Posted on January 26, 2023 in Drug Charges

There is no question that the perception of marijuana is rapidly changing across a significant number of states. However, in the state of Texas, laws regarding marijuana remain among the strictest in the nation. As a result, many employers in Texas require prospective employees to submit to a drug test before they are hired. The most common form of drug testing for employers is urine analysis. These tests, considered accurate, test for substances such as THC, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, and more. 

For the purpose of today’s discussion, we will focus on marijuana and the negative legal consequences that can arise if someone were to try and cheat a urine analysis test. Something that makes urine analysis testing for marijuana somewhat unfair is that marijuana can stay in your system for an extended period of time, unlike many other illicit drugs, like cocaine or heroin, which remain in the system for only a few days at most. As a result, many people resort to using products like synthetic urine to beat a marijuana urine analysis test because of the time it takes to leave one’s system. If you have been arrested for a marijuana-related offense or fabricating the results of a urine analysis test, contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney may be wise to avoid a detrimental conviction. 

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 Posted on January 19, 2023 in Criminal Defense

There are many different situations in which someone may be accused of harassing or stalking another person. One of the more familiar scenarios is after a relationship ends, an ex tries to stay in contact with their former partner. In other scenarios, someone may be wrongfully accused of stalking or harassing someone. Whatever the case, Texas law does not take accusations of stalking and harassment lightly. And if there is probable cause that a crime has been committed, police officers can and will arrest and charge alleged offenders. 

If you have been arrested and charged with stalking or harassment, you would be wise to contact an experienced stalking and harassment attorney to help protect your rights and represent you as you and your lawyer together work to overcome the charges levied against you. 

What Is Harassment and What Are the Associated Penalties?  

If you are unaware of the differences between stalking and harassment, you are not alone. While stalking and harassment are similar, they have vital distinctions. In Texas, harassment occurs when someone tries interacting with someone else against that person’s wishes, particularly if the person trying to interact with the other person is doing so in an alarming, annoying, or emotionally distressing manner. Harassment may take place over the phone or via social media. Generally, harassment is considered a Class B misdemeanor, which can land an offender in jail for up to six months and include fines of up to $2,000. 

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 Posted on January 12, 2023 in Drug Charges

We are currently living in very interesting times regarding the topic of marijuana in the United States. While various states have passed laws considered more lenient towards marijuana, even in some cases legalizing the recreational use of the drug, many states, including Texas, still prohibit marijuana and virtually all its forms in the strongest possible terms. Today, we will look at the laws in Texas regarding marijuana in edible form. 

However, if you live in Texas and have been arrested on a marijuana-related charge, you would be wise to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to help ensure your rights remain protected and that a positive outcome can be pursued in your case. 

What Is the Law for Cannabis Edibles?

In case you are unfamiliar, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana flower, THC, is frequently extracted as a concentrate and infused into various foods, like cookies, brownies, beverages, and so on. In Texas, the law for marijuana edibles is substantially different than marijuana flower. The Texas Controlled Substances Act categorizes THC products under penalty group two, meaning that possessing THC edibles is considered to be a more serious offense than possessing marijuana flower. For example, if caught with less than four ounces of marijuana flower in Texas, this is considered a misdemeanor offense. However, if you are caught with less than one gram of marijuana concentrate like found in edibles, the charge is escalated to a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

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 Posted on December 27, 2022 in DWI

When most people think about driving while intoxicated, they tend to think of people drinking and driving. This is understandable, as drinking and driving is the most common form of DWI. However, driving after consuming alcohol is not the only way to be charged with DWI. You may be surprised that you can be charged with DWI in Texas even if you are under the influence of prescribed medication. 

Being arrested, charged, and convicted of DWI can devastate one’s life and career. If you have been charged, you are likely wondering what can be done to ensure you can avoid prison time or costly fines. The most important thing you can do during this critical time is to contact a knowledgeable DWI attorney who will work with you to ensure your rights remain protected while pursuing the most favorable outcome possible. 

Laws Regarding DWI in Texas 

Texas law states that you cannot operate a motor vehicle while impaired by any substance. This means alcohol, drugs, and even some prescription medications. This is because substances can affect certain mental and physical faculties, which makes it exceedingly dangerous to try and operate a motor vehicle. In addition, hundreds of prescription medications can make driving hazardous and illegal, including Xanax, oxycodone, Valium, and many more. Shockingly, even some antihistamine drugs that fight allergies may impair you to the point where driving becomes dangerous and unlawful. 

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 Posted on December 19, 2022 in Attorney Writ Bonds

You may have heard of stories where someone is arrested on suspicion of having committed a crime. That individual is forced to sit for several miserable days in jail before getting in front of a judge. This typically happens on weekends. In Texas, the law states that a suspect is usually required to go before a judge so that bail can be set. Once bail is set, the suspect can secure a bond and then be released. What if there was a better option that did not require suspects to be held in jail for days?

The good news is that there is a better option! In Texas, you are likely eligible for a writ bond if you have been arrested for certain non-violent offenses. A writ bond is a procedure an experienced licensed attorney can set up with the Sheriff's Department. This arrangement can get someone out of jail without first having to go before a judge. If you have been arrested, contact an attorney with experience in attaining writ bonds for clients suspected of having committed a crime so that you can get out of jail only a few hours after being arrested instead of sitting in jail for days.  

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 Posted on December 13, 2022 in DWI

Good citizens are everywhere, and they are called that because they are generally “good.” Their behaviors mean no harm and are only meant to help the community or someone in need. Some are inclined to notify law enforcement when they witness what they believe to be a crime, and anonymous tips from these individuals pour into police stations regularly. A significant portion of these tips is from drivers or passengers on the roadway reporting someone who appears to be driving while intoxicated (DWI) by alcohol or drugs.

What Do the Police Do With This Information?

If a tipster calls 911 to report an emergency, such as a drunk driver on the road, the operator will immediately begin to attempt to get as much information out of the informant as possible. The 911 center keeps a record of the call and can call the number back to obtain more information. This information alone is generally enough for police to stop a vehicle or driver matching the tipster’s description so that the officer can ask questions and gather more information.

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 Posted on December 06, 2022 in Family Violence

Being arrested and charged with a crime can be a downright nerve-wracking experience. This is especially true regarding violent crimes like domestic violence. In Texas and society as a whole, domestic violence is looked down upon and is prosecuted aggressively. In a previous blog, we discussed the law surrounding domestic violence in Texas. Today, we will delve deeper into what to do and what not to do if you have been arrested and charged with a serious offense like domestic violence.

Something tricky about being charged with a crime is that you are likely to feel a blend of emotions. It is imperative you do not let these emotions cloud your judgment. Understand that, at all costs, you want to avoid being convicted, as a conviction of domestic violence can devastate your life and career. If you have been charged with domestic violence, immediately seek the counsel of a domestic violence attorney. Hiring a skillful attorney may make the difference in whether you are found not guilty or go to prison. 

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 Posted on November 28, 2022 in Criminal Defense

The Dallas Morning News reported that authorities were investigating allegations that an incumbent Collin County judge slapped a judicial challenger after a contentious Commissioners Court meeting earlier this month. The alleged victim, a Democratic candidate for judge, reported the alleged assault to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

Texas Penal Code § 22.01 plainly states that a person commits an assault offense when they intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily injury to some other person, which includes their spouse, threaten another person with impending bodily injury, including their spouse, or cause physical contact when an alleged offender either knew or should have known another person would regard contact as being offensive or provocative. The simple truth is that an alleged assault does not have to be inherently violent to result in criminal charges.

Assault Charges in Texas

Assault crimes vary in criminal severity depending on a number of factors, including the harm that an alleged offender causes to another person. An assault offense involving threats or physical contact will be a Class C misdemeanor when an alleged offense results in no injury to another person.

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 Posted on November 22, 2022 in DWI

A Carrollton police officer was killed while assisting another officer with a driving while intoxicated (DWI) investigation in the westbound lanes of 1905 East President George Bush Turnpike last month. The 82-year-old driver who struck the squad car was pronounced dead at the scene.

While the scene of the crash was a DWI investigation, that was a separate case. However, the accident is a good reminder for all people to be aware that DWI charges in Texas can be enhanced when people are involved in motor vehicle accidents that involve police officers. There are many other reasons that people can face aggravated criminal charges.

Types of Aggravated DWI Charges

DWI is generally a Class B misdemeanor offense, but a person can face Class A misdemeanor charges when they have a breath or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or more. A DWI committed with a child passenger, meaning a passenger less than 15 years of age, is a state jail felony.

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 Posted on November 14, 2022 in Family Violence

When it comes to domestic violence, shelters in Collin County providing temporary shelter and support services to victims, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission reports that Hope's Door New Beginning Center, Inc. and Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation in Plano are the only two. The state notes that services it offers to survivors of domestic violence include temporary 24-hour shelters, a 24-hour hotline, and legal assistance.

The state of Texas and the prosecutors who work for the state for it take domestic violence offenses seriously and try to get severe punishments imposed against alleged offenders in these cases, so you need to take your case seriously if you are facing allegations of any kind of crime of domestic violence. Prosecutors in these cases often paint alleged offenders in ways that can make them seem more hazardous than they actually are to try and secure convictions. With this in mind, you will want to be sure you have a criminal defense attorney on your side to defend you in court and fight to get charges reduced or dismissed.

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