Criminal Defense Case Results

Charge

Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Dallas County

Allegations

Officers found the client asleep in a parked vehicle, claimed an odor of marijuana, and searched the car, locating a handgun. The firearm was lawfully owned and the client held a carry license from another state. We scrutinized the basis for the encounter and the scope of the search, pointing out inconsistencies and the lack of independent corroboration for the odor claim. We provided proof of lawful ownership and made clear we were ready to litigate suppression issues. The prosecutor dismissed the UCW charge, and we moved to recover the firearm.

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Collin County, County Court at Law 3

Allegations

The client was stopped after a wide turn during a late-night drive. Officers conducted field sobriety tests, the client declined the roadside breath device, and a consensual blood draw was taken later. We secured the dash and body camera footage and reviewed the discovery, which documented lane weaving, several test cues, and a blood result over the legal limit. After candidly assessing trial risk with the client, we focused negotiations on keeping a conviction off the record. The case resolved with deferred adjudication and a term of deferred probation.

Charge

Assault - Class A Misdemeanor

Location

Rutherford County, SMYRNA JUSTICE CENTER

Allegations

Police were called to a disturbance at a grocery store after a verbal exchange turned physical. Our client reported that the other person rushed him and he acted in self-defense. Responding officers at the time could not identify a primary aggressor and sent both parties on their way. Long after the incident, an old warrant surfaced and the case was filed as a misdemeanor assault. We obtained the reports, highlighted discrepancies between the initial scene response and the later allegation, and compiled available witness accounts supporting self-defense. The state dismissed the case.

Charge

Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Collin County, County Court at Law 2

Allegations

During a traffic stop, the client told the officer there was a handgun in the car and presented a valid license to carry. The officer unloaded the firearm and took it as evidence, leading to a UCW charge. We pulled the body cam and reports, showing the gun remained in the vehicle and that the client immediately disclosed and cooperated. We pressed the state on whether the statutory elements of UCW were actually met and outlined the evidentiary problems. Faced with those issues, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Interference with Public Duties

Location

Collin County, County Court at Law No. 4

Allegations

Police contacted our client in a parking lot, claimed to smell marijuana, and ordered them out of the vehicle as additional officers arrived. The encounter escalated, leading to a forceful detention and injuries. We pulled the body camera video and reports, challenged the basis for the detention and whether the elements of interference were met, and prepared a motion to suppress. After continued pressure, the state moved off its initial probation offer and agreed to reduce the case to a Class C disorderly conduct with a short deferred period, an online class, and minimal community service, keeping a conviction off the record.

Charge

Assault - Family Violence (Class C)

Location

Dallas County, Dallas Municipal Court

Allegations

The client received a Class C assault, family violence citation after a domestic argument at a residence. He was not booked, and medical staff treated him for injuries unrelated to the complainant. On review of bodycam and reports, we documented that the complainant consistently denied any assault, refused photographs, and officers interviewed minors without a parent present. The complainant later signed an affidavit of non-prosecution, which we provided to the prosecutor. Faced with those issues and no evidence of contact, the state dismissed the case.

Charge

Assault by Contact (Class C)

Location

Dallas County, Dallas Municipal Court

Allegations

After a brief, nonviolent conversation at a commercial location with a former acquaintance, our client received a mailed Class C assault by contact citation. There was no arrest and the client had no criminal history. We entered the case, reset deadlines, and demanded all discovery, including any surveillance video and statements. Our investigation emphasized the absence of threats or injury and the civil dispute backdrop. We prepared mitigation and made clear we were ready for trial if necessary. The prosecutor ultimately dismissed the case.

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Ellis County, COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO 2

Allegations

The client was stopped during a late-night highway patrol for speeding and briefly driving in the left lane. Officers claimed signs of marijuana impairment, but the client performed field sobriety tests well, declined a breath test, and no blood draw was obtained. We obtained and reviewed the dash and body camera video, highlighting the lack of alcohol indicators, the absence of a drug recognition evaluation, and no chemical proof of intoxication. We pressed these evidentiary gaps with the prosecutor, and the DWI was dismissed.

Charge

DWI - Third Offense

Location

Bexar County, 187th District Court

Allegations

After a crash at an intersection with another vehicle, our client was arrested and charged with a third DWI. No injuries were reported, and a bond interlock was ordered, which the client promptly installed and documented with pretrial services. We obtained discovery, including police reports and blood draw records, and scrutinized the basis for the stop, the arrest, and the sample handling. We highlighted the long gap since prior cases and consistent compliance with conditions. With no serious injury allegation, we steered negotiations to probation, and the case resolved in straight probation.

Charge

Possession of Marijuana

Location

Dallas County, Criminal District Court No. 1

Allegations

Police responded to a neighbor's call and found our client asleep in a parked car. Officers claimed to smell marijuana, searched the vehicle, and filed a possession charge. We scrutinized the reports and challenged the thin basis for the search, explaining why the odor claim and the subsequent discovery would not withstand scrutiny in court. We also presented mitigating information about the client's circumstances and progress. After sustained negotiations addressing the state's concerns, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

DWI - Second Offense

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

Stopped for alleged swerving, the client performed field sobriety tests and was arrested for a second DWI. They declined a breath test, and officers obtained a warrant for a blood draw. We secured the dash video, the warrant affidavit, and the full lab packet, then challenged the basis for the stop, the administration of the FSTs, and the reliability of the blood testing. With those issues on the table and despite a prior on record, we negotiated a plea to straight probation, avoiding additional jail time.

Charge

Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony)

Location

Ellis County, COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO 2

Allegations

After a traffic stop for alleged speeding, an officer claimed to smell marijuana and searched the car, finding pills the state identified as oxycodone. We examined the basis for the stop and the justification for expanding it into a search, focusing on the claimed odor and scope. We identified inconsistencies in the state's account and argued that the search lacked probable cause. After we put those issues in front of the prosecutor and prepared to litigate suppression, the state dismissed the case.