A plea bargain is one of the ways your criminal case may resolve. While it’s not always the ideal outcome in terms of the consequences you may face for your criminal charges, it is sometimes the smartest path to take, especially if you and your lawyer determine that you have few other options.  A plea…

Some crimes cannot be prosecuted after a specific period of time. In Texas, there is a three year statute of limitation on most felonies and a two year statute of limitations on misdemeanors. After the statute has expired the state can no longer bring charges.  However, there are some caveats you should be aware of,…

Harris County courts take family violence charges very seriously. The District Attorney even has a special division to prosecute domestic violence charges.  A domestic violence charge could include the violation of two statutes: Title 5, Chapter 22 of the Texas Penal Code, Assault Title 4, Subtitle A, Chapter 71, Section 71.004, Family Violence These charges…

The Internet is a wonderful tool for keeping us connected. Yet some individuals misuse it to harm others psychologically, and sometimes even physically. Under Texas law, stalking is a crime. It is defined as any pattern of behavior which a person knows, or reasonably should know, would cause someone else to feel threatened or fearful.…

A pretrial diversion can sometimes help you avoid conviction. It allows you to agree to certain conditions in order to avoid a criminal conviction. You have to make it all the way through the program and meet the conditions for the charges to be dropped. Studies have shown that diversion programs are exceptionally effective. They…

Marital rape is a crime in all 50 states, and has been since 1994. A rape is committed any time one person forces another to have nonconsensual sex, regardless of the relationship between the two parties. It covers all sexual acts. Force can include assault, threats, or intimidation.   Being married is not a defense. Being…

A recent story found that women who work for Uber, Doordash, and other “gig economy” apps face unusual levels of harassment. For example, passengers in Ubers seem to think it is okay to ask female drivers for sex. In fact, this is against the law. 81% of women have experienced sexual harassment.  Do you know…

In most Texas cases, ignorance of the law will not help you as any kind of defense strategy. There are a few circumstances where we can use “mistake of law as a valid defense, but only in cases where you relied upon a written, official statement from an administrative agency, public official, or a court…

You might already be aware that when you are charged with a crime that the prosecution is supposed to turn over certain evidence to defense lawyers. But what evidence? How much, and when? What does it mean for your case? Here’s what you need to know. Evidence The prosecution must, upon a timely request from…

In plenty of detective movies and shows, police officers follow a suspect around to find out what they’re doing and where they’re going. But modern police have a much cushier option: they can track you on Google maps by the simple expedient of placing a tracking device on your vehicle.  In the 2012 case United…