recalls. I came across an online story of a man convicted of vehicular manslaughter in Minnesota. Koua Fong Lee was sentenced to 8 years in prison after being accused of speeding and crashing into cars in front of him killing 2 people and paralyzing a third person. Lee contends that his car sped up on its own and is now asking that his 1996 Toyota Camry be reexamined. Toyota has issued a recall for several models and years of its vehicles, but the 1996 Camry is not one of them.

The case highlights the challenges with prosecuting and defending car accidents that may or may not rise to criminal negligence. The Houston Press recently wrote a story regarding the Harris County District Attorney's Office prosecution of car accidents that they believe rise to the level of Criminal Negligent Homicide.

Catherine Evans, Chief of the Harris County District Attorney's Office Vehicular Crimes Section, is quoted explaining the factors that are taken into consideration when deciding whether to charge someone. "What were the ambient conditions? What was the weather like? The lighting, the equipment on the different vehicles if you had different vehicles involved. You're also looking at the behavior and the actions of the victim, the other driver in the case, because it's often a situation of two people making a series of bad choices or acts, so you need to have an understanding of what caused it or how those events contributed to the crash."

If you live in a big city like Houston that is big on highways and not so big on public transportation you will spend a significant time on the public roads. Accidents happen everyday all over town. Sometimes the result of these accidents is death. But is the death as a result of an accident criminal? It could be. Drive safe.

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This is a question I get often by people that call me because they are scared to go to their initial court date without a Houston criminal attorney.  I am embarrassed that I live in a county where this is the case.  The reality is that a criminal court judge should not revoke a bond and put someone back in jail so long as the accused attends their court setting on time, has not been charged with a new crime since their arrest,  and because they cannot afford to hire a criminal lawyer.  Nevertheless, most judges will scold the accused for not hiring a lawyer in a timely fashion.  Thus, do not let anyone scare you into thinking that if you do not hire a lawyer for your first court date in a criminal case that you will be re-arrested in Harris County, Texas.  This is not true for theft, DWI, Assault or any other type of case in Houston.

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Early voting for the 2010 Texas primaries has started this week.  I am not going to suggest what candidate to vote for, but I have noticed some things that annoy me.  First and foremost, a candidate for any criminal bench should be a practicing Houston criminal attorney.  It is arrogant that someone that has not worked as a defense attorney or a prosecutor believes that they can magically put on a black robe and be able to preside over criminal cases.  If you have never even seen a DWI trial how is someone qualified to judge one.  Also, any lawyer that is running for a felony court bench should routinely be handling felony cases as part of their practice.  Unlike a misdemeanor court the consequences in a felony are much more severe.  We are talking about the potential of someone spending the rest of their life in prison in a felony court.  If a person has not dealt with these types of cases as a lawyer on either side of the bar what makes them think a week at a judicial school will give them the knowledge.  A person may take a scuba class during their Mexico vacation, but that does make them capable of diving for the remains of the Titanic. Lastly, if a person is not qualified enough to pass the felony appointment test they have no business being a felony judge.

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While there is been a lot of talk about building a new jail in Harris County, Texas there has not been much discussion about reducing the amount of people that are in jail today for a low level misdemeanor offense such as marijuana possession.  I have stated before that the law in Texas allows for a police officer to cite a person to appear in one of our fifteen County Criminal Court at Law for marijuana possession.  The Harris County District Attorney's Office (HCDAO) has openly refused to allow officers to do this for the past two years despite the aim of the law being reduction of jail overcrowding.  The HCDAO prides itself on following the law, but for some reason is not doing it in this instance.  Meanwhile, people are getting arrested and await a court date while being housed in the overcrowded Harris County jail.  Why is the public allowing this to happen if current public opinion is against the policy of jail time for small amounts of marijuana possession?  Probably, because the media is not reporting this discrepancy as they should.

It is time that Sheriff Adrian Garcia, all 15 misdemeanor judges, and the Harris County District Attorney, Pat Lykos start allowing officers to write citations for low level marijuana possession like other counties have been doing for a while now.  Alternatively, if the HCDAO opposes them on this issue pretrial bonds should be granted for every person that is charged with this crime.  A pretrial bond will insure that someone is not jailed for something that the law clearly states may be handled by a citation.  In turn, this may reduce the amount of people that sit in the county jail.  I can not believe that this is that difficult to implement.

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Today is Super Bowl Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning take on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. The day has become an American holiday except no one gets the day off on Monday. I'd like to propose the movement to make the day after the Super Bowl an official holiday. Everyone really enjoys themselves on Sunday and needs a day of recovery. Lets be honest, their isn't a whole lot of workforce production the day after the Super Bowl. Who would really be opposed to making it a holiday?

Another unfortunate tradition regarding the Super Bowl is the crime that follows. Its like the soccer hooligans in European football. I guess whether you call it football in Europe or American football here, drunkenness and thuggery will follow. Its inevitable and sad that Assaults, DWIs (drunk driving) and other crimes follow the festivities. Here's to hoping  that everyone behaves responsibly. Who Dat? Go Colts. May the best team win, the commercials be entertaining and The Who not put us all to sleep. 

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I would think that most people would realize that having one criminal attorney for multiple people accused of a crime would be a bad idea.  In fact, when co-defendants attempt to hire me I go to great lengths to dissuade them for doing this because of the potential conflicts that may arise.  Perhaps criminal lawyers in other countries do things differently, but a criminal attorney in Houston, Texas would advise against two defendants having the same lawyer much less ten defendants.  I am confused why then ten American missionaries that were arrested in Haiti hired only one attorney to represent them.  It is to be expected that they have different stories about how they got into their predicament as well as how much they knew about the plans to take the children from Haiti.  In fact, there are some in the group that feel that their side of the story is not being told accurately.  They finally came to their senses this week and fired their Haitian lawyer.  Hopefully, each will find their own legal representation.

The moral of the story is if you find yourself arrested in Houston with someone else get your own Houston criminal attorney.  A lot of times a person will offer to split the costs for the attorney, but I would advise to go against this route because the lawyer should be someone you choose voluntarily and only has your interests in mind.

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Part of my job as a Houston Criminal Defense lawyer is to negotiate on behalf of my clients.  In all cases the assistant district attorney (ADA) handling my client's case will make us an offer to settle the case in lieu of a trial.  In some instances, the ADA will not be able to make a reasonable offer.  If we decide that we do not find the offer to be appealing we reset the case to come back another day.  Most of the time, the ADA will keep the offer available and will let me know if they plan on withdrawing the offer at some point. It is not standard practice for an ADA to retract an offer before we formally reject it.  This rarity occurs when a new ADA is assigned to a case and they disagree with the offer that was made by their predecessor.  Recently, I had a client decide that they wanted to accept the last offer made by the ADA the day before his next court setting.  Since it was not a jury trial and I did not know that a new ADA was assigned to their case you can imagine what happened next.  The offer was doubled by the new prosecutor.  Despite detailing to the new ADA how we arrived at the proposal the offer was withdrawn.  I was surprised with their final decision and I was left trying to explain this to my client.  This left us with the easy decision of rejecting the new offer and proceeding to trial.  Fortunately, a person accused of a crime is presumed innocent and the fact that they were willing to plea guilty at one point is excluded from their trial.

This situation can happen in any type of case from a simple marijuana possession to a Murder.  It is most likely to happen in a felony case.

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As a criminal defense lawyer you need to display composure when things do not go your way.  You need to be able to communicate logically with your client when they insist that they were not at the scene of the crime, even though the prosecutor has produced a picture of your client taken with a gun in their hand at the scene.  Our clients need to know that we are on their side and ready to represent them to the fullest extent despite the allegations and evidence against them.

Recently, I had a difficult time explaining to one of my clients that after reaching an agreement with the prosecution, the judge rejected the agreement.  In every case the there is a possibility that the judge may reject an agreed plea bargain.  Within every plea bargain agreement there is language that allows the judge to reserve the right to reject the agreement.  Luckily, the defendant is allowed to withdraw their plea if the judge decides to go this route.

Unfortunately, this was not any consolation to my client who, during a recent plea bargain, could not understand why the judge would not go along with the agreement.  A plea bargain is not something that is reached easily or quickly.  It is a long process and typically, it takes compromise between the prosecutor and the defense lawyer.  The process goes something like this; the client comes to court several times and when they think the agreement is satisfactory to them they relinquish their right to trial in order to enter into the plea bargain.

It is extremely frustrating to all parties when a judge hears a short synopsis from the prosecutor about the facts surrounding the case and then decides that they will not accept the agreement that was reached.  Now the client is frustrated and its back to square one.  At this point, the client typically asks one of the following questions; why did you as my attorney spend all that time trying to reach an agreement with the prosecutor if the judge was going to reject it anyway?  Why did I agree to pay back all the restitution that is owed?   Why didn't you reach an agreement with the judge first?  The answer is because the judge can and gives the final blessing to the plea bargain. 

I understand that the judge's role is to determine what is in the best interest of society, but how can they determine that with only a couple of minutes of facts relayed by the prosecutor.  At the very least, the judge should speak to both attorneys especially if they are leaning towards rejecting the plea bargain.  It becomes an emotionally charged event because the client senses things are going badly.  At this stage, their body language changes, they can not speak as clearly, and most of all they become nervous and confused about the proceedings.  This in turn makes the judge less likely to accept the plea bargain because they tend to interpret this behavior negatively.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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 Madrid, Martinez & Associates 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.

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As a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer I am always amazed when innocent people confess to crimes that they did not commit.  Many of friends find it unbelievable that this happens and think that is just me being a defense attorney.  The innocence project provides some insight into this dilemma.  I hope that after reading this article more people will have an open mind that an innocent person may provide a false confession to a crime that they did not commit.

If you need the assistance of a Criminal Defense Attorney in Houston please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038.

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When someone calls our law firm asking whether they should talk to the police in a criminal investigation I always tell them it is never in their best interest to talk to the police.  Typically, the person is concerned about what may happen if they talk to the police especially if they do not speak English.  This is one of the easiest answers I can give as a criminal defense lawyer in Houston.  NEVER TALK TO THE POLICE!  I realize that the answer is counter intuitive to most people, but it is blunt and easier to understand. If you do not believe me watch this video where a law school professor and former criminal defense attorney explains our 5th amendment privilege in great detail.  Even the police officer that follows him in the lecture completely agrees with everything he said.

If you need the help of one of the best Houston criminal defense attorneys please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038.

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You have probably heard the news about Tiger Woods in which he allegedly crashed his Cadillac Escalade at approximately 2:25 a.m. last Friday into a neighbor's tree. The media has been in a frenzy speculating what if anything Tiger or his wife could be charged with.

Tiger for his part has done little to quell speculation. He hasn't spoken to the media except through a released statement through his website TigerWoods.com, "This situation is my fault and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me,I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again. This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible."  Some in the media have taken this to mean that Tiger is hiding something and continue to debate how this will affect his career. The simple answer is that it will not. Tiger Woods will continue his career and retire as the greatest golfer to ever play the game. He will continue his charity work and he will earn over a billion dollars in tournament victories and endorsements. Its just a slow news week between Tiger and the White House party crashers.

The real lesson that Tiger is teaching the American public is that you have a right to remain silent. You do not have to talk to the police. If the police want to charge Tiger Woods with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI, DUI), Domestic or Family Violence Assault, Criminal Mischief or whatever other charge the media will think up, they can do it.

If they have evidence then charge him, if not then move on. Tiger Woods nor anyone is required to speak with the police and make a case for the police. The police have a job to do which we all respect. We all have rights which we are happy to have and assert. The media and public often forget one of the basic tenets of the American Justice System, the Presumption of Innocence.

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If you are thinking of driving a car in Ireland you better not have a drink before getting behind the wheel.  While the Irish are stereotypically depicted as heavy drinkers with a devotion to their Guinness they better not drink even one imperial pint of their celebrated beer before driving.  Until recently. Ireland's legal limit for DWI was .08.  Now, Ireland will become another country in Europe with a legal limit of .05 for the prosecution of driving while intoxicated cases.  They will be joining Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain.  What I found curious is that Lithuania's legal limit is .04 and Norway, Poland, Sweden's legal limit is .02.  A true zero tolerance for drinking and driving is found in Estonia, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary.

Advocates for lowering our legal limit will certainly cite the international trend of lowering the legal limit for driving while intoxicated.  I foresee the legal limit being lowered once again in Texas to 0.05 or lower within ten years.  That would be the second time the legal limit will be changed since I became a lawyer.

 If you need the assistance of a Houston DWI Attorney please contact me at (713) 225-1038.

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Mark McGwire has been named the St. Louis Cardinals' new hitting coach.  McGwire would not have even been considered for this position with his former team if he would not have followed his lawyers advice of "taking the fifth."  In 2005 Mr. McGwire refrained from speaking about steroid use after being summoned to appear before Congress.  At that time, he was heavily criticized by the media, became the poster boy for the steroid era of baseball, and vanished from the baseball scene.  Who in their "Flash Forward" would have seen him putting on a baseball uniform again in 2009?

Lucky for him, the American sports public has a short memory.  The baseball world is now welcoming him back with open arms.  Baseball's version of the prodigal son is returning.  Even Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, is delighted to see Mr. McGwire back.  Unlike the players that testified fully during the congressional hearings in 2005 he is being given the "red carpet treatment" while the others are getting "blackballed by the sport" or even worse, getting Federal charges brought against them for perjury.

If I hope that McGwire does not get a free pass from the media and baseball fans. The steroid era  was a black eye for baseball.  How Mark McGwire is perceived will be an indicator if baseball fans really care what the players are doing legally or not so long as they produce on the field.

If you would like to speak to a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer about your situation please call our law firm at (713) 225-1038 to talk to one of the attorneys.

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Ever since the Unites States Supreme Court decided the Gideon case the legal system has dealt with the issues regarding the appointment criminal lawyers for indigent defendants. After much debate, the Harris County Commissioner's Court is going to install a Public Defender's Office in our county.  Additionally, it hopes to revamp the current court appointed system that is in place.  The Harris Criminal Lawyers Association is at best split on this issue.  The Harris County District Attorney's Office does not have an opinion.  The general public is typically misinformed, or suffers from apathy unless a friend of family member is involved in the system.  The last time I checked there were less than twenty comments for the article that was in the Houston Chronicle about this issue.

The current system in place allows each court to select a lawyer to represent a person that has been found to be indigent.  The selection is done randomly by the court on a case by case basis.  Each attorney that is on the list must have the required qualifications, pass a test promulgated by the State, and show an ability to handle the seriousness of the case.  Additionally, there are several courts that staff their courts with their own attorneys that they have selecting thereby bypassing the random selection of lawyers to handle the cases that qualify for indigent representation.  The vast majority of the defendants that are found to be indigent are in jail.

I am unclear how the "Hybrid" system is going to accomplish its goals.  On one hand, the proposal hopes to reduce the amount that is paid to attorneys, and better manage their case load under the current system.   The reality is that this is not feasible.  Public defender offices are notoriously overworked by the court system.  In fact, the Florida Public Defender's Office resorted to filing a lawsuit in order to keep their case load at the recommended amount by the Bar.  Moreover, several PD Offices have budgetary problems throughout the country.  The current system of appointing system private attorneys does not pay for that lawyer's support staff, office, health insurance, or retirement.  These are costs that do not go into the studies conducted for the current proposal.

The other issue that the new system hopes to address is the overcrowding in the Harris County Jail.  This is not going to happen unless the county changes a few things.  As a mentioned above the vast majority of people that receive a court appointed attorney is in jail.  Typically, a person is in jail because they can not afford to pay a bond.  The bond amounts in a felony case ranges from $2,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the case.  A few defendants do not get a bond.  Unless, the county is willing to take another a look at the bonding schedule or start approving pre trial releases for felony cases where a defendant is not  required to pay a bond before his case is settled the jail overcrowded number are not going to decrease.

I hope the general public is not thinking that the Public Defender's Office will be able to sprinkle some magic dust to cure all the problems with the Houston criminal justice system by itself.

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Chuck Knoblauch, Bellaire High baseball standout, and former American League Rookie of the Year, has been charged under the new law that makes choking a family member a third degree felony.  Luckily, Mr. Knoblauch is presumed to be innocent.  His predicament illustrates how easily a person can be charged with a Felony in Texas now that the law has changed.  The Texas Legislation that just ended making choking a Family Member a third degree felony even if the person does not have a criminal history.  If these allegations would have been brought forward in August of this year he would be facing misdemeanor charges.  A felony charge is much more serious with the range of punishment being two to ten years in prison as opposed to the one year maximum punishment for a misdemeanor.

The ability to file these charges as a felony gives the prosecutor another tool to extort a guilty plea from a person.  On a highly contested case the assistant district attorney will likely offer to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor.  This may seem like a fair resolution unless the person is compromising.  If this is the case they should keep in mind that a second charge of Family Violence Assault is a third degree felony just like the choking charge.  Lastly, a person should keep in mind that a subsequent choking charge may be enhanced to a second degree felony if a person has a previous assault of a family member conviction.  This would increase the possible punishment from two to twenty years in the Texas Department of Corrections.

If you have any question regarding your asault case in Houston, Harris County please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or click here to visit our website.

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I just got back from seeing Matt Damon's new movie The Informant!    I was looking forward to seeing the movie after the reviews I read, but I must admit that I often find Steven Soderbergh's films lacking much depth and too stylized for my taste.  The last film that he directed that I enjoyed from start to finish was Traffic.  I never got into Damon's character, Mark Whitacre, partly because I  never truly understood his motivation for doing what he did.  I did not understand if the film wanted to be a comedy as the trailer suggests or a drama.  The cinematography seemed to suggest that it was a drama, but the script indicated otherwise.  It was great to see Melanie Lynskey, who plays Rose in one of my favorite television shows Two and a Half Men, playing Matt Damon's wife, Ginger Whitacre.  Overall, it is a DVD rental at best.

Since I was disinterested in the film I started to think about my clients that consider talking to the Government.  I could not believe that a man that is so intelligent would engage in such behavior without first speaking to a lawyer about the consequences of their actions.  While Mr. Whitacre may have been suffering from some sort of mental disease, his wife also passively allowed him to contemplate his actions.  It is clear that when he went to a lawyer it was too late.  He continually refrained from telling his attorneys the full truth and openly lied to them while disregarding their advice.  There is nothing worse then a client that does not candidly speak with their lawyer.  Mr. Whitacre would have been better served speaking with an attorney before contracting with the Federal Government.  The attorney would have advised him accordingly, and if was still interested in going forward he may have been granted immunity for his actions.  Thus, Mr. Whitacre may have avoided the nine years he served in Federal Prison.

If you would like a free consultation regarding your criminal case in Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038.  You should talk to us before talking to the police.

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It is often said that dog is man's best friend.  Five men are likely saying, "With friends like these who needs enemies?"  That's because the men were arrested on the basis of scent lineups. Two of the individuals were charged with Capital Murder before the charges were dropped.

The Innocence Project held a news conference on Monday asking that the Texas Forensic Science Commission  ban the use of scent identification lineups.  Scent lineups conducted by  Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy  Keith Pikett are being challenged in two federal lawsuits, filed by men who were accused of crimes partly based on alleged faulty dog scent evidence.  The new report released by the Innocence Project alleges that scent lineups are completely unreliable and have contributed to wrongful convictions.

I have had the opportunity to observe Deputy Pikett in trial. I represented an incarcerated client who was bench warranted to testify in trial.  The trial involved the identification of the defendant with Deputy Pikett's dogs.  I was surprised that scent lineup evidence of this kind could be admitted. One of the problems is that you can't cross examine the dogs. I guess that may be a Crawford, Confrontation Clause issue.  Another problem is that this is somehow expert testimony, but there is no scientific evidence to rely on.  Deputy Pickett is not a veterinarian.  There is no mention of any science in regards to the dog's olfactory glands and whether dogs or certain breeds can follow a scent better than others.  The only evidence is that Deputy Pickett trained them and they have done this many times. I guess if you claim to train a person and they perform scent identification they can do scent lineups.

I find the admission of scent lineups to be troubling. I am sure that those claiming to be falsely accused also find this evidence to be troubling.

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The latest Texas legislature really went out of their way to address family violence.  The penal code has virtually been revamped in this area of the law in the last ten years.  When I became a lawyer there wasn't a distinction between an assault against a family member and one against a non family member.   The legislature enhanced family violence assault cases.  For example, it made it a third degree felony if someone had previously been convicted of an assault against a family member.  Starting on September 1st of this year, a first time family violence assault case may be filed as a third degree felony if a person impedes the normal breathing of the victim by applying pressure to the person's throat, or neck.  In other words, a choke may now be classified as a felony.  If the accused happens to have been previously convicted of an assault against a family member they may be charged with a second degree felony.  Also, the new crime of Continuous Violence Against the Family was created in this session.  It will now be a third degree felony if during a 12 month period or less a person two or more times engages in conduct that constitutes an assault against a family member.  A prior conviction of family violence assault is no longer required.  I am concerned that we see an increase in the cases that are refiled as a felony after a misdemeanor prosecutor conducts the required "RIP" call with the complaining witness in a case.

The legislature also addressed anyone that may be on bond for family violence assault. A court may require a person charged with a family violence offense to wear a global positioning monitoring system device (GPS).  Additionally, the person will bear the expense of the GPS when the court warns the person on bond about going to or near a residence, school, place of employment, or other specified location frequented by the victim.  I guess a protective order is not enough anymore. 

If you would like to speak with an attorney regarding a family violence case call our law firm at (713) 225-1038.

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Among the many changes in the Texas Penal Code which went into effect on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, is HB 176 relating  to Penal Code Section 22.02 which is the statute addressing the crime of Aggravated Assault.

The law was amended to provide that Aggravated Assault, which in most instances is punishable as a second degree felony, is punished as a first degree felony, if the actor is in a motor vehicle, and knowingly discharges a firearm at or in the direction of a habitation, building , or vehicle , and is reckless as to whether the habitation, building, or vehicle is occupied, and in discharging the firearm, causes serious bodily injury to any person.

Under the previous law if someone was shot in a drive-by shooting and injured seriously, even if the injury was as serious as paralysis, the punishment for the accused was limited to a second degree felony. The new law could mean up to life in prison for a drive-by.

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A lot of new laws go into effect today.  I will discuss the more pertinent criminal law related ones in the near future, but I wanted to mention the new family violence admonishment that the court is required to give anyone before taking their plea.  They must use the following statement:

 "If you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving family violence where you are or were a spouse, intimate partner, parent, or guardian of the victim or are or were involved in another, similar relationship with the victim, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a handgun or long gun, or ammunition, pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9) or Section 46.04(b), Texas Penal code. If you have any questions whether these laws make it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm you should consult an attorney."

The current plea admonishments used in Harris County, Texas Misdemeanor courts do mention that it is unlawful to possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition, but it was not as detailed as the new required admonishment.  Either Harris County, Texas misdemeanor judges will begin orally informing an accused or we will be seeing new written admonishments in the near future.

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Mr. Brown better keep in mind that Federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm since he has been placed on probation for a domestic violence case.  Also, as Ron Chapman, a Florida Criminal Attorney, points out the Federal Gun Law does not allow an employee of someone convicted of domestic violence to possess a firearm during the course of their employment. Therefore his "entourage" should be on notice as well.

Routinely, attorneys fail to mention these consequences to their clients when it involves family or domestic violence.  I imagine it mainly happens when a lawyer that does not practice criminal law decides to "dabble" with these type of cases without knowing the far reaching consequences. 

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I have had three calls this week from people with the impression that somehow their criminal record gets erased after seven years.  What is worse than the fact that this is inaccurate is that they say they were told this by the attorneys they hired , who stated this is the law . Let me be clear when I say that a conviction will not be erased from your criminal history regardless of the length of time elapsed since it happened.  A case is permanently part of your ciminal history unless one of the following occurs: dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication (in limited circumstances), or a special expense fee is paid.  Therefore, simply paying a fine, receiving probation, or any jail sentence will result in a final conviction that will not be erased off your record after a length of time.

Anyone charged with a crime should hire a lawyer that deals exclusively with criminal law so that they do not receive such misinformed advice. 

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As a Houston DWI lawyer I track the pertinent issues regarding driving and alcohol.  There is always a lot of talk about how alcohol related accidents by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers,(MADD), but a closer look that a more significant danger is mistakes made by doctors.   When will the public wake up and start to realize that their doctor poses a greater threat to them than someone that is behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking.

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I stumbled upon an article about an Illinois man that was found in contempt of court for yawning too loudly. The man spent three weeks locked up. I think everyone would agree that when in a court room you should conduct yourself in a respectful manner. If you spend anytime in a court room you will find that often times lawyers, staff, defendants and their family members sometimes fall short of the proper behavior. But finding someone in contempt of court and jailing them for three weeks for yawning is arrogant and abusive. You wouldn't think something like that could happen in an American court.  But it does.

It reminded me of a client I represented about 10 years ago who was found in contempt of court while on the first floor of the courthouse, not anywhere near the courtroom. He was jailed for a weekend. Luckily, we were able to free him after filing a writ.

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"Who will reimburse my lawyer's fees when my case is dismissed?

Regularly, I have clients ask me some form of that question.  The sad truth is despite being falsely accused and eventually getting their case dismissed for the accused there really is nothing set up in our current criminal judicial system that will give someone the opportunity to seek reimbursement of the expenses associated with defending a criminal case.  Perhaps the government should be held monetarily accountable for cases that are later to be found lacking credible evidence.  If the Government is more accountable less cases will be accepted where a person finds it necessary to spend thousands of dollars to properly defend themselves.

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Late last year and this year there has been a steady stream of Harris County District Attorneys  leaving the office.  This should not come as a surprise after Pat Lykos, was elected as the District Attorney.  Some have taken the traditional route of becoming a Houston Criminal Attorney.  Others have decided to continue as a prosecutor in Galveston, Montgomery, or some other county in Texas.  Curiously, not one has been hired by the Fort Bend District Attorney's Office.   I wonder why  Fort Bend County, Texas is the only neighboring county not to hire the former prosecutors?

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My friends in the medical profession find it hard to believe that I take phone calls after business hours.  I never thought it was a big deal until they brought it up night.  I imagine that expectations from the public is different now from when I was growing up.  Gone are the days that a doctor makes a house call or even takes a phone call from a patient. 

On the other hand, when someone gets into trouble they need to speak to a lawyer asap.  Typically, when a person is arrested for DWI their family has never encountered such an event and need to speak to an attorney to explain the process.  Thus, our law firm always has a lawyer on call to answer any questions that arise from a criminal arrest.  Clients are always surprised when they reach an attorney on a weekend ready to discuss their case.

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As a Houston Criminal Attorney I am always surprised what people decide to wear to court.  I always tell our clients to dress like they would for Church.  For the past couple of years, people have been wearing Crocs to court.  Recently, I could not believe that  I saw a fellow Criminal Attorney that will remain nameless wearing Crocs to court with a suit.  Since I am not a fan of the shoe I was not surprised to find out that company is going bankrupt.

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In case you missed it the Harris County Commissioners Court decided to appoint a Jail Czar to act as a liaison between the Harris County Judges and the Harris County Jail.  Caprice Cosper, former judge of the 339th district court, will serve as the Jail Czar.  I have personally seen Judge Cosper tirelessly work for the fair treatment of anyone charged with a criminal offense in Harris County.  Thus, I have no doubt that she will do the same job when it comes to seeing that a person is treated appropriately while incarcerated in the Harris County Jail. 

If you need help avoiding a jail sentence please contact our Houston Criminal Attorney law firm at (713) 225-1038 or just click here to visit our website.

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First Steve McNair at age 36 and then Arturo Gatti at age 37. Both allegedly killed by women in their early 20s. Two retired sports figures who both had the reputation of being absolute warriors. McNair an MVP who played hurt and almost carried the Tennessee Titans to a Super Bowl victory. Gatti a former junior welterweight champion who fought in some of the best fights of his generation.

Tragic. Both still very young.  Both left behind children. In my practice as a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney I often defend those accused of Family Violence , sometimes called Domestic Violence. The overwhelming majority of these cases involve accusations of a man committing violence against a women. Although women are charged with Assault Family Violence, it is rare.

When police are called out to the scene of a "domestic disturbance" and a women is accusing a man of assault, that man better be ready to go to jail. I am confident that the intentions of  police in these situations and the prosecutors they speak with are to protect and ensure that justice is served. However, mistakes are made. Fortunately in the United States, everyone is presumed to be innocent. It my job as a Houston Criminal Lawyer to convince a prosecutor or jury of this innocence.

Gatti and McNair are examples that women can and do commit family violence.

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As we all know, Michael Jackson passed away Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest. Questions have arisen regarding the cause of his death and what if any role prescription drugs, notably painkillers, may have played in the singer's demise. Apparently Mr. Jackson had a personal doctor, a cardiologist who has an office in Houston, who was present at the time of death. According to news reports the doctor is not a suspect but the police do want to speak with him regarding the details leading up to Jackson's death. The doctor has hired a Houston Criminal Lawyer to represent him.

The abuse of drugs like Lorcet, Soma and Xanax is more common than most people are aware. As a Houston Criminal Lawyer  I have seen how the abuse of prescription drugs can destroy lives. While drugs like Cocaine and Heroine are horrible and deadly, prescription drugs have the same potential to ruin lives. Elvis Presley and possibly  Michael Jackson are just the iconic examples.

I have seen as a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney that the drug addict is typically the person losing their freedom and creating havoc in their families lives while drug dealers profit at their expense. It doesn't matter if the drug dealer is peddling crack cocaine on a street corner or is a doctor operating a pain clinic handing out  prescriptions without even seeing their "patient." Actually, it is much more rare for a doctor operating a pain clinic to be a arrested than your traditional drug dealer. It goes to show you that as a society we don't view prescription drug addiction as a problem.

We see more and more of these cases on a weekly basis. The most obvious example is the abuse of Xanax by suburban high school kids. Hopefully the passing of Michael Jackson will make the families of pain pill users more aware that addiction and death can come just as easily from across the counter of a pharmacy as it can from a street corner on the bad side of town.

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Over the past week or so I have watched with interest the Iranian Election Results and the aftermath. Many people in Iran and around the world believe that at a minimum there was irregularity in the voting results. Most of these people actually believe the election was outright rigged. As a kid, I remember the American Hostages being held in Tehran when Jimmy Carter was president. I also remember the Shah of Iran coming to San Antonio after he had been overthrown by the revolution, to get medical treatment at Wilford Hall Medical Center that was about a mile from my house. I took a Middle East History class in college so the subject has always fascinated me.

Last week, while in Dallas I had a conversation regarding this subject with a cab driver from Iran while on the way to the airport. I posed to him the question whether it was possible that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had actually won. Isn't it possible that leaders like Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela have the support of masses? Isn't it possible that just because we don't agree with the policies of our adversaries that the people of those countries do? The cab driver didn't seem to think so. He believes that the election was stolen and that Mousavi is the true winner. He's probably right but I doubt that will change anything. In countries ruled by oppressive regimes, there are no recounts.

What is happening in Iran is in such stark contrast to our way of life here in the United States. Think back to the 2000 election and the hanging chads in Florida. When all the votes across the United States were counted Al Gore had more of the popular vote. Would Florida and its electoral college go to George W. Bush or Gore? The Supreme Court decided that the victory was W's. The American public accepted it and moved on. No one was beaten down in the street and killed. The rule of law prevailed.

We go to court everyday and are faced with an adversary.  As a Houston Criminal Lawyer, I represent the accused. When we have a disagreement with an Assistant District Attorney we are not dragged out into the street and beaten. When I don't agree with the evidence being presented,  I stand up and object. If I don't agree with a ruling from the Judge, I respectfully disagree and make sure that my objection and the legal basis for it are preserved on the record. As a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney, I am proud to have an opportunity everyday to practice law and ensure that my clients rights are protected. I am not the kind of person that wears an American flag shirt, but I am extremely proud to be an American. Situations like the one in Iran are a vivid reminder of this.

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A lot of discussion has occurred the last of couple of weeks concerning the DWI Pretrial Diversion Program around the Harris County Courthouse.  Luckily, this has also opened the door for other types of cases to be more easily considered for pretrial diversion.  I have personally encountered prosecutors being receptive to a pretrial diversion for theft, possession of marijuana, and possession of cocaine cases.  In the past, a request for a pretrial diversion was akin to asking for a prosecutor's first born in Harris County.   For the sake of anyone accused of a crime I hope this trend continues.

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This past Monday was one of the most chaotic days for Harris County Misdemeanor Prosecutors because every criminal attorney in Houston, like myself, wanted to know the facts surrounding Pretrial Diversions for first time DWI offenders in Harris County, Texas.  Unbelievably, the prosecutors had as much information as I did.  They did not know the guidelines, when it was going to be implemented, or who would qualify.  One thing is for sure, Kate Dolan, the chief of the misdemeanor section, is going to be a busy lady.

If you have any questions regarding a DWI in Texas please contact a Houston DWI Lawyer at (713) 225-1038.

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Despite being a Houston Criminal Attorney a lot of our clients are from outside the Houston calling area.  We have clients that live throughout Texas and throughout the United States.  In order to better served our clients we provide a toll free phone number for them.  The phone number is (800) 724-1876 in the event you need to contact our law firm for any questions regarding a DWI, Assault, Theft/Shoplifting, or Possession of Marijuana/Cocaine. 

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As a Houston Assault Lawyer I have have received a few calls this week from people seeking a motion for non disclosure after completing a deferred adjudication for an assault of a family member.  Since they received incorrect information from the initial assault attorney I feel the need to post a blog to provide clarity on this issue.  Despite what your criminal defense lawyer may have told you a deferred adjudication for assaulting a family member is INELIGIBLE for a motion for non disclosure.  That is even true if probation officer told you the same thing.  Your only hope is that law changes on this changes on this issue in the future.  I am not optimistic since the current law states that a second charge for assaulting a family member is a felony even if you successfully completed your deferred adjudication.

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As a Houston DWI Lawyer/ Houston DWI Attorney it is my job to stay on top of developments in the DWI field.  The Texas legislature is implementing a new law that could alter how DWI arrests are treated.  The new law would allow the police to draw from a person involved in an accident, or driving a vehicle with a child, without a magistrate's approval. The police may start using a flashlight/gadget tthat indicates the presence of alcohol.  Both of these items are ripe for constitutional challenges once they are used by the police. 

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I have mentioned about all the Houston Criminal Attorneys that run.  Personally, I have slowed down on my blogging since we have been in trial and not running as much.  Since the weather is heating up and I thoroughly enjoy running during the warmer months I am confident that my blogging will increase.  During the past year I have noticed that I get a lot of blogging ideas while running so I anticipate that my blogging will increase as I run more.

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As Memorial Day approaches I know a lot of Houston Criminal Lawyers; be it prosecutors or defense attorneys that are looking forward to wearing their seersucker suits this summer. Typically, the seersucker suit is worn from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but may be worn throughout the year in our hot climate.  This type of suit is perfect for our oppressive heat since it is made in cotton instead of wool, like traditional suits.  A seersucker epitomizes the Southern Attorney. Remember Gregory Peck in the film "To Kill a Mockingbird?"   

If you have not worn a seersucker suit before you should give it a try.  Wear it on a Friday when most of the men wear them so you feel most comfortable and will not stand out as much.  You will even find a sprinkle of woman wearing theirs as well on a Friday.  To accessorize remember to wear buck shoes, preferably white.  The bowtie or hat is optional.  I bet you will forget you are wearing a suit because it is so light, comfortable and easy to wear.

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As a DWI Lawyer it is my job to monitor what the courts are doing with defendants in their courts.  For example, what ever happened to being presumed innocent?  Just this week I overheard a judge reprimanding a person on bond for DWI that his driving habits were not "normal" according to his interlock log.  I almost fell out of my chair that the court  would be monitoring a person's driving habits so closely when they are only accused of a crime.  The judge went as far as threatening to add the scram device as an added condition to the poor guy's bond. 

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Since we have been criminal defense attorneys in Houston for over twelve years we have represented clients in just about every profession.  Routinely, we inform people that are in the airline industry that a pending criminal charge may prevent them from entering certain countries.  If you have a trip planned to a foreign country please check if you will be allowed entry with a pending criminal charge.

Also, a lot of courts in Houston will restrict your travel outside of  Harris County while on bond even for a simple DWI charge.  If you need any help with your criminal case please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038.

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During Pat Lykos' campaign and when she took office she mentioned that the Harris County District Attorney's Office will be more receptive to granting pre-trial diversions.  I was extremely encouraged by this commitment by the new District Attorney.   A pre-trial diversion is a dismissal in waiting.  In other words, the State agrees to enter into a contract with a defendant agreeing to dismiss their case if specific contractual obligations are fulfilled by the defendant.  Typically, it is similar to community supervision, but there is no plea before a judge.  Once the defendant finishes the agreed upon terms the case is dismissed.  Thus, the defendant becomes eligible for an expungement after the statute of limitations has run its course.

As a criminal defense attorney in Houston most of my clients would jump at the chance to obtain a pre-trial diversion.  Nevertheless, in the past the District's Attorney's Office has been extremely rigid when entering into these contracts.  In fact, I would say that less than one percent of cases filed are given a pre-trial diversion.  Recently, I have witnessed that prosecutors are becoming more receptive to my requests for pre-trial diversion.  In fact, I just had one granted this week.  Hopefully, the trend continues. 

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As a part of our representation it is imperative that we present our clients in the best possible light to Prosecutors, Judges and Juries. We routinely counsel our clients on what to wear to court and to trial. If we don't feel our clients have trial worthy clothes, we dress them ourselves. We keep a number suits, ties and shoes that we feel make our clients presentable to a jury. Anyone accused of a crime is going to be judged by their appearance and as the saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."

A couple of months ago I represented a young man charged with Aggravated Robbery. He was accused with three other men with of a home invasion, where it was alleged they held a family at gunpoint as they ransacked their house looking for cash. One of the co-defendant's was tried separately because his criminal history would have prejudiced the other defendants. In my preparation as a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney, I attended and observed the co-defendant's trial. We will call him Bob.

Bob was arrested around  the crime scene in victim's next door neighbor's yard within seconds of the alleged aggravated robbery. The police had been called while the perpetrators were in the house and as the police arrived, they fled. When Bob was detained he was wearing a blue floral Hawaiian-like shirt. The victims were able to identify him by his skin, height and his distinctive shirt.

So surprise to me, the prosecution, police witnesses and the victims, Bob wore the same shirt to trial that he was arrested in, fleeing from the scene, seconds after the home invasion, Apparently this was not a surprise to his attorney because at closing arguments he argued that he purposely had his client wear this shirt to show the corruption of the police. I don't know what this meant other than it explained his trial strategy and let the State off the hook for an ineffective assistance appellate argument regarding this issue.

Anyway, terrible terrible strategy. No one was surprised when the jury came back five minutes later with a guilty and later took another five minutes to give Bob life in prison. You never get a second chance to make first impression.

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As a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney I always enjoy seeing our website and blog appearing on the first page of the Google organic results page.  Lately, I have been exploring how Google determines what businesses appear in their local results.  Google clearly states that they do not have a formula to be included in these results.  While this may be true now I am confident in the near future someone will devise a plan how to be included in these results.  Otherwise, I see Google starting to charge a business to be included in this section similar to their pay per click marketing.

Since we are in the heart of the Galleria in Houston, Texas we are able to serve clients in Houston, Missouri City, and Sugarland, Texas.  If you are seeking the advice of a criminal attorney please call our law firm for a free consultation regarding your criminal case (713) 225-1038.

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As a Houston Criminal Lawyer I have family members regularly contacting me wanting to know when their loved one will be released from the Texas State Jail.  Please remember that when someone is sentenced under the State Jail Felony provision of the Texas criminal code they are not eligible to be released early as a parole.  The range of punishment for a State Jail Felony is from 180 days to two years in the state jail and an optional fine up to $10,000.

If you need help with your criminal case please call our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website.

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"I've replayed this scene in my head over and over, wondering if there was any way  this could have turned out differently. What if I had worn a different shirt? What if I hadn't gotten my dates mixed up? What if I refused to talk until I had a lawyer present? I would have a lot of time to think about my situation: That was the last time I walked in anywhere as free man for the next eleven years"  Those are the words of Ronald Cotton as is the picture above. They are from the book Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton and Erin Torneo. It is a must read for anyone who works in the Criminal Justice System.

It tells the true story of Cotton, who was picked out of a lineup by Thompson, a college student, as the man who broke into her apartment and raped her. He was innocent but spent eleven years in prison before DNA exonerated him. After he was released from prison Cotton and Thompson forged a friendship. I don't think I'm giving anything away in telling you that, it is on the inside cover.

The book does an excellent job of demonstrating how Eyewitness Misidentification can lead to wrongful arrest and conviction. Anyone that has ever tried an Aggravated Robbery or Aggravated Sexual Assault, understands the importance that  eyewitness identification plays in trial. It also gives an example of why an accused must speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney before he/she speaks with the police.

When Cotton heard he was accused he figured he could go down to the police station and clear things up before he went into work. "I don't need an attorney, sir. I didn't commit this crime and I want to get this straight." That is what Cotton said before he spoke withe the police. He had an alibi. But, when he made his statement,he was nervous and confused and mixed up his dates. He came across as a liar even when he had witnesses to support the truth of his alibi. This helped lead to his conviction.

As Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers we often get calls from potential clients in this exact position. Anyone facing this situation must understand that you have the right to REMAIN SILENT. You also have the right to speak with an attorney and have an attorney present during questioning . Take advantage of your rights and if you have time read Picking Cotton.

If you need to talk to a lawyer about your criminal case please call our law firm at (713) 225-1038 for a free consultation.

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As a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney I must admit that I was shocked when I heard a rumor regarding the Harris County District Attorney's Office implementing a new policy whereby prosecutors would not offer probation to an accused unless the accused swore to be residing legally in the United States.  One of my close friends, that is a prosecutor himself, confirmed not only that this is fact, but there will be a document that a defendant will need to swear to before a plea agreement is finalized. 

This new policy wrong on several levels.  It seems to be politically motivated.  Pat Lykos, the District Attorney of Harris County, was elected to uphold the law of the state of Texas.  The policy may seduce the most steadfast of conservative Republicans in Houston and beyond, but it is misplaced and a subtle form of racism.  It is very easy for people to say "He is an illegal get him out of our country."   However, the law states that anyone that is in this country is presumed to be here legally.  Also, every person in this country  has a 5th amendment privilege regardless of their status.   On one hand, by requiring anyone that is undocumented to swear that they are here legally before receiving probation the District Attorney's Office is encouraging them to commit perjury.  On the other hand, if the defendant tells the truth the consequences are twofold.   They will not get the probation and they have given the Government evidence to prove that they are committing a Federal Offense.  What competent criminal defense attorney would advise their client to do anything other than to remain silent?  Thus, the District Attorney's office is punishing a defendant for exercising their right to remain silent and that is a clear constitutional violation. 

Below is a copy of the 5th Amendment.  Perhaps, the Lykos administration should give it a read if they have done so in a while. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

With this new policy the Harris County District Attorney's Office is disregarding Texas law.  For example, the law in Texas clearly states that low level felony drug possession for first time offenders is a mandatory probation.  The law does not differentiate between those that are here legally and those that are undocumented.  The Lykos administration is essentially stating that they will not follow Texas law.  Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time I checked our District Attorney was elected to follow the laws of Texas.

More practically speaking, what defense attorney that has a client on bond that is undocumented will enter into any type of plea bargaining when they know that a prosecutor's hands are tied when it comes to getting probation for their client.  A competent criminal defense attorney knows that a jury is not precluded from granting an undocumented person probation.  Additionally, any potential juror that can not consider granting probation for someone that is undocumented should be exposed during voir dire and kept from serving on the jury.

My hope is that Harris District Attorney's Office reconsiders this policy and decides that despite being a hit politically legally it is without merit.

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I have heard two different Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys this week trying to negotiate with the prosecutor that deals with crimes against children in Harris County, Texas for a waiver of the sexual registration requirement in an aggravated sexual assault case.  This would be something that every criminal defense attorney in Houston would request except that the prosecutor is not allowed to do such a thing unless they reduce the charges to something that does not require registration.  I noticed the prosecutor completely disrespect the attorney after such a uninformed comment.  Frankly, any attorney that makes such a dimwitted comment subjects themselves to criticism.  I feel for the client that is likely being given bad advice concerning sexual assault registration.

If you would like a free consultation regarding your sexual assault case contact us at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at http://www.mmalaw.com/Criminal_Defense/Sex_Crimes.aspx.

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As a DWI Attorney in Houston I always thought Utah was a conservative state and these latest proposals do not change my opinion.  A bill in Utah is going to great lengths to eliminate alcohol consumption outside of the home.   The bill requires all restaurant bartenders to make the drinks behind a ten foot wall.  Also, Utah intends to criminalize anyone that looks drunk.  Talk about a slippery slope, today, it is hiding the bartenders next it is banning all alcoholic beverages in a restaurant. 

Here is hoping that Texas does not follow this line of thinking.  I would really miss a drink with my meal.  If you find yourself needing a lawyer for an alcohol related crime please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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I just got back from vacation and realized that I am so lucky to know that our client's needs are being taken care of despite my absence.  Let me explain...most criminal defense attorneys in Houston are solo practitioners or have an associate working for them.  When this is the case a client is unable to reach the lawyer they hired when they are away from the office on vacation or in trial.  That is one of the many reasons that I am fortunate to have a business partner like Mario Madrid.  Mario and I have been criminal lawyers for over twelve years.  We meet and discuss every case with our clients.  We handle every case as a team and know all the pertinent facts surrounding our client's cases.  Whenever a client needs one us we are there for them.  If we are not in the office one of assistants will give you our mobile phone so you reach us.  We even answer our phone after normal business hours.

If you, or  a loved one has a criminal matter that you would like to discuss feel free to call our office at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com. 

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For some reason, a lot of people think they could represent themselves in a DWI case.  They quickly change their mind once they have been arrested or go to court for the first time.  A person arrested in Harris County for DWI/DUI will not be offered probation if they are representing themselves.  Also, they do not know how to save their driver's license.  In other instances, they come up with a dimwitted defense that create more problems that they solve. 

Our firm has represented fellow lawyers that have been arrested for DWI, but not practice criminal defense because they understand the seriousness of the offense and all the pitfalls that are associated with this crime.  Thus, if you need help regarding your DWI visit our website at www.mmalaw.com or call us at (800) 724-1876.

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Many of our clients are first time offenders and have typically never been in trouble with law enforcement prior to contacting us for help.  When they arrive at our office the first thing they they normally tell us is how badly they were treated by the police.  They also can not understand why the officer did not take into account their otherwise pristine criminal record.  I often tell them about the different cases that we have defended where we have been amazed at the fact that an arrest had in fact taken place.

A perfect example of the police not making an exception for anyone is the recent  DWI arrest of a groom on his wedding day.  His case landed in Harris County Criminal Court Law #7 where Pam Derbyshire presides. 

Luckily, every person that is charged with a DWI is presumed to be innocent and there are an infinite amount of ways a case may be defended.  Thus, do not be disheartened about your arrest.  All is not lost.  We can help you. Please call our law firm (713) 225-1038 for a free consulation or visit our website at www.dwiattorneysinhouston.com.

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I have been going to Sugarland, Fort Bend County, regularly so I took the time to speak with a colleague who also practices there and he told me that he has experienced a significant rise in his business.  It seems like violent crimes such as aggravated assault, and aggravated robbery have increased throughout Fort Bend County. Typically, when serious crimes like these increase other less serious crimes like Assault, DWI, and Theft also increase.

You will need an experienced defense attorney to fight your criminal case.   Please call our office  at  (800) 724-1876 for a free consultation or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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Despite being a criminal defense attorney in Houston this news does not make me feel any better, but the Detroit Crime lab is experiencing similar issues that Houston's crime lab faced.  Hopefully, Detroit will look to Houston for guidance in trying to clean up a crime lab.

 I wonder what it will take before the general public will view this type of evidence more closely before potentially convicting an innocent person.

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It is always best to read over any document that you sign more then once to completely understand it or at the least least take someone with you that can help you catch something that you may have missed otherwise.  There will always be deceitful companies that try to take advantage of people when they are down and vulnerable.  I experienced this type of underhanded behavior when I was prosecutor.  I had to routinely refuse charges when rental agencies brought charges against the people that had leased furniture from them despite the payments made exceeding full market value, but for one reason or the other could not make their monthly payments any longer.  Similarly, an unscrupulous loan company has a clause in their no interest contracts stating that if all payments are not made the loan turns into a lease at any time.  These people lose all the money that they have paid and could potentially be charged with theft if they keep the property without making the revised payments since the loan/lease company has a greater right of ownership.  While this behavior is deplorable I can see it happening.  Luckily, anyone charged with a crime is PRESUMED to be INNOCENT. 

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Recently, one of my Fort Bend County clients that is a first time DWI offender could not believe that this is possible or that anyone could put themselves in the position to go to prison for life.  Since DWI is an escalating crime it can happen.  The most common way occurs is when a person has had two prior DWI convictions and has gone to prison on two separate occasions for any crime.   Another way is if the person has two prior DWI convictions and on their third arrest a death occurred.  In this instance, the person is charged with Felony Murder.  The allegation is that while committing the felony of a Third DWI the person caused the death of a person. 

As you can see, DWI convictions have significant long term consequences whether it occurs in Fort Bend, Galveston, or Harris County, Texas.  Thus, I inform all my clients that it is imperative to be ready to properly defend their DWI case from the outset.  If you have any question regarding your DWI arrest please call our office at (800) 724-1876 or visit website www.mmalaw.com.

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Since I have posted that theft/shoplifting is a crime of moral turpitude I have had people ask me if a DWI/DUI is a one as well.  The short answer is that a DWI is not a crime of moral turpitude in the state of Texas.  However, a felony DWI is a crime turpitude.  Typically, a third DWI is filed as a felony.  Recently, the legislature made it a felony to drive while intoxicated with a child passenger even if it is the person's first arrest.  There are other DWI related charges that are felonies such as intoxication assault, and manslaughter when it does not matter how many times a person has been previously arrested for DWI.

In the future I will post a list of most crimes that are considered crimes of moral turpitude.

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An Irishman who recently moved to the United States quickly found the local pub and ordered three Irish Whiskeys in three shot glasses and drank them. He came back everyday after work for a week after which time the bartender suggested he use one shot glass and poor the second and third shots as he finished. The Irishman explained that he needed three glass because he drank in solidarity with his two brothers back home in Ireland. The two glasses were for his brothers and one for him.

The Irishman continued coming in after work . One day a week later he asked for two shots, rather than the normal three shots of whiskey. "I'm sorry did something happen to one of your brothers?" the bartender asked. The Irishman replied, "Oh no, I'm drinking the two shots for my brothers, I gave up alcohol for Lent."

Fr. Jay Walsh at St. Anne gets credit for that joke. He said it during Mass yesterday while giving his homily at St. Anne Catholic Church. In his sermon he spoke of Bill Wilson who founded Alcoholics Anonymous.

I found the topic of special interest, because as Houston DWI Attorneys, we are faced with this issue on an almost daily basis. We have represented people with as many as 9 DWIs on their record, who obviously have an addiction. But, more often than not, we represent the individual who had a couple of drinks socially with friends or colleagues after work and is stopped for a traffic violation on their  way home. They are then arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. A night of fun turns sour with an arrest and an unpleasant night in jail. Next comes a court date and they face a number of possible consequences.

Here's hoping that as many people as possible enjoy St. Patrick's in a responsible fashion and avoid this problem.

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As a Houston criminal lawyer that handles assault cases I aware how it impacts the entire a family  that is involved.   I am troubled by stress that the economic slowdown has caused on so many families.  Since the economic downturn began more than four fifths of the workers laid off have been men.  Historically, men have resorted back to their alpha male ways when they feel depressed.   Men have created their own domains throughout the years by resorting to bars, gyms, and even today the media room is typically the male territory.  Most disturbing is that the unemployed man follows alcoholics and drug addicts as the demographic group most likely to commit family violence. 

If you find yourself accused of an assault case please contact our law firm (713) 225-1038 for a free consultation.  We assist defend people in Harris County, and it the surrounding counties like Montgomery and Fort Bend County.

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A short, but insightful interview with Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president of Brazil from 1995-2003, details what most criminal defense attorneys already know and advocate for everyday.  The drug problem is a health problem.  Thus, we need to seek treatments for these individuals in order to reduce the demand of the drug trade.  Cardoso is also forwarding a report to the United Nations to serve as a catalyst for countries to decriminalize marijuana since it accounts for 90 percent of the drugs that are consumed.

If you need assistance with your drug case in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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A theft/shoplifting case like a criminal mischief case is determined by the amount that is alleged to have been stolen.  If the dollar amount is less than $50 then it is a class "c" misdemeanor.  A person can not go to jail for these type of cases.  In fact, the punishment is only a fine.  Once it is over $50  it becomes a class 'B" misdemeanor.  A person can go to jail for up to 180 days and/or receive a fine up to $2,000 for this level of offense.  If the amount alleged is over $500 but less than $1,500 it becomes a class "A" misdemeanor and the punishment increases up to one year in the county jail or a fine up to $4,000.  A theft/shoplifting becomes a felony one of two ways.  It could become a felony if the person has been convicted twice before of theft.  Please keep in mind that a deferred adjudication is not a conviction.  Next, it could become a felony if the amount is over $1,500.  If the amount is over $1,500 but under $20,000 it is a state jail felony.  The range of punishment for this offense is not less then 180 days and no more then 2 years and a fine up to $10,000.  If the amount is over $20,000 but under $100,000 it becomes a third degree felony where the range of punishment if from 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections and a fine up to $10,000.  If the amount is over $100,000, but under $200,000 you are facing a second degree felony where the range of punishment if from 2 to 20 years in the Texas Department of Corrections and a fine up to $10,000.  Finally, when the amount is over $200,000 a person is facing a first degree felony where the punishment is from 5 years to 99 years or life in the Texas Department of Corrections and a fine up to $10,000.

As you can see a theft case is very serious.  As I have mentioned before even a minor theft case is a crime of moral turpitude. .

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I have discussed before how Harris County Judges treat those accused with their first DWI. There are a lot of judges that will go beyond what the law requires when someone finds themselves in court for their first DWI like requiring a person to install the ignition interlock device when they are involved in an accident .  Now MADD is pushing legislators to require anyone convicted of a DWI in Texas to get the ignition interlock device. This proposal is going too far.  Our DWI laws already provide a substantial hardship for someone convicted of a DWI. MADD likes to point out recent deaths that involved repeat offenders driving a vehicle.  In my opinion, relying on these instances is misplaced.  Why punish the first time offender when there are programs in place to make sure this does not happen again such as the Victim Impact Panel that is usually led by a MADD representative, the DWI School, and the drug/alcohol evaluation that a person undergoes when they are placed on probation.  Also, MADD overlooks that anyone that has an alcohol rate above rate over .15 when driving is required to place the device in their vehicle.  Texas law adequately deals with repeat offenders by requiring a hard suspension (no occupational license) for those convicted of a subsequent DWI within five years. Additionally, DPS license suspensions increase for repeat offenders,  MADD should focus their attention on someone other then the first time offender who usually has not been arrested before and is unlikely to re offend because of the traumatic experience of being arrested.  I am sure the "Benjamins" have something to do with this new crusade.

If you need assistance with your first DWI case in  the Houston, Texas area please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or click here to visit our website.

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As a Houston Theft Lawyer one of he first things that I tell someone that has been arrested for theft or shoplifting is that  these charges are considered to be crimes of moral turpitude.  Moral turpitude is a legal term of art with no generally accepted definition. In general, "crimes of moral turpitude" cover conduct involving dishonesty, These type of crimes can cause serious immigration consequences, impact professional licenses, or prevent employment.  Thus, it is of utmost importance not to be convicted of a theft or shoplifting case.  Almost daily I get a phone call from someone that decided to take the easier route of just paying fine instead of attempting to successfully complete a deferred adjudication.  While this may have seemed to have been a good idea when someone was a teenager they ultimately regret the decision a few years down the road when they attempt to start a career only to find out that everyone is now labeling them a thief.

If you need assistance with your theft case contact our firm at (713) 225-1038 or (800) 724-1876 for a free consultation.

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Since I have not worked much in Judge Herb Ritchie (337Th District Court) or David Mendoza (178Th District Court) I have not written much about their courts.  The one thing that both of them have done is taken the lawyers out of their courtrooms except for pleas.  I have not asked them why they have done this, but I suspect it is due to the graphic facts that we sometimes have to discuss in court.  For those of us that have been doing criminal defens in Houston work for a long time we find it easy discussing these facts, and the discussions while professional can be graphic and offensive to the casual observer seated in the audience.  For now, cases will be discussed in the jury room in Judge Richie's court and in the vestibule in Judge Mendoza's court.

If you need assistance with a criminal case in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.  You will find our fees to be affordable.

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Since this is a daily question in my practice as crimianl defense attorney in Houston I wanted to give more details about  Motion for Non Disclosures.

In Texas, employers, and most landlords investigate your criminal record. Despite a deferred adjudication not being a conviction landlords and employers generally treat it the same  as a conviction. That means that people are often unable to rent apartments or get jobs because of the deferred adjudication on their criminal records.

When I started practicing law a deferred adjudication remained on a person's criminal record forever.  Luckily, in 2003 the Texas state legislature changed the law concerning deferred adjudication records.

Today, a person who has successfully completed a deferred adjudication probation for a class B misdemeanor, a class A misdemeanor, or a felony, may (depending on the offense committed) be able to ask the judge of the court of original jurisdiction that put him on deferred to sign an "order of nondisclosure" barring governmental agencies from disclosing the existence of the charge or the deferred adjudication sentence.

For most misdemeanors, the defendant can petition for the order of nondisclosure immediately after the deferred adjudication is successfully completed and the case is dismissed. For others, a defendant must wait five years after the deferred adjudication is completed and the case is dismissed to file for an order of nondisclosure.  For felonies, the wait is five years after the deferred adjudication is completed and the case is dismissed. Some offenses cannot be sealed with an order of nondisclosure.

Most importantly, a person may deny the occurrence of the arrest and prosecution unless the information is being used against him in a subsequent criminal proceeding.

If you received deferred adjudication, but did not successfully complete it, you will not be eligible for a motion for non disclosure. If you receive "straight probation", you are convicted of the crime with which you are charged, and become ineligible for a motion for non disclosure.

If you need assistance with clearing your record in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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I enjoy gathering as much information as I can before making a decision.  For example, if I am going to buy a new television for my home I check cnet, Amazon, and read every review about the TV to narrow my choice.  Since I use these type of websites frequently before making a decision I feel obligated to contribute to Avvo, a free legal website, that provides legal assistance on various legal topics to the public.    Avvo allows a person to post a question while attorneys take the time to respond.  Additionally, it has created a system that rates every attorney across the country for people to review.

A word of caution...I find it troublesome that Avvo does not restrict lawyers to the jurisdictions that they are either licensed in or their respective area of practice before giving an opinion.  I would be very wary of a Washington lawyer commenting about legal issues in Texas.

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I have discussed steroid use in baseball a lot with my friends.  It has been an issue with us for most of this decade if not earlier.  Today, the current saga involving Alex Rodriguez,, Miguel Tejada, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire should be a lesson to those that are considering  talking to the Government without consulting with an attorney beforehand.  If you notice the ones that did not to speak to Congress or asserted their 5th Amendment privilege like Mark McGwire are not facing criminal charges.  Similarly, Alex Rodriguez told Katie Couric he never used steroid.  Of course, today we know the truth about Rodriguez, but he is not facing criminal charges.  On the other hand, Miguel Tejada has been convicted of misleading Congress.  Ironically, Tejada was not convicted for lying about his own steroid use, but for not disclosing a teammate's use. The same prosecutors that got Tejada are pursuing perjury charges against Roger Clemens.   In the case of Barry Bonds one of the numerous charges against him is that he told a grand jury that he had not been injected by anyone other then his doctors not that he has never used steroids.

What has happened to these famous, wealthy, and iconic players should serve as an example to anyone that is considering talking to the Government.  Despite all their fame and millions of dollars they did not escape the tentacles of the Government .  Thus, consult a criminal defense attorney before you make the same mistake.

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I have had several appearances this year in the 177Th District Court where Judge Kevin Fine is now the presiding judge.  I have noticed a refreshing change from the bench.  Judge Fine is really encouraging everyone who is fighting a drug problem to seek treatment for their addiction.  Most importantly, he has told me that he is an avid fan of early termination for people that elect community supervision.  Of course, the person must be doing well and have reached the required time to be eligible for early termination.  This benefits someone tremendously because the clock starts ticking to qualify for a motion for non disclosure if they received deferred adjudication.  Hopefully, this will be an ongoing trend in Harris County, Texas since I have found it onerous to get someone early terminated in the past.

I hope that Judge Fine continues his innovative thinking and maverick personality during his judicial tenture.

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When a client comes into my office I stress to them that they are presumed to be innocent.  I emphasize this because we are lucky enough to live in a country where that is the law.  Thus, I find it difficult to explain to my clients why a judge would order them to get an ignition interlock device for the vehicle if this is the case.   Frankly, I agree with them.  I understand if they have a previous conviction for DWI because the judge is required to order them to get the device.  Thus, we prepare them for this when they have multiple offense for DWI, have a high breath test, under the age of 21, or they were involved in an accident, but outside of these reasons they should not be required to bear the expense of this device.  Hopefully, the judges will start reevaluating this procedure during these stressful times.

If you need assistance with your DWI case please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.dwiattorneysinhouston.com.

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Last week while I was getting ready for work I listened to the song, "She Talks to Angels" by the Black Crowes.  For those of you who are not familiar with the Black Crowes, they are a blues rock band who came to fame in the early 90s. Their lead singer, Chris Robinson, was married to Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn's daughter.

This song always bring back memories. The first memory is of an old friend from college, Bill. But I can't think of Bill without thinking of Mary a client who I met about 15 years after Bill.

I worked with Bill at the Blackeyed Pea. We worked together waiting tables at the University of Houston location. I was a freshman and Bill was a 42 year old from New Orleans who used to work doubles almost every day to pay for his vices, drinking and gambling. I was 18 and working my way through school and often worked doubles myself, so we developed a friendship.

After work we used to frequent local watering holes. There was a dive across the street from the law school that we spent a lot of time at.  We'd play pool and have a couple of pitchers of beer. The bar had a jukebox.  I would always put in a dollar to listen to music and I always included "She Talks to Angels" in my mix of songs.

I went on to law school and later the Galveston DA's office before starting my private practice. I am not sure what became of Bill. I met Mary some years later. I represented her in Harris County Criminal Court at Law #12, Judge Robin Brown. Mary was charged with Assault, a Class A Misdemeanor. There was going to be no plea bargain with Mary. It was either trial or dismissal.

It had become personal for her. She got in a fight with another woman in her trailer park and since she got the better end of the fight, she was charged. The fight was over music. When I asked her how music could lead to a fight, she explained to me that a particular song always reminded her of her old man. She was drinking and upset  because he had left her and was listening to this song. A friend of her's came into her trailer and jokingly began picking on her by turning off her stereo. Mary warned her that if she did it again she was going to be sorry. Well guess what? She was sorry. Mary popped her and the fight ensued with Mary throwing her friend out of the trailer, who in turn called the police.

When I asked Mary what song was so important to fight over, she told me it was "She Talks to Angels" by the Black Crowes. Not only that, it was the rare acoustic version. I knew exactly where Mary was coming from. Mary turned out alright, at least in regards to this case. It was dismissed when the State was unable to locate her friend.

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There are many ways that the Internet helps our lives.  Despite all the benefits that the Internet provides there is constant worry that the Internet is going to intrude into our private lives.  Perhaps, the day of working cameras at every corner like in the film Enemy of the State will be here before we know it.  Evidence of the "Internet Police" was shown recently when google earth assisted a Swiss police agency to find a field of marijuana.  Be careful Robert because Brill is still watching you....

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I was having a conversation with a prosecutor that I have known for over ten years recently about why the Harris County District Attorney's Office refuses to use 12.44(b) punishment for state jail felony drug cases.    This type of punishment gives a prosecutor the discretion to reduce the charges from a felony to a misdemeanor.  His reply was "how does that help me?"  I tried to impress upon him that his job was to make sure that justice is done.  I tried to let him know that the general consensus among the citizens of Texas is that low level drug users should not be sent to prison.  He refused to be swayed.  He just kept stating how does this help me  Ironically, he said he would start treating those cases like misdemeanors when the Texas legislature changes the law.  He fails to take into account two things.  First, the Texas legislature has stated that the prosecutor may reduce a state jail felony to a misdemeanor.  The Harris County District Attorney's Office does not acknowledge this law.  Second and most importantly, the comments section of the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct states: "A prosecutor has the responsibility to see that justice is done, and not simply to be an advocate." (Rule 3.09 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor).

If you need help with your drug case in Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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I found it unbelievable last week during trial the that the Cypresswood substation located in Harris County, Texas does not have a working  videotaping device for DWI cases.  According to Constable Norris, a Corporal with the Harris County Constable Precinct 4's Office, it is common knowledge that this is occurring, but it is not up to the constable's office to get the device in working order.  He is of the opinion that it is up to the Harris County District Attorney's Office to maintain the videotape machine in working order.  That statement completely floored both prosecutors trying the case and is completely wrong.  Most appalling, is that after speaking to other attorneys in the courthouse this is not the first time that this Constable has testified that a videotape was not made in a DWI case.  Constable Norris understands the importance of a recording of someone ac cussed of DWI, but cavalierly dismissed the idea during trial.  A DWI video not only allows a jury to see the accused for themselves, but allows a lawyer to review a police officer's actions during the tests.  It is quite common that an officer does not explain the test correctly, or follow the specific guidelines developed.  If an officer does this incorrectly the tests results are deemed invalid.

Since Kate Dolan, the Misdemeanor Division Chief, was in court during his testimony I am confident that she will look into this issue.  The citizens of Harris County deserve much better!

If you need assistance with your DWI case please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.dwiattorneysinhoustoncom.

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The number one reason for a probation violation to be filled is that the probationer does not attend their scheduled visit.  There are several reasons why this may occur,  Commonly, they do not have the money to pay for their probation and secondly they think they might test positive for drugs if they are drug tested.  Most judges have a working knowledge of all their probationers via their probation officers and want them to succeed.  Thus, they find it insulting when a person  knowingly fails to meet with their probation officer.  A judge usually understands the financial hardship one may be going through.  In fact, a judge can not violate a person's probation solely for not paying the money that is owed.   Additionally, most judges understand that someone may have a drug problem if they test positive more then once but they will be less likely to offer anyone assistance if they fail to show up for a scheduled visit.  In summary, failing to attend a scheduled visit may be more harmful than you may realize.

If you would like to speak to one of our attorneys regarding your particular situation please call our law firm at (713) 225-1038.  Also, you can visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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This session the Texas legislature is considering reducing the punishment of possession of less then a gram of a penalty group 3 drug like cocaine from a state jail felony to a misdemeanor.  In fact, Judge McSpadden, presiding judge of the 209th District Court of Harris County, has been promoting this change in the past and now has the support of his colleagues.  Unfortunately, the Harris County District Attorney's Office does not agree.  Our elected District Attorney has a bigger picture in mind.  That sounds very comforting, but most people want instant results.   If she is concerned about jail overcrowding how about using the tool that the Texas legislature has already given them in the form of "12.44" punishment more readily. 

Sec. 12.44.  REDUCTION OF STATE JAIL FELONY PUNISHMENT TO MISDEMEANOR PUNISHMENT.  (a)  A court may punish a defendant who is convicted of a state jail felony by imposing the confinement permissible as punishment for a Class A misdemeanor if, after considering the gravity and circumstances of the felony committed and the history, character, and rehabilitative needs of the defendant, the court finds that such punishment would best serve the ends of justice.

(b)  At the request of the prosecuting attorney, the court may authorize the prosecuting attorney to prosecute a state jail felony as a Class A misdemeanor.

It is a shame that prosecutors in Harris County, Texas dismiss more cases than offering a "12.44(b)."  Surprisingly, new felony prosecutors feel like there is an office policy against this type of punishment.  I have never know this to be the case, but most prosecutors are extremely reluctant to extend the offer and are surprised when I request one.  I have never known a real reason for this other then "we do not do that in Harris County."  The jail overcrowding issue could be addressed by implementing a new attitude towards 12.44(b) punishment and accepting charges for low level marijuana charges when a police officer decides to give someone a citation to appear for court instead of arresting them.

If your need assistance with your drug charges in Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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I walked into the 338th District Court today for the first time since Judge Hazel Jones took the bench.  It felt like I was at my sister's wedding since I have known her for so long.  Judge Jones and I started at the Harris County District Attorney's Office as prosecutors over twelve years ago.  I am very proud of Hazel's accomplishments and glad the we have maintained a friendship throughout the years.    I am confident she will be a terrific judge.  She has the experience of being a former County and Federal prosecutor as well as a defense attorney.  In fact, I was able to see and hear her listen to both the defense attorney and the prosecutor that were arguing before her this morning.

Also while in the same court, I ran into a criminal defense attorney that  I tried a case against, when I was a prosecutor in the 338th.  I remember making this attorney so mad and frustrated during our trial that he was held in comtempt by Judge Mary Bacon on his birthday.  Luckily, he is a good sport and we have a laugh about it now. 

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There are several different ways a misdemeanor and felony judge takes a plea.  As you might expect, a felony judge discusses a lot more information then a misdemeanor judge does during a plea.  Nevertheless, one admonishment that is frequently disregarded orally by a felony judge in Harris County, Texas is that a drug possession will cause a person's driver's license to be suspended for six months if there are over 21 years of age and one year if they are under 21 years of age.  I realize that most felony admonishment forms cover this possibility as do misdemeanor admonishments, but for some reason it really makes an impression when a judge tells someone that from the bench.

The reason someone should keep this in mind is that if they are caught driving while their license is suspended they may be arrested.

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The new year has brought many changes at the courthouse. As criminal defense attorneys in Houston we must take a wait and see approach. The new District Attorney Pat Lykos will undoubtedly bring changes that will effect how prosecutors deal with certain cases. There could be more or less freedom to negotiate. Time will tell and we will adjust accordingly.

Eight new judges have taken the bench in felony district courts. It was pleasant suprise to walk into newly elected Judge Randy Roll's courtroom, the 179th District Court, at 9:30 and see that business is being conducted at that hour. The prior judge in this court, Judge Michael Wilkinson was fair and a nice person, but court normally didn't get started until after 11:00. Clients had to be to court on time and sit and wait. While most courts were wrapping up around noon, the 179th was just getting started. The new change under Judge Roll is encouraging and welcome.

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Si...yo soy un abagado que hablar Espanol en Houston. (713) 225-1038.

During law school I was hired by several law firms to serve as an interpreter.  Those experiences ranged from going over legal documents to complex multiple plaintiff litigation.  It emphasized the obvious  need that if the attorney could not communicate with their client they quickly found someone that could.  That seems like common sense, but I am always amazed when I hear non Spanish speaking attorneys trying to communicate with their clients without an interpreter at the Harris County Justice Center.  I even know of one attorney that carries with him one of those travel translation devices to communicate with his clients.

I realize that it is up to the client who they hire, but an attorney has a duty to make sure that their client understands everything that is being discussed.  At the very least, the criminal defense attorney should have someone with them to interpret all the legal documents to their clients.  That non Spanish speaking attorney should not ask me in court to interpret their plea papers because I flatly refuse such requests.  There are several reasons I will not interpret for a colleague.  The most important is how do I know that the lawyer has fully discussed all the legal options available to their client and the client understood  them.  My suggestion will always be to reset the case and bring an interpreter.

Luckily, all felony courts in Houston, Harris County, Texas require an interpreter before a plea agreement is accepted by the court.  Perhaps, this is something that the misdemeanor courts in Houston, Harris County, Texas should start doing as well.

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It seems like 2009 is not starting much better then 2008 did for the Harris County District Attorney's Office.  Last year at this time a lot of assistant DA's were unsure what the future held for them during the Rosenthal scandal.  Instead of making a fresh start and rallying the troops newly elected Pat Lykos seems to be creating more instability at the DA's office.  Unbelievably, DA Lykos made it mandatory for her assistants to attend her inauguration on a county holiday, mindful  that this is mainly a ceremonial function and photo op.  Perhaps, she wanted to display the unity by having all her assistants there for the swearing in ceremony.  Regardless, a lot of her assistants were not happy about attending.

While I was not in attendance I was disturbed to hear the she did not acknowledge all the work her assistants do on a daily basis.  More specifically, she did not thank her first assistant, Jim Leitner, for what he has done before she took office.  I want to see a stable and confident DA's office in Harris County, but it does not seem like DA Lykos is achieving it at this time.  While I have a lot of friends at the District Attorney's Office I want it to be stable because it would be for the entire community's benefit. Of course, I do not want to deal with the arrogance that was pervasive in previous years, but a confident ADA allows them to more objectively look at a case.  I want to be able to talk to any assistant and know that they are not going to be apprehensive about making a difficult decision because they are scared of what could happen.  Here is hoping that 2009 improves quickly for the entire Harris County District Attorney's Office!

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I have mentioned before that the Harris County District Attorney's Office is changing drastically next year.  Administratively, many changes have already been made.  Murray Newman has commented about the changes in his blog.  Moreover, fellow Houston Criminal Attorney, Mark Bennett, posted the new flow chart in the comments section.  Many more changes are rumored to be coming early next year.  I hope that one of the newest changes that need to be made are how the Welfare Fraud division handles their cases.  Carl Hobbs, one of the most tenured lawyers at the DA's office, has been the head of  this division since I have been a lawyer.  While I enjoy Carl as a person I dislike how his policies have not shifted in years.  During these hard financial times the DA's office needs to re-evaluate if further crippling defendants is just.  Typically, the person charged with welfare fraud is as follows:  single mom, three to four children, limited education, and struggling financially for years.  The struggling mother is receiving welfare and finds a part time job for a while that assists her with paying the bills, but does not get her head above water.  Later, when she reports to the welfare office she fails to report that she has found a new job.  Finally, a random investigation by the welfare office discovers her omission and charges are filed.

While I do not condone what the single mother does, other options should be available to her.  For example, the welfare fraud division has a steadfast rule that they will only offer felony deferred adjudication or a misdemeanor time served offer if the poor mother pays back the funds she was over paid, within forty days.  The welfare fraud division never considers a dismissal of the charges or a misdemeanor deferred adjudication if the money is paid back sooner.  They need to see that justice would be better served if they offered some other options.  They should have a standard policy of contacting the potential defendant to inform them that they have thirty days to pay back the money before criminal charges are filed.  If charges are filed they should give them the opportunity to get a misdemeanor deferred adjudication.  The welfare fraud division needs to see that the children are the ones being hurt by having their mother receive a conviction for theft or being on deferred adjudication for a felony.  The theft conviction would eliminate a lot of job opportunities for her.  Moreover, a felony deferred adjudication is not a conviction, but that means that for a minimum of two years she would be on probation, and must wait longer before she is eligible for a motion for non disclosure.

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You may remember Cook County, Illinois Sheriff Dart from early this year.  He was the one that was trying to protect innocent renters in the Chicago, Illinois area.  Sheriff Dart is grabbing headlines again by using a scheme to lure people that have outstanding criminal warrants.  Law enforcement notoriously have a difficult time capturing individuals that have outstanding warrants for low level crimes. Typically, an individual is not arrested for these type of warrants unless they are stopped by law enforcement for some reason.  What Sheriff Dart did and other government agencies do is lure gullible people by promising them a reward for their attendance.  In past years, individuals have been promised holiday gifts, television sets and cash rewards.  

Please take care of any warrant you may have because it will cost you much more in in the long run.  You would not believe how many felony cases are filed because the person being arrested for the traffic warrant has some type of illegal substance.  Think about the cost of that traffic warrant versus paying for an additional warrant for the new charge, hiring an attorney, and your time going to court for both charges.

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I am frequently contacted by someone wanting to clear their old DWI conviction from their record.  I dislike telling people that despite what their lawyer told them ten years ago their probation for DWI is not eligible to be cleared from their record.  I think that some people look at their criminal record like their credit report.  They are under the assumption that after a certain number of years the charges come off some way and if they contact the right attorney they can make this happen.

The only way to have your DWI cleared from your record is by previously having your case dismissed before going on probation, or going to trial and being found not guilty by a judge or a jury.  Lastly, if your DWI was so long ago that you received a deferred adjudication you may qualify for a motion for non disclosure.

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One day last week while I sat in court I witnessed a perfect example of why you should be careful with what you say on elevators. The elevators in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center are usually packed beyond capacity. You are usually pressed against someone you don't know and you don't have enough room to turn around and see who is behind you. This very situation happened to an attorney in trial and a juror. The chatter in the elevator  could have effected the outcome of a very serious case.

I had absolutely nothing to do with the case or the chatter. I was sitting in 184th District Court waiting for a Child Abuse Prosecutor on an Indecency With a Child case. When I sit around and wait I usually check my email on my blackberry or read articles online, but I always observe what is going on around me. That is one of the best things about what I do for a living. It is like watching a television drama everyday, but you see it live.

On this morning the court had a jury deliberating a Non-Death Capital Murder. The defense attorney approached Judge Barr regarding an incident that took place on his way up to court on the elevator. The attorney had been asked a question by another attorney regarding the case and a juror was present on the elevator. Both the Assistant District Attorney, Judge and Defense Attorney agreed that the juror should be admonished regarding what she heard.

The juror was brought into court and asked if she had heard anything. She said she had heard the defense attorney being asked by another attorney, "Was the State able to  get all of their witnesses?"  The juror explained that she was unable to see the other attorney because she could not turn around. The Defense Attorney replied, "There are jurors on the elevator." A very good response that stopped the questioning.

The juror said that she had not thought about the conversation until the judge had asked and further that she had not discussed the incident with the other jurors. Judge Barr advised the juror not to consider the conversation in her deliberations and not to discuss it with the other jurors.

No one had any ill intent. The Defense Attorney did a great job of stopping the conversations. But the situation should stop and make you think. The case involved the possibility of life in prison without parole. I do not know any of the facts of the case. But we all know what is at stake.

The prosecution obviously believed the defendant was guilty and had no doubt worked hard in attempting to prove his guilt. The prosecutor likely spent countless hours working up the case and meeting with witnesses and the victims family.

The defense had worked equally hard in trying to protect his client from a life sentence and had also spent hours with witnesses and the defendants family.

Everyone wants what they consider to be justice and it can all be taken away by one elevator ride. What if the jury was deadlocked and this conversation broke the deadlock? The juror may think, I know he is guilty but the State didn't prove it, now I know why and I am voting guilty. Or the jury may think in favor of the defense. We can never know. But what we do know is that we should be careful with what we say on the elevator.

This particular case was a victory for the defense. The jury ended up convicting the defendant of the lesser included offense of Felony Murder and sentencing him to 24 years in prison.

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Recently, I was at party with many current and former judges.  I was unsure what to call each of them.  Do I still call them judge if they are retired or left the bench?  Do I call them by their name now that they are not on the bench?  What about all the judges that recently lost their respective elections or the ones that are about to be start in January? Interestingly, I found out  that incoming Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos, a former judge, requires that her staff call her judge despite her new title.  I find that curious.  For example, does congressman Ted Poe, a former Harris County judge, require his staff to call him judge?  Maybe I am missing something.

After speaking to a few people at the party I decided that if I knew the person before they became judge I will revert to calling them by their names unless I am asked to do otherwise.  Likewise, if I only know them as a sitting judge I will continue to call them judge .  I hope that works for everyone.

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As a criminal defense attorney in Houston, I am amazed how much information I can gather on a potential witness via the Internet.  Their facebook account reveals a lot about them.  They make comments regarding all sorts of subjects.  Sometimes they even post stupid comments regarding the case that they are the alleged victim and/or witness.  Nevertheless, facebook is a double-edged sword.  My clients have been burned with what they have written in their facebook and the pictures that they have posted.  That is why I tell all my clients now to "clean up" or delete their facebook accounts before a prosecutor uses it against them at a punishment hearing or at trial.  For example, a probation officer may see that you posted that picture of you and your buddies drinking at a party that you tagged and pass it along to the judge.  This could be grounds for your probation to be revoked.

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Many thanks to DUI attorney Lawrence Taylor for sharing that the state of Ohio still bans a defendant from challenging the accuracy of the breathalyzer machine in a criminal case.  I can not imagine something like this happening in Texas.  I think our judges are more aware of the individual's right of confrontation despite not allowing the defense bar access to the inner workings of the machine. This Ohio law has been in place for twenty five years.  Luckily, no other state has followed their lead.  I say it is time that Ohio revisits this issue.

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As a DWI attorney in Houston I dislike having to tell my clients abut all the hidden costs of a DWI. Everyone knows about the fines and court cost that are associated with a DWI conviction.  What most people do not know about are the surcharges imposed by DPS if someone is convicted of DWI.  Also, a person's automobile insurance rates are likely to go up and their credit rating will be negatively impacted.  Even life insurance rates are harder to obtain after a DWI conviction.

 Thus, it is important to hire a lawyer that is experienced with DWI defense.  It does not matter if you are charged in Houston, Conroe, Friendswood, Sugarland, Missouri City or Richmond the consequences and cost are all the same.  If you like to talk to me about your DWI case call me at(800) 724-1876 for a free consultation.

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I had the pleasure of meeting Ruben Guerrero who was recently elected judge of the 174th District Court of Harris County.  Judge Guerrero previously presided over the 263rd District Court of Harris County.  I was not a lawyer when he was a judge, but every attorney that I have spoken to about him holds him in high regards and are eager to see him back on the bench.

I found out that reason Judge Guerrero has not been much at the Harris County Criminal Center is because he sits as a visitng judge often.  I have been impressed how accessible he has been since he won the election.  I have seen in various courts observing the attorneys and speaking with them to get their input.  I envision a smooth transition from Judge George Godwin, who is retiring from the bench, to Judge Guerrero.

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Plaxico Burress, New York Giant wide receiver, is unlucky that his crime did not occur in Texas. While possessing a handgun at a place that sells alcohol is a felony in Texas his range of punishment would be from two to ten years in prison as opposed to the three and one half to fifteen years he is facing in the state of New York.   Moreover, the bond is outrageously high at $100,000. In Harris County, Texas his bond would have been set at $10,000.  Granted money is not an issue right now for him, but that is a difference of paying a bonding company $1,000 in Texas and paying one in New York $10,000.

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There are many ways a client gets emotional about their criminal case.  Of course, getting a dismissal of their case brings them the most joy, but lately getting a protective order has proven to be similar joyous experience. 

Recently, Judge Karahan, presiding judge of the Harris County Criminal Court at Law #8, removed the no contact portion of my client's protective order.  By a stroke of his pen Judge Karahan brought some normalcy to the life of my client and his family.  I would find it particularly difficult to be apart from my wife during  this time of year and the reaction from my client and his family showed that he felt the same way.  The emotions that flowed from them displayed how a criminal charge changes the family dynamics. 

If you need any help with your criminal case in Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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The recent Democratic landslide in Harris County, Texas claimed many fine judges and I am sure it will be ushering many fine ones as well, but in my opinion Judge Caprice Cosper will be missed the most.   She is widely regarded as the fairest judge at the felony level by both sides of the bar.  Every attorney knows that she would listen to their argument before reaching her decision.   No matter what type of legal question arises she is the first looking up the answer even if she knows the answer before she starts looking.  She even goes the next step and shares with you the pertinent law or case that applies. 

She will be missed most by the defendants in her court that are truly trying to overcome their drug addictions.   Judge Cosper's wants every one of her probationers to succeed.  She understands the fighting addiction is difficult and encourages them to continue battling their demons despite the odds against them.  My hope is that newly elected Judge of the 339th District Court, Judge Maria Jackson, seeks her guidance when dealing with this issue so that she can be as influential in a defendant's life.

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As a criminal defense attorney I wonder if Texas is ready to become the next state to allow marijuana possession legal for medical purposes? It might be if HB 164 becomes law.  The bill would make Texas the fourteenth state to make possession of marijuana for medical purposes legal.

Frankly, I am not sure if the legislature is ready to go that far at this time.  Recently, they made it optional for a police officer to arrest someone for a misdemeanor amount of marijuana.  I have mentioned before that despite this law the Harris County District Attorney's office refuses to accept charges if the arresting officer chooses to give a person a citation to appear in court.  In fact, the previous administration lobbied against the bill.  I am curious to see if the new administration starts accepting citations for low level amounts of marijuana possesion and forms an opinion regarding the medical marijuana defense.

If you find need to talk to a lawyer about your current marijuana case please call our law firm at (713) 225-1038 to speak us for free.

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Kevin Fine recently elected Judge of the 177th District Court of Harris County, Texas hopes to provide a fresh perspective to the bench.   I doubt many sitting judges in the country have such a remarkable story as being crippled by drug addiction and coming back from that to win a county wide election.

As a judge he will be able stare into the eyes of a defendant in his court and candidly tell them that drug abuse can be beaten.  This is vital in a felony court because so many of the defendants are drug addicts and need the hope that the "system" wants them to succeed.  On the other hand, he will be able to recognize the ones that are not ready to overcome their addiction.  He hopes to put this insightfulness to work immediately, and later assist with the "drug court" of Harris County.

While I do not know Kevin Fine personally, all of my dealings with him have been professional and courteous.  He also seems to be knowledgeable about criminal law. I look forward to seeing him grow as a judge. He is going to be a judge that is going to think "outside of the judicial box."

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Most people know their Texas driver's license will be suspended if they blow over the legal limit of .08.  For a first time DWI offender the suspension period would be for 90 days in that instance.

However, the Texas legislature has made it stricter for someone with a commercial driver's license.  A person who holds a commercial driver's license will lose their driving privilege for a period of one year if: (a) they have been convicted, for the first time, of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics; (b) they refuse to submit to a test to determine the level of alcohol in their body; (c) if their blood, breath or urine test determines there was an alcohol level of .04 or more while operating the commercial vehicle in a public place; or (d) if there was an alcohol level of .08 or more while operating a motor vehicle (not a commercial vehicle) in a public place.

Since there are several ways someone may lose their commercial driver's license it is in the person's best interest not to drink at all while driving their commercial vehicle.  Even if they are not driving their commercial and later found not guilty of DWI their license may still be suspended if they blew over .08.  There is just too much at stake for someone that needs their commercial license to make a living to drink and drive in any circumstance.

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It seems prices for just about everything are falling...could illegal drugs be next?  This is probably the least of your worries unless you or someone you care for is arrested with a large amount of drugs.  Typically, in Houston, Harris County, Texas the value of the drugs determines the bond amount.  In fact, the bond is set at double the street value.  Just last month gas was selling for half as much as it is today.  If cocaine prices have similarly dropped so would the bonds in a criminal drug case.  For example, if someone was arrested for a drug charge and the street value was $100.000 last month the bond amount would initially be set at $200,000, but if that street value has decreased and now is $75,000 the bond should be set at $150,000.  That is a difference of $5,000 when bonding someone out of jail. 

Recently, I was use this theory as part of my argument to get someone a bond.  The bond in that particular case was initially set at $80,000, but a magistrate judge decided to strip the person of their bond.  I was able to go to the presiding judge and have the bond reinstated and lowered to $50,000.  That saved my client's family over $3,000 when bonding him out. 

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Recently elected District Attorney, Pat Lykos, will be sworn in at the beginning of the year, but she is already putting her staff together.  Jim Leitner, currently a defense attorney and a former Harris County prosecutor will become her first assistant.  Also, Roger Bridgwater, current judge for the 178th District of Harris County, who lost his position to Democrat David Mendoza will be joining her staff as soon as he leaves the bench.  They are both scheduled to be sworn in before the end of the year.

Both Mr. Leitner and Judge Bridgwater have worked as criminal defense attorneys in Harris County, Texas and are respected by the defense bar.  Therefore, they should bring a fresh perspective to the District Attorney's office.

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A New Jersey Judge used several tactics to avoid a DWI conviction.  The judge tried using chapstick to avoid blowing into the breathalyzer machine.  Next, he stuck a penny in his mouth.  I am pretty sure that he did these things because nothing can be in or around someones mouth for a given period of time before the test is administered.

Nevertheless, the judge eventually blew into the machine and was convicted of DWI.  On top of that, the judge has been reprimanded with this conduct.  He may even lose his judicial position.

If you ever get pulled over for DWI you have the option not to take the breath test in the state of Texas.  Therefore, refuse the test instead of trying to deceive the machine or the officer because you will be hurting your case more by using these tactics. 

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The courts of  Harris County, Texas are always attempting to monitor a person's alcohol consumption when charged with a DWI. There are several reasons the court attempts this, mostly it is because as a condition of probation a person is not allowed to consume alcohol. Another is because a person has been previously convicted of an alcohol related driving offense and now there on bond in their court. The ways the court has tried to do this include:
 

• by ordering for urine analysis,
• random alcohol screenings,
• installing breath reading equipment in your home or vehicle (interlock), and
• ordering the SCRAM Device

The SCRAM (a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) allows the court to monitor your alcohol intake continuously.

When the SCRAM device is ordered by the court, a person will be fitted with a tamper-resistant ankle bracelet made up of two boxes. One box will conduct the tests that will compute your BAC (blood alcohol content). The second box stores the calculations and transmits the data. The SCRAM device is designed to test your BAC level every hour. If the device detects any alcohol in your system, the test repeats every thirty minutes.
 

There are many different reasons the court orders a SCRAM to be installed. The reasons include being convicted of alcohol related offenses in the past; a person states that do not have a vehicle to install the guardian interlock, or a judge that finds it to be the best way to monitor an individual.
 

The SCRAM device is expensive.  You will have to pay a refundable $100 deposit, a $75 fitting fee, and a weekly fee while you are wearing the device . Most importantly, the fees must be paid in full before the device is installed and fitted.

 

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Couples who are thinking of getting married at City Hall or the Justice of the Peace have another option. If you or someone you know is considering getting married through the Justice of the Peace in Houston or in the surrounding Harris County or Fort Bend County area, you should call Mario Madrid.

Mr. Madrid is an Associate Judge with the City of Houston and as such performs weddings. Rather than go to a courthouse that is impersonal and unattractive, exchange your vows at Mr. Madrid's office with spectacular views of the city from the 60th floor or if you prefer an outdoor weeding at the beautiful Water Wall downstairs.

Contact our office at 713-225-1038 for questions about available dates, times and fees.

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The simple answer is probably not. Most people believe that a case may be thrown out of court if the police officer does not provide them with their "Miranda warnings" when they are arrested. I am confident that this belief comes from the abundance of television programs that show the Miranda warnings given whenever someone is being arrested.

A Miranda warning is necessary if the police officer interrogates someone and wants to use  their responses as evidence. If the police officer fails to give you a Miranda warning, nothing you say in response to the questioning can be used as evidence to convict you.  Additionally, under the "fruit of the poisonous tree" rule, if the police officer finds evidence as a result of an interrogation that violates the Miranda rule, that evidence is also inadmissible at trial.  For example, if you tell the police officer where a weapon is hidden and it turns out that you gave this information in response to improper questioning, the police officer will not be able to use the weapon as evidence unless the officer can prove that they would have found the weapon without your statements.

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As a Houston Criminal Lawyer I get asked this question routinely..."what is the difference between an expungement and a motion for non disclosure?"  This is like comparing gold and silver  Both are precious metals, but one is more sought after and harder to obtain.  Similarly, an expungement is more sought after and much harder to get then a motion for non disclosure.

First, you are only able to get an expungement if your criminal case was dismissed.  There are essentially two ways that your cases are dismissed.  A prosecutor may choose to dismiss your case or a grand jury may refuse to indict your case.  Most people believe that once their case is dismissed the case  is expunged.  This is incorrect.  In fact, once your case is dismissed you must wait until the statute of limitations has expired.    Once the statute of limitations has expired you are able to file the expungement petition with the local district court of the county where the case was heard.

If you are found not guilty at trial your case is typically expunged automatically by the court.  Your trial attorney should explain this process to you.  Our firm provides this service at no additional cost to you.

The least common way that people get their cases expunged is after successfully completing  a class "c" deferred adjudication.  Again, you must wait until the statute of limitations has expired to file for an expungement of your criminal arrest.

The best thing of getting the expungement is that you can legally state that you have never been arrested.  Your record is wiped clean!!!

Conversely, you may get a motion for non disclosure even if your case was not dismissed.  The only way to qualify for a motion for non disclosure is if you have successfully completed a deferred adjudication.  Most misdemeanors qualify for a motion for non disclosure immediately.  There are some misdemeanors that are ineligible for a motion for non disclosure.  The most common misdemeanor that is ineligible for a motion for non disclosure is the crime of family violence assault. 

Similarly, most felony cases may be eligible for a motion non disclosure, but you must wait at least two years after completion of the deferred adjudication.  There are lot more felony crimes that ineligible for a motion for non disclosure.  For instance, any crime that involves sexual registration would be ineligible for a motion for non disclosure.

Once the motion for non disclosure is granted by the court it keeps the general public from discovering your criminal history.   This allows a lot of people better job opportunities, better credit, and rent an apartment . 

Despite having a motion for non disclosure granted law enforcement and other government agencies will have access to your criminal history.  Regrettably, this prevents a lot of people from obtaining or keeping  those type of jobs. 

If you need assistance with clearing your record in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website.

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If your DWI breath test case was reviewed by Deetrice Henderson Wallace, a scientist hired by Houston area police agencies, to inspect Intoxilyzer machines you may be in luck. The Texas Department of Public Safety has invalidated all breath tests she reviewed.  Thus, your case may be found to be lacking sufficient evidence for a criminal conviction. 

I am confident that the Harris County District Attorney's Office will review each case individually in order to determine if they warrant a dismissal.  The problem that I foresee is that the DA's office destroys all DWI video tapes after the case is over.  Regardless, without a DWI tape or a breath test their DWI case becomes much harder to prove.  I think they are going to find it problematic to review a DWI case when their key pieces of evidence are missing.  Therefore, you may see more DWI dismissals by the Harris County Districts Attorney's Office after this announcement.

Ms. Wallace has been charged with the state jail felony of Tampering of a Government Record.  The range of punishment for a state jail felony is from 180 days to two years.  Her case will be heard in the 182nd District Court of Harris County, Texas.  The presiding judge of that court is Jeannine Barr.  I am curious to see what the outcome of this case will be considering the damage it has done to credibility of future breath tests.

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A Texas Department of Public Safety audit has revealed that the breath tests from eight Houston area police departments have been comprised because the test machines were not properly tested by the certified supervisor.  The machines in question are the breathalyzers that are used to determine if someone is legally intoxicated.

How is the Harris County District Attorney's Office going to handle this tricky situation.  Will current cases be dismissed?  Will there be any retrials of old cases?  I imagine that the prosecutors will have to evaluate each case like there is no breath test.  The likelihood is that you will see more breath test cases going to trial.  Thus, a misdemeanor prosecutor's job just  got harder.

DPS officials said they suspended the supervisor’s certification, and the Texas Rangers launched a criminal investigation.

“These are serious allegations and we will not tolerate any activities that call into question the integrity of the breath test system,” said Col. Stan Clark, interim DPS director.

If DPS was truly concerned with the integrity of the breath test system they would release the machine's software to the defense bar so it could be independently tested.  Until this happens the machine will never have any credibility.

Lastly, will we be seeing criminal charges against the supervisor?  It seems clear that he may be charged with falsifying government records, a felony.  Stay tuned.

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Do you remember Jerry's girlfriend that was able to persuade anyone to get what she wanted?  In fact, she was able to get out of traffic ticket by flirting with the police officer in the Seinfeld episode titled "The Calzone" despite Jerry admitting everything.  Well not even a extraordinary persuasive person like that will able able to convince Houston, Texas area police officers to write them a citation for being in possession of a misdemeanor amount of marijuana despite the law allowing them the opportunity to do just that in the appropriate situation.

Last year the law changed where an officer has the option to arrest someone or simply write the person a citation for being in possession of less than four ounces of marijuana.  In fact, Austin police officers hope to start the policy by the end of the year.

Since Houston, Harris County, Texas  has a notorious overcrowding issue in their jails you would think they would embrace this law. " Not on my watch your not" said Former Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal bluntly...he notified all the police chiefs in Harris County that if their officers want to follow the new law and issue citations, the DA's office would not accept the charges.  He flatly refused to recognize this law.  Even several months after Chuck Rosenthal's resignation from the District Attorney's office the policy has not changed in Harris County.

Here is hoping that whoever becomes the new Harris County District Attorney recognizes this law and values the good it could do for the overcrowding issues that are occuring in the Harris, County Jail.

If your need assistance with your marijuana case in Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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When I tell people that I am a criminal defense lawyer, I am often asked "How can you defend someone you know is guilty." The question actually has different meanings to different people. To some, it often assumes that the "guilty" person should simply "take what's coming". To others it is morally wrong on my part to assist someone that is charged with a crime.   Routinely, their feelings dramatically change when one of their friends or family member is charged with a crime especially  if that person is facing incriminating evidence, the need to post bail, and find a lawyer.  Their question changes to How can you help us?"

I will not bore you with what I tell people the first two type of questions.  A person accused of a crime is faced with many dilemmas. They discuss their problem with non lawyers, and often receive bad advice from those they trust the most.

Most everyone wants to cleanse themselves of the incident by telling someone about the facts. They immediately want to know if there are going to be found guilty.   Sometimes the answer is obvious. Often it is not.    Whatever the facts of any particular case, my job is to provide the best defense I can. I am responsible for the identification of possible defenses, and defense strategies. I must discover, organize and prepare the evidence, and research the applicable law. This not only includes the law describing the crime alleged, but also, and often more important, the law as it relates to the evidence the prosecution will be able to use against us, and the law that may prevent us from using important evidence.

The complex and confusing series of sentencing rules and laws are also important to understand in order to fairly evaluate the prosecutor's plea offer. What is the "exposure"? If we go to trial how likely is it that we will win and if we lose, what's the worst case scenario? What are the mitigating and aggravating factors that might be considered if we lose.  Do we request a Pre Sentence Investigation, entering a plea of guilty and leaving the punishment up to the judge.

If someone seeking a lawyer speaks to two or three lawyers, he will probably hear fees quoted that differ dramatically. Often the "best price" buys little more than "holding the defendant's hand" while they plead guilty. I have also seen very high paid  lawyers do what appeared to be second rate work or failing to inform the client of all their options.

In some instance, I know early on that a trial is not the best course. Just because I know the prosecutor will be able to prove that a crime has been committed, and that my client did it, does not mean that something can not be done. Even when you know a trial is not likely, it is still important to prepare as though there will be a trial. Preparation is necessary in every case.



".

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As an Houston Criminal Defense attorney that helps those charged with DWI I have helped all types of people.  Despite the different backgrounds of my clients they have several things in common.  Mainly, they say the can not believe a DWI happened to them.  For many, a DWI charge is the first time they have been arrested for a crime.  Also, they never intended to drive while intoxicated.  Not surprisingly, the law the does not require that a person intend on driving while intoxicated like most other crimes.

If you have been arrested with for DWI/DUI keep several things in mind.  After getting some needed rest read the forms the police officer gave you.  At the bottom of the main form you will find the contact information to save your drivers license.  You have 15 days to schedule a hearing to save your license.  You should do this before even talking to an attorney.  Next, speak to several attorneys on the phone and schedule as many office interviews as you can.  Most DWI attorneys like myself will offer a free consultation.  Choose your DWI attorney based on your instincts.  Decide if you and the attorney are a good fit.  Do they answer all your questions?  How easier will it be to get a hold of them?  What type of experience do they have with DWI/DUI cases?

Many people are embarrassed about being arrested for DWI/DUI, but  keep in mind that it truly can happen to anyone even a judge that routinely handles criminal cases.

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Robert Hood, a Texas resident, was able to get arrested four times in two weeks for driving while intoxicated. Remarkably, this occurred in the states of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska.  Would this be possible in Houston, Harris County Texas?

A person with no prior DWI convictions would still be considered a first offender in Texas.  Luckily, Mr. Hood has not been convicted of DWI so he is still a first offender.  Nevertheless, most judges in Houston would have made it difficult for Mr. Hood to drive a vehicle and treat him like a repeat offender while on bond.  For instance, anyone who is arrested for DWI/DUI charge while on bond for DWI would be ordered to have a guardian interlock device installed in their vehicle.  A guardian interlock device is an in car alcohol breath screening device that prevents a vehicle from starting if it detects a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over a pre-set limit of .02 (i.e., 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood). The device is located inside the vehicle, near the driver’s seat, and is connected to the engine’s ignition system.  Moreover, their bond would be set higher and higher after each arrest.  Perhaps, a judge would go as far as not granting a bond after his third or fourth arrest.  Therefore, the likelihood a Houston Harris County, Texas judge allowing this to happen is unlikely.

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The financial crisis has many victims.   An underrepresented group of victims are people that unknowingly pay rent to an owner of a property that is going through foreclosure.  These people through no fault of their own are being evicted out of their homes because the landlord did not disclose to them that the home was going through foreclosure.  The renters have very little options when this occurs.  In fact, if the refuse to leave the premises charges may be brought against them for criminal trespass.  Nevertheless, Cook County, Illinois' Sheriff Dart is currently refusing to serve evictions on these type of foreclosed homes.  His position is that innocent renters are being thrown out of the homes despite paying the owner of the property timely. 

I wonder if other sheriffs around the country feel the same way?  Closer to home would Harris County, Texas'  Sheriff Tommy Thomas, the sheriff of the third largest sheriff's office in the United States, follow suit in an election year?  The financial crisis has not hit the greater Houston, Texas area as badly as the rest of the nation, but what if things do get worse? Does Harris County, Texas want its sheriff disregarding the law?

Admittedly, this a grey area.  Proponents of Sheriff Dart consider him a voice of the poor or providing leadership when it is desperately needed.  Others call him a vigilante...  cynics say that he is preparing himself for a run at higher office What is your position?

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After wining a DWI trial  today I am really thankful that I have the opportunity to prove my clients innocence.  I am continually surprised to learn that many states do not provide this opportunity for those accused of DWI.

If you would like to speak to an experienced DWI lawyer call us at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.dwiattorneysinhouston.com.

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Many of us spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel of a car.    It is common that in our daily commutes we encounter a driver that is overly aggressive that triggers frustration especially after a difficult day.  If you have having one of these bad days be mindful of the consequences of your actions.   In my practice, I have seen witnesses mistake someone from their car displaying a shiny silver cell phone for a gun during an incident. This lead to the person being charged with the felony of aggravated assault. 

Try to keep some of these things in mind before doing anything because a road rage case can lead to very serious criminal consequences.  It is also very common to be charged with evading arrest in these type of cases.

If you need assistance with a criminal case in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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A common practice in Harris County, Texas criminal courts is for the judge to admonish someone that is accused of a crime before setting a case for trial.  I am not a fan of this tactic.  Typically, the scenario is like this:  The judge asks the prosecutor "What is Mr. X charged with....  Then the judge turns to Mr. X and says "well Mr. X I can not believe that the State is even offering you that.  Let me tell you that I will not accept any type of plea agreement once we set this case for trial in my court.  In fact, the maximum sentence for this charge is ____."  In this common scenario the judge is assuming that the person is guilty.  They are forgetting that the person before them is PRESUMED TO BE INNOCENT.  Also,  the judge's role is to be neutral.  I always give the example that the judge should act like a referee making sure that everyone is playing by the rules of the court.

In my practice, all of my clients are well informed and know the range of punishment.  I advise them of all their options.  While no lawyer can guarantee the outcome of the case I am there to protect my client and give them my opinion regarding all the possible scenarios.  A person is scared enough during the criminal process that they do not need a judge scolding them for asserting their constitutional right to a trial.

If you find yourself in the position that a judge is making you feel like you should take the deal being offered trust your attorney's advice.  If you do not trust your attorney's advice find another one quickly because you should value your attorney's advice above anyone else in that courtroom.

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Did you know that the conversation you are having with your loved in jail may be recorded ?  More importantly, courts find it perfectly legal to record these conversations.  Their reasoning is that that people in jail do not have an expectation of privacy.

I have been told by prosecutors in the past that they obtained recordings of an inmate's conversation with their loved ones and plan to use it against them at trial.  These recordings could potentially sabotage an entire defense, make the other person a witness in the case or be used as punishment evidence.

Therefore, I advise everyone not to talk about issues relating to their case over the phone.  Big brother will be listening.  Tell each other how much you miss them and love them, but never discuss how you plan to beat the case or that the prosecutor does not about this person that knows the whole story.

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The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Houston Police Department is asking for over a million dollars from City Council so that another group of scientists, from Dallas, may review the work from the Houston DNA lab.   

In my opinion, the HPD lab should outsource all of their work if they do not believe that their current staff can handle the work that is required of them.  I doubt the citizens of Harris County are ready to pay for someone from Dallas to not only review the work of the Houston lab, but also bear the expense of traveling from Dallas to Houston if the case goes to trial.  Also, what type of working relationship will the Harris County District Attorney's office have with this Dallas lab?  How available will this Dallas lab be to the Harris County Criminal defense bar for review?  It seems to me that more questions need answering before the HPD lab is back on its feet and the citizens of Harris County are able to trust their work.

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Since I am criminal defense attorney in Houston, Texas almost daily I get some form of the following question… I got probation a while ago and I want to know how I can get it off my record. First, it must be determined what type of probation you received. There are two types of probation in Texas. “Regular Probation” is a conviction and can not be “cleared” from your record. Second, some deferred adjudications may be “cleared” from your record. The instrument used to “clear” a deferred adjudication from your record is called a Motion for Non Disclosure. Some deferred adjudications may be “cleared” immediately after sucessful completion. Others may take as long as five years and some are never eligible for a Motion for Non Disclosure. Please keep in mind that most government agencies will still be able to see that deferred.

There a lot of attorneys that tell their clients that a deferred adjudication is not a conviction. This is correct, but anyone with access to public records will find your deferred adjudication until you have your Motion for Non Disclosure granted by a court. Therefore, if possible get your Motion for Non Disclosure filed as soon as possible, if you are eligible.

If you need assistance with clearing your record in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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Mr. Y came into our office because the police has been trying to get in touch with him. He had an idea what it is concerning, but was not sure if he should explain to the police what happened. The short answer is Do NOT SPEAK TO THE POLICE WITHOUT TALKING TO AN ATTORNEY FIRST.

As a Criminal Defense Attorney in Houston I come across people that do not follow this advice and pay dearly for it later.  For some reason, people think that they can explain their way out of situation by talking to police.  Typically, people end up getting charged for a crime that the police did not have enough evidence for a conviction before they started talking. Keep in mind that in the United States you have the right not to incriminate yourself. Use that right before talking to the police and you will make your life much easier.

 After speaking to us Mr. Y took our advice and was never charged with a crime.

If you need assistance with your criminal case in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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Yo hablo espanol....(713) 225-1038.  Si necisita un abogado llamanos.  Habla con abogado gratis!

Oprima aqui para un website de abogados en Houston en Espanol.

Houston abogado.

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In a lot of instances a court will initially set a very high amount in a case. For example, in a theft case where the value of the alleged property that was stolen is one hundred thousand ($100,000) the court will routinely double that amount and set the bond at two hundred thousand ($200,000). However, if you hire a lawyer before raising the money to bond the person out of jail the lawyer should be able to go to the court and have the bond reduced to a more reasonable amount. In the above scenerio a lawyer would be able to save you thousands of dollars when making a bond. Typically, a bonding company will charge you a 10% fee for bonding someone out of jail. The two hundred thousand dollar bond will cost you twenty thousand dollars and the one hundred thousand dollar bond will cost you ten thousand dollars. Thus,hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney in Houston will pay for itself by getting the bond reduced in addition to all the other things they can do for you.  This is an example of where this was done.

If you need the assistance of a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney with your criminal case in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

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Here is a question that Houston Criminal lawyers get asked routinely: "There is a warrant out for my arrest...I do not want to go to jail."  "What should I do?"  This is a situation everyone would like to avoid. There are several proactive steps one can take when this occurs. The first thing I would do is contact a bonding company so that I could do what is called a "non arrest bond." If you contact a bonding company and they do not know what that is move on because they probably can not help you. I would hate to pay anyone to be their first case.

A "non arrest bond" is straight forward. This type of bond allows you to avoid any jail time while waiting for someone to bond you out if you get arrested. If you talk to anyone that has spent as little as a few hours in jail they will tell you do not want to be waiting in jail for someone to bond you out. Thus, the non arrest bond allows you to skip the booking process. The bonding company will take your information and  give you a court date to appear with your attorney. If you do this you will be one of the lucky people that will not be hassled by the police and potentially giving them information that you would later regret.

If you need assistance with your criminal case in Houston, Harris County, Texas please contact our law firm at (713) 225-1038 or visit our website at www.mmalaw.com.

The Harris County Courts have their own schedule that they follow.  This is their posted schedule.

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