This is allegedly the case for one young man near Houston. A man was stabbed outside of an apartment complex on the 3500 block of Baker drive. The stabbing inflicted a wound to the chest. The victim was taken to the hospital but later ended up dying.
]]> A young man allegedly came forward as the person who stabbed him; however it is unknown if it was done in self-defense was an unintentional injury or any other reason. Authorities say that the incident is still under investigation. Although it is not clear whether charges have been filed yet, the district attorney has given clearance for a murder charge.Most times, anytime someone is charged with bad behavior that stems from what amounts to a mutual fight, they are let off with a warning or a relatively light punishment. Unfortunately, if that behavior results in someone's death, even if it was unintentional, this can result in serious charges being pressed.
In this case, this young man will probably need assistance in order to put forth a proper defense. Whether the stabbing was self-defense, a complete accident or the result of some other non-criminal activity, when someone is seriously injured or killed, the police generally must prosecute. In these situations, a defendant will need help in order to limit the charges as much as possible or to seek an outright dismissal of the case.
Being charged with a crime for an unintentional injury almost always requires an aggressive defense. In fact, some may argue that a good defense is most essential in situations were what seems like a horrific incident may have a reasonable explanation.
Source: KTRK, "Police: Teen admits to fatally stabbing man," May 9, 2013
]]>Near Houston, a former pro-golfer almost injured or killed in his attempt to stop a suspected drunk driver. The man leaped out of his vehicle that was traveling southbound on Highway 360 near Ragland Road. He jumped head first into the driver's side window of a moving truck because he believed that the driver, who allegedly was on the wrong side of the road, was asleep at the wheel and drunk.
]]> When the driver realized the man had jumped on to his trucker, he apparently swerved back and forth before driving his car into a field. The driver then supposedly fled the scene of the incident. It was unclear if the golfer had any proof regarding the alcohol or if the driver was asleep or awake, only what he believes that he saw.Being accused of drunk driving often requires a serious DWI defense. The defendant should understand the process and seek assistance to mitigate or drop the charges. Often times, the drunk driving charges can be defended against if there was no actual proof, such as a breathalyzer test performed on the driver. Further, if the driver is not arrested at the scene, there is a chance of a mistaken identity or that the vehicle may have been stolen at the time. If the driver was driving, there may be other explanations for why his driving was aberrant.
For any driver who is making a defense against a drunk driving allegation, there is almost always a proper defense that can be put forth. The best thing a defendant can do is seek assistance.
Source: KHOU, "Former pro golfer injured trying to stop drunk driver," April 29, 2013
]]>This might be the case for man who was arrested near Houston. The incident allegedly occurred on 6200 West U.S. Highway 290, going westbound. A car was stopped at a red light when the defendant allegedly did not break and collided with the rear of the vehicle. The front passenger in the car that allegedly caused the accident was found dead at the scene. Another passenger who was in the back seat of the same car was taken to the hospital with serious, but not fatal, injuries. The man who was the alleged driver was found after he allegedly fled from the crash. The status of the driver of the car that was rear-ended was not immediately clear.
]]> For anyone who is arrested and charged with a serious crime, a strong defense is usually required immediately. There are often plenty of reasons why someone may be arrested but they are not at fault for what they are charged with. First, the injury that was caused may have been an unintentional injury, the victim may have caused it himself or it might have been dealt in self-defense. Another defense is that it may be a case of mistaken identity. While the defendant may have been present, he may not have been the one that caused the injury.Being accused of a serious crime, no matter what the reason, should always be handled as carefully as possible. The best cause of action after being accused is to get the right information about formulating a defense strategy, and not to say anything that can be harmful.
Source: KHOU, "Man arrested in crash that killed 1, injured another," April 24, 2013
]]>The defendant in a recent case worked at a Houston middle school where the alleged incident took place. The 28-year-old guard was arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching a student. This was allegedly one sex crime charge to go along with other alleged complaints that had been brought against the guard in the past. The man had resigned from his position back in December when he was initially questioned by police about the accusations. The guard also allegedly had a history of complaints at the previous school he worked at as well. However, this is the first time criminal charges had been brought. The defendant is stating that he was doing nothing wrong and only performing his duties as a security guard.
]]> Any type of allegations of a sexual nature that are made against a defendant should always be taken seriously, especially if they involve children. This type of allegation, no matter what the foundation, have a tendency to follow a defendant, even if he is found completely innocent of any charges brought against him. There is a good chance that the defendant's personal and professional reputations can be tarnished if the allegations are left unchecked. As such, help should be sought immediately in order to mitigate any damage that may be done to a defendant's reputation.Facing a sex crime charge is a serious matter that often follows the defendant even after it is behind him. As such, it is best to seek out help immediately in order to able to defend against the charge.
Source: ABC Local, "School security guard accused of fondling girl," Demond Fernandez, April 15, 2013
]]>An indictment recently came down from the U.S. attorney's office indicting eleven people for alleged distribution of cocaine and money laundering. Eight of those eleven people were arrested in Houston. The suspects are allegedly connected with 200 kilos of cocaine that were recovered as well as $3.5 million worth of cash, vehicles, jewelry and real estate. If found guilty, the defendants could each face a minimum of 10 years to life for the distribution charges, along with other drug conspiracy charges. The addition of the money laundering charges could move the minimum up to 20 years of jail time in a federal prison, if found guilty.
]]> Once charges are brought against a defendant in federal court, it is extremely difficult for someone to try to fight against them alone. Federal cases are often built up for years, which means a strategic defense should be put forth immediately. Defenses for trafficking charges can include mistaken identity, violations of 4th amendment rights or entrapment.Trying to fight charges from the federal government can be challenging. However, finding the right defense can help reduce charges or exonerate the charges.
Source: Beaumont Enterprise, "Feds indict 11 for trafficking drugs through SE Texas," Jose D. Enriquez III, April 10, 2013
]]>The charges stem from an alleged occurrence in June 2011. The girl, along with two of her siblings, was placed in foster care at the time the alleged sex crimes took place. The man who is accused of the crimes was the live-in boyfriend of the relative the children were sent to stay with in Harris County. The girl recently stated she did not feel safe while at that house because of the alleged sexual assault. The man allegedly came into the girl's bedroom at night and that's allegedly when the assault took place. After the alleged assault took place, the girl's parents told her to continue living with the defendant and to forgive him.
]]> For anyone facing a sex crime charge, those charges should always be taken seriously, no matter whom they stem from or the circumstances surrounding them. Once charged, the defendant should seek assistance immediately, and be sure not to say or do anything to prejudice his case. Once a proper defense is discussed, it is likely that some or even all of the charges could be dropped or reduced. However, without a proper defense, there is a chance that the charge could follow the defendant for the rest of his personal and professional life. To avoid this, it is best to deal with the charges immediately.Often times, a defendant is charged with a crime that he either did not commit or was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Seeking out assistance immediately will help that defendant to fight those charges.
Source: Chron, "Harris County man charged with sex assault of 11-year-old," Robert Stanton, April 3, 2013
]]>According to a recent report, man has been added to Texas' Top 10 most wanted list for allegedly being involved with the Texas Syndicate gang. He is wanted for various crimes, including robbery with a deadly weapon, assault on a public servant, violation of a protective order and other crimes. He allegedly participated in an aggravated robbery that took place at a home in Spring, where the resident was said to have been robbed at gun point. It is unclear at this time why this man was thought to be one of the perpetrators.
]]> Accusations of bad behavior do not mean that the defendant is guilty. There are plenty of reasons why a defendant may have been accused, depending on whether or not the victim had a personal reason to accuse the defendant or was confused as to his identity. Further, some violent crimes could have been unintentional injuries, where the defendant did not realize or did not intend for the crime to happen. Further, the defendant could have been coerced or in some way forced to perform the act that he otherwise would not have done. It's important for the defendant to assess all available defense options in order to be clear about the best path forward.No matter the reason for why a defendant is accused of a crime, it is always important for to take action immediately. This can lead to the best chance of having the charges reduced or dropped entirely.
Source: ABC 13, "Man with ties to Houston area added to Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive list," March 28, 2013
]]>A 43-year-old woman was pulled over for allegedly driving erratically near Houston. She had just been convicted of a DWI in county court for the second time the week before she was pulled over for a third time. Once she was pulled over, the police asked her for a voluntary blood sample, since this was the second time she was being arrested for a DWI. Instead of letting it go, the woman adamantly told the officer that it was her third arrest, not her second. The officer checked the computer, and then told her that, according to the system, this was only her second arrest. She continued to tell the officer that this was her third arrest and, finally, the officer proceeded to treat the DUI as a felony. As such, he was required to take a mandatory blood sample, as opposed to a voluntary one.
]]> Most people, who have been arrested for a DWI, know the last thing that is proper is to assist the police in their attempt to convict you of that crime. Instead, if it is the first, second or even third DWI arrest for someone, an aggressive DWI defense is required. If a blood test is not taken, that means there is less evidence that can be used against you. Volunteering for one, when it is not mandatory, is not the best way to go. In fact, the only true step that should be taken is to get assistance immediately.Being charged with a DWI is a serious offense and should not be taken lightly. The best thing one can do is to make an aggressive defense.
Source: The Courier of Montgomery County, "Drunk driver helps trooper get blood in her own case," March 18, 2013.
]]>Recently three former deputies were charged with various drug offenses, and all three pled not guilty. They had $100,000 bonds set for each of them. The charges they are facing include conspiring to possess with intent to distribute various drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. The case was made even more serious recently, however, because they were just accused of being involved with a broader drug conspiracy that included seven members of a former drug task force. They were all apparently working together to steal drugs and take money for protection of supplies.
]]> Even serious drug crimes that include conspiracy charges can be defended against. When there are multiple people involved in conspiracy crimes, it makes defenses more complicated, but there is still the chance to have charges reduced or even thrown out. In order to be found guilty of conspiracy, two or more people must have agreed to commit an unlawful act and taken a significant act towards completion. To defend against this, the defendant must show that one of those aspects did not apply: either he was not planning the crime, he did not know it was illegal or he stopped before a significant act was taken and tried to actively stop the others in some way. If any of those can be shown, then the charges most likely can be dropped.Defending against any serious crimes often requires a strong defense. One of the most important parts is that the defendant seeks out help immediately once he is charged with a crime.
Source: Chron, "Bond set for 3 ex-deputies accused in conspiracy," Mar. 13, 2013
]]>No matter how small the amount of property impacted by these crimes, and even if they do not result in any physical injuries to another individual, the consequences can be severe. For example, a Texas man was recently sentenced on robbery charges. The 52-year-old man apparently stole nearly $2,000 from a teller at Wells Fargo. He was sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison for the incident.
]]> According to reports, the man walked into the bank and handed a note to the teller. He then took the money. Later he was identified on video surveillance from the bank and he turned himself into authorities.Penalties that include extended jail time such as this one does can tear a family apart. Unfortunately, prosecutors do not often have those considerations in mind and may be more interested in seeking severe consequences.
Fortunately, there are experienced criminal defense attorneys in Houston, Texas that will be an advocate for the accused and get them the best outcome that is as minimally punitive as possible. This may include something like a diversion program or one of another wide variety of options. Defense attorneys are very familiar with these other options and will do everything in their power to find and fight for any option that the defendant may have a chance of obtaining.
Source: news-journal.com, "Man sentenced for East Texas bank robbery," Feb. 27, 2013
]]>This situation, which occurred near Houston, involves a 21-year-old man who allegedly sexually assaulted and sent inappropriate photos using a fake name to a 14-year-old girl, all for revenge against her family. The man claims that a female member of his family was previously assaulted by a member of the family of the girl who is the current victim is the alleged sex crimes.. The man supposedly admitted that he was sending the photos and that he had sex with the girl, though he claimed the sex was consensual. She claims she was sexually assaulted by him. The main is currently in jail for his sex crime charges.
]]> Any time a person is accused of any type of sex crime, it should be taken seriously. Once accused of a sex crime, a person may want to seek legal help immediately in order to make sure that a proper defense can begin work to possibly to eliminate or mitigate any possible criminal penalties. Independent investigation or independent forensic analysis could help uncover new evidence aiding a defense, while a thorough review could support a challenge of existing evidence.Sex crime charges should always be taken seriously, no matter who is instigating them or what the surrounding facts and circumstances are. After being accused of a sex crime, or any crime for that matter, the defendant should do whatever possible to make sure he does not hinder his case.
Source: ABC 13, "Family vendetta leads to rape, arrest in New Caney," Feb. 26, 2013
]]>That seems to be the case in Southeast Texas, where a police chief near Houston was being investigated by the local District Attorney after he was reported to their office. The police chief is accused of allegedly taking pills and other medications during arrests and investigations from last March until this February. He was charged with drug possession, evidence tampering and taking drugs from police evidence. He was booked and had bond set at $100,000. The officer was suspended pending further investigations.
]]> No matter who the defendant is or what the situation, any time a person is accused of any crime involving drugs, the case should be taken seriously. There are many defenses that can be put forth when there are allegations of possession. If the police never found them on the defendant's person or actually in his possession, there is always the defense that they do not belong to the defendant. Even if the drugs are allegedly found on the defendant's person, if the chain of custody is broken in some way, then that may be enough to get the charges thrown out. Finally, if the drugs are lost in some way, that too could be enough to get the charges thrown out, even if they are lost through no fault of the parties.Any time there are allegations of drug usage, possession or any other associated charges, they should be taken seriously. Seeking out help is often the best first step.
Source: My Fox Houston, "SE Texas police chief charged with drug possession," Feb. 21, 2013
]]>One man is accused of drunk driving on Corporate in Houston. The man allegedly drove into three cars, including a police cruiser. The man was in a Tahoe when the alleged accidents occurred. After hitting the police cruiser, the man was given a field sobriety test and subsequently arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. Luckily, no one was injured from the accident, including the driver. It is unclear if the man is still in prison or if he was released on bail.
]]> Drunk driving charges are serious and therefore require a similarly serious defense to ensure that the defendant's rights are protected. There are many different defenses that can be applied, depending on the situation. It is important to check the tools that were used for the sobriety test because many times readings are not accurate. Further, if authorities drew blood for a blood test, the chain of possession for that blood work must be perfect otherwise it cannot be used as evidence. Additionally, if the DWI involves drugs and they were present in the driver's system for a valid reason then that is another defense option.A defendant should seek out assistance as soon as possible and should not prejudice his or her case in any way. Once help is received, the accused driver can decide on the proper defense and the charges can be either mitigated or thrown out entirely.
Source: ABC 13, "Suspected drunk driver smashes into police cruiser, several cars in SW Houston," Feb. 15, 2013
]]>This incident allegedly occurred in the vicinity of Houston-area movie theatre. Police reports claim that the 16 year old who made allegations ran into the movie theatre around midnight and said she had been assaulted in a field that was located near the theatre. The victim was taken to the hospital because of her injuries and at the time of writing, and her condition was not made available in initial reports.
]]> When accused of any crime involving sexual assault or any other sex crimes, it is important to always seek help immediately so that a proper defense can be made. There are many different defenses that may be considered, including innocence of the defendant, insanity or mental incapacity. Innocence can be shown if, at the time of the crime, the defendant could not have been there. Insanity or mental incapacity can often be applied to mitigate some offenses, but does not always serve as a complete defense and is usually quite hard to demonstrate.Any time a victim accuses someone of any sex crime it should always be taken seriously. As such, it's important to understand that a person does not have to wait until official charges are filed to seek the help of a trustworthy attorney. As soon as police begin an investigation and gather evidence, there is a chance that basic legal rights can be violated. In order to make sure criminal proceedings are fair, a defendant's rights must be upheld at all times.
Source: My Fox Houston, "HCSO: Teenage girl beaten & sexually assaulted runs to movie theatre for help," Feb. 6, 2013
]]>Two officers in Houston have recently been accused of accepting $1,000 each to protect a load of cocaine that was being transported. The charges were brought as a two count indictment in federal court. It alleges the officers "conspired to possess cocaine with intent to distribute it in the Houston area" and were paid $1,000 each to protect the shipment. If the officers are convicted on the drug offenses, they each face 10 years in prison to life and a fine of $10 million. If they are convicted of extortion, they could receive up to 20 years in jail and another $250,000 fine.
]]> The crimes the Houston officers are accused of are incredibly serious, as are many drug related allegations. Any crimes that involve intent to distribute are often considered even worse than mere possession. For anyone charged with a drug related crime, it is often best to seek out legal assistance immediately. With an aggressive defense, the charges can often be reduced or even dropped completely. Further, any type of sentencing can often be limited, as well. Typical defenses can range from mistaken identity, to the drugs being someone else's possession, to unlawful search and seizure or even entrapment. The defense that is best applied to any given situation varies greatly on the particular circumstances.Defending against drug charges is often an incredibly difficult task. Seeking out help to fight the charges is usually one of the most important steps that can be taken.
Source: Chron, "2 HPD officers busted on drug charges," Dale Lezon & Dane Schiller, Jan. 28, 2013
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