This means that serious criminal charges have been brought against you. The District Attorney's Office has already initiated the legal process towards your conviction.

If they are successful, the penalties you face are potentially drastic and could include jail, fines, community service hours, and court costs. You may have an alternative. With the assistance of a qualified and aggressive attorney, you can fight back!

We should know. We've spent years handling these kinds of cases. We know how the system works. We understand how judges apply legal doctrine. And most importantly, we know how to defend, from both technical and administrative perspectives, cases like yours. When you call us for a free consultation, we'll discuss your case in detail. We'll explain the finer points of our strategy, which will be as follows: First , aggressively seek dismissal.

There are numerous legitimate bases for dismissal. Often they involve your constitutionally protected rights against things such as illegal gathering of evidence against you. If, and only if, the judge disallows all motions for dismissal, we will work towards acquittal by presenting your case to the court in the best possible light based on our experience defending others in similar situations.

This criminal charge, we know, bothers you mentally and is extremely emotionally unsettling. We can help. Call us soon. The sooner we begin, the more time we will have to prepare and defend your case!
 

What to do and what not to do.


Initial Investigation
Unless special circumstances exist, remain silent when contacted by law enforcement officials.

It is normal to think that you can convince someone of your innocence.  However, In most cases, your speaking with law enforcement officials will impair your ability to present the best possible defense.

In short, do not speak to law enforcement authorities without your lawyer present.


Your Arrest
If you are arrested, remember that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
Everything you say WILL be used against you.

Investigators often imply that suspects will receive better treatment if they will. Understand that police officers/investigators have no authority to make agreements that bind the.  They may also suggest that an innocent person has nothing to hide and therefore does not need a lawyer. These are common techniques used to press individuals for information that may incriminate them

Once again, do not speak to law enforcement authorities without your lawyer present.


The Grand Jury
The grand jury hears evidence presented by the district attorney's office and then decides whether to issue an indictment. The grand jury is an independent body, whose functions include not only the investigation of crime and the initiation of criminal prosecution but also the protection of the citizenry from unfounded criminal charges.

The grand jury's principal function is to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that one or more persons committed a certain offense within the venue of the court. Thus, it has been said that a grand jury has two functions -- to indict, or to return a "no-bill."

The grand jury has broad powers to subpoena witnesses regarding criminal allegations. In fact, once subpoenaed by the grand jury, an individual cannot refuse to appear. This power to subpoena witnesses also applies to the suspects of the grand jury's investigation. While a suspect cannot refuse to appear before the grand jury, they may, however, refuse to answer specific questions if the response to that question could tend to incriminate them.

A witness or suspect called before the grand jury does not have the right to have their attorney present during the proceedings. Therefore, you should always consult with your attorney prior to the proceedings to prepare for any circumstances that may be presented.

Remember:

• You may refuse to answer any question if a truthful answer to the question would tend to incriminate you.
• Anything that you do say may be used against you by the grand jury or in a subsequent legal proceeding.

Trial
Preparation, with strict attention to detail, along with aggressive representation is the key to conducting a successful trial.  But remember, your words or actions may incriminate you so it is important to contact Mr. Johnson as soon as possible to prevent anything from damaging your defense  

Appeal
If convicted of a crime, a person has thirty (30) days in Texas and ten (10) days in Federal Court, to file a notice of appeal. If you wish to appeal a conviction, contact Mr. Johnson immediately as time is of the essence.

For your convenience we have added a Criminal Offense Glossary to explain the definitions of each type of crime. Click here to view our Reference section.