Houston Criminal Defense Attorney

Houston Criminal Charges Lawyer & Board-Certified Specialist in Criminal Law*

Every day, Houston and Harris County residents are accused of serious criminal offenses. For many people, it may be their first experience dealing with the criminal justice system. Your first instinct when questioned by a police officer may be to try and tell your side of the story. But the reality is, that is almost always a mistake.

In any criminal investigation or trial, you have a constitutional right to the assistance of an experienced Houston criminal defense attorney. At the Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we know how to provide that counsel. We provide zealous and effective representation for clients throughout Houston, Galveston, and League City. Whether you are charged with a first-time DWI or facing serious felony charges that could land you in prison for life, we can help.

We Help People Accused of Drunk Driving in Houston

Many people panic when they are stopped by a police officer on suspicion of drunk driving. They often do not realize they have certain constitutional and legal rights that the police must respect. That is why you need to educate yourself before you find yourself in trouble. Here are some articles we have prepared on the subject of drunk driving in order to help prepare you:

• Alcohol Impairment Chart;
• Avoid These Common DWI Mistakes;
• Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID);
• Driving While License Suspended (DWLS);
• Field Sobriety Tests;
• Intoxicated Manslaughter;
• Loss of Commercial License;
• What are the Penalties?; and
• Will My License be Suspended?.

The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates has extensive experience dealing with DWI, DUI, and other types of impaired driving cases. We know what strategies work, and we can help you avoid a conviction that will permanently affect your criminal and driving record.

We Help People Accused of Serious Felonies in Houston

Felony charges are reserved for the most serious types of crimes in Texas. Even at the lowest degree–a state jail felony–you can face a minimum of six months in jail and a $10,000 fine. At the other end of the spectrum, conviction of a first-degree felony can effectively lead to a life sentence. The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates can represent you in a wide range of serious felony cases, including the following:

• Aggravated Crimes;
• Arson;
• Assault;
• Burglary;
• Drug Charges;
• Capital Murder Charges;
• Violent Crimes; and
• Weapons Charges.

We Help People Accused of Sex Crimes in Houston

Aside from homicide, perhaps no category of criminal offenses is more devastating to the accused than sex crimes. Even a false accusation can publicly follow an accused individual for years. To help protect your liberty and your reputation, the Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates can represent you if you are charged with any of the following sex crimes:

• False Allegations of Sexual Misconduct;
• Internet Pornography;
• Internet Sex Crimes;
• Online Solicitation of a Minor;
• Prostitution and Solicitation;
• Rape;
• Sexual Assault;
• Sex Crime Investigations;
• Sex Offender Registration; and
• Sexual Offenses Against Children.

We Help People Accused of White Collar Crimes in Houston

While they often do not get the same attention as violent crimes or sexually based offenses,white collar crimes can still lead to serious prison time, not to mention fines and court-ordered restitution to any victims. At the Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates we assist individuals accused of many types of white collar crimes such as:

• Credit Card Fraud;
• Embezzlement;
• Fraud;
• Insurance Fraud;
• Money Laundering;
• Mortgage Fraud;
• Multi-Level Marketing Schemes; and
• Tax Crimes.

We Help People Charged With Crimes in Houston, Galveston & League City

In addition to the more serious offenses discussed above, the Law Office of Tad Nelson & Associates represents Houston-area residents in other criminal matters, including but not limited to the following:

• Criminal Mischief;
• Domestic Violence;
• Expungement;
• Federal Crimes;
• Grand Jury Proceedings;
• Human Trafficking;
• Juvenile Offenses;
• Misdemeanor Crimes;
• Probation Violations;
• Smuggling;
• Theft; and
• Traffic Violations.

Regardless of the specific crime or allegation, you should never attempt to deal with the police or the district attorney’s office by yourself. These professionals have far more experience than you when it comes to criminal law. Tad Nelson is a former prosecutor himself and has an intimate understanding of the Texas criminal justice system. Contact us today at (281) 280-0100 to schedule a consultation if you need immediate assistance with a criminal matter.

Trouble With Forensic Evidence

Forensic evidence, such as analysis of a fire scene, is the name given to physical evidence used in court to support a conviction, especially when that evidence is technical or scientific in nature. Common examples of such evidence used in criminal cases include:

• Fingerprint matching
• Firearms and ballistics testing
• Handwriting analysis
• Tire-track analysis
• Blood-spatter patterning
• Hair analysis
• Canine scent lineups
• Arson-site analysis

These crime-solving tools were developed by police departments and detectives over the years in an attempt to solve crimes. The methods were generally not developed by scientists or with any scientific rigor, yet they are still used by courts and prosecutors to convict people of crimes, even those that could result in death-penalty sentences.

The labs that analyze this evidence are often part of the law enforcement apparatus, with no real barriers between those doing the testing and the prosecutors and police. Lab workers may feel pressure to come to particular conclusions or start their analyses with preconceived notions about what the outcome will be.

A terrible case in point is the widely publicized example of the Houston Police Department (HPD) crime lab, where many problematic practices have been uncovered, including incorrect procedures, falsified test results, inadequately maintained equipment, possible sample contamination, lack of standard protocols, and poor recordkeeping. Faulty evidence from this lab led to inaccurate testimony in court.

The Justice Project reports that DNA testing has shown “inaccurate forensic evidence and testimony” to be the second-highest reason for wrongful convictions in Texas.

Criminal Law Tools

Preparing to Meet With a Criminal Defense Attorney

When you meet with a criminal defense attorney for the first time, it is important to be prepared for the meeting so that you can have a productive meeting and cover all the legal issues you wish to address. If you have been charged with a crime, you likely have many questions for your lawyer. This article provides a brief overview of how to prepare for a meeting with a criminal defense attorney.

Fourth Amendment Rights and Search Warrants

The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures. Generally, for a search to be considered reasonable and lawful, the police must have a search warrant. However, there are several important exceptions to this requirement. This article provides a brief overview of Fourth Amendment rights, search warrants and situations in which a search warrant is not required.