Vandalism is a broad term that can cover a range of allegedly criminal activities. In Texas, vandalism is often associated with criminal mischief and graffitiing. This post will introduce these crimes and their consequences, but no part of this post should be...
Criminal Defense
Drunk driver charged with smashing into sleeping girl’s bedroom
As most Texans realize, drunk driving is a serious crime in and of itself. What most Texans do not realize is how quickly an episode of drunk driving can become a serious crime. Whenever a person suffers a serious injury or is killed due to the actions of a drunk...
Stand your ground law under scrutiny in fatal shooting
Texas has a stand your ground law that allows people to use deadly force against someone else under certain circumstances. Although this law may be essential for a criminal defense, it has complicated the investigation of a fatal shooting in Austin on July 25. The...
Age and its Impact on Texas Criminal Charges
There are many birthdays that are special over the course of a Texas resident’s life, but none is as monumental as one’s 18th birthday. That is because when a person turns 18, they are legally recognized as an adult. While many youths look forward to this age as a...
High bail set for Texarkana man charged with intoxication assault
A Texarkana man is facing bail of $300,000 in connection with his suspected involvement in a traffic collision in Texarkana on May 1. The 21-year-old suspect was allegedly speeding when he drove through a red light and collided with a Hyundai Santa Fe. The accident...
East Texas man charged with stimulus loan fraud
The huge amount of money available under the recently passed federal stimulus legislation was certain to tempt many people to cheat the system. In one of the first cases of this kind, a man from Maud, Texas, a small town just west of Texarkana, has been charged with...
Do “emerging adults” belong in the juvenile justice system?
Turning 18 is a big life milestone. As a legal adult, you have the newfound freedom to vote in elections, gamble, open a bank account or enlist in the military. However, it also means that if you’re convicted of a crime, you’ll likely be facing much harsher...
What happens to seized assets?
Sometimes during an arrest, a police officer may find cause to seize assets or property from the arrested individual. State laws dictate when and how police can seize assets and determine the distribution of the proceeds. Police primarily use these laws to take cars...
Teenage offenses can lead to real-world issues later in life
The teenage years are a time of rebellion and experimentation. Most teens manage to make it through high school and into adulthood with only minor disciplinary issues, which means they will only face discipline at home or from the school they attend. Unfortunately,...
You have a right to see evidence of your innocence
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that anyone accused of a crime has a right to see all the evidence that police and the government have that it tends to make the accused seem more innocent. That was 57 years ago, in 1963. The Court doubled down 22 years later, insisting...