What is a Trial Attorney? Contrary to popular belief, lawyers are not one-size-fits-all. While time is of the essence if you have been charged with a crime or injured in an accident and need restitution, taking the time to find a good trial attorney is extremely important. It’s also important to note that not…
There is no such thing as statutory rape in the Texas Penal Code. Rape and statutory rape are charged exactly the same in Texas. Section 22.011 of the Penal Code defines them both as sexual assault, which is a second degree felony. The punishment range for second degree felonies is 2-20 years in prison with an optional…
Second, this is actually two topics in one — expunctions and orders for nondisclosure. They apply in different situations and the records are dealt with in different ways. Expunction is when all of the records associated with your case and arrest are completely destroyed. A nondisclosure order removes your records from public searches. Government agencies…
The one exception would be a lawyer who handles cases like sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, continuous sexual assault and indecency with a child. Our Family Code requires any person who suspects child abuse to report it. The code goes further and places a heightened duty on professionals who come into contact with children. This…
If you’re not sure why that’s a terrible idea, read my previous blogs about not talking to the police. Don’t do it. Please. Sometimes, especially in sex cases (indecency with a minor, aggravated/continuous sexual assault and the like), they’ll ask the suspect to take a polygraph and get really, really excited when the suspect agrees.…
Aren’t All Sex Offenders Guilty??? It’s always a bad thing when a child is hurt, whether it be physically or psychologically. It hurts us as adults to see a child mistreated, abused, or neglected. That said, not every person who is accused of a crime like aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, or continuous…
What is Indecency with a Child? People hear things like indecency with a child thrown around on TV police dramas, in the media, in the news, and unfortunately, sometimes they hear it for the first time in the charges against them. Rarely do people really understand exactly what this means. They just know it’s bad,…
A major portion of our practice is serious criminal defense. I wanted to take a moment and tell you about a hard fought case from a weeks ago. Joan Ballard and I have been representing a set of twin brothers in Collin County for a combined 18 counts of various forms of aggravated sexual assault,…
If you are accused of a sex crime, whether it is continuous sexual abuse of a child, indecency with a child, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, child pornography or injury to a child, it is critical you get legal representation as soon as possible. You do NOT want to say anything without talking to an…
Spending time in jail is a real possibility. The most important first step is to be proactive and hire a lawyer immediately. After violating the conditions of their probation, clients often make the situation worse and stop reporting all together, afraid that their mistakes will send them straight to jail. A competent attorney can guide…