Contrary to what television crime dramas would have you believe, DNA testing is not a mistake-proof way of identifying criminal suspects. Indeed, like any scientific method, the process of DNA testing has been altered and refined over the years to the point where many older test results would no longer be considered valid. Yet there […]

Shoplifting is one of the more common misdemeanor crimes that occur in Texas. Legally speaking, shoplifting is a form of theft, and the severity of the charge will depend on the retail value of the items involved. Regarding the actual definition of theft, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has said it is essentially the […]

Although most DWI arrests come from traffic stops, the truth is that anytime a police officer observes–or is informed of–possible evidence of drunk driving, you may be subject to questioning and arrest. That is why you always must remember you have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions posed by an officer, […]

If you have been pulled over and cited for a traffic violation, you might be wondering if the officer is not just trying to fulfill some “quota” assigned to them by their superiors. Indeed, the idea of traffic ticket quotas has been in popular culture for many years. But do they actually exist? More to […]

When you are charged with a criminal offense in Texas, the court will set bail as a condition of your release pending trial. Bail often includes a bond requirement, i.e., the posting of a cash fee to guarantee you will make all required court appearances. If you fail to show up for a scheduled court […]

White collar crimes are no laughing matter, especially when the defendant is a public official. The misuse of government funds can lead to serious felony charges such as wire fraud. And even a single conviction on wire fraud charges may carry a prison term of up to 20 years. Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals […]

A sex crime conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. Indeed, even after you have served a criminal prison sentence for a sex offense, a Texas judge may subsequently order your “civil commitment” if prosecutors can show you are a “repeat sexually violent offender.” And even if the court does not strictly […]

Police officers often rely on undercover work and confidential informants to help gather evidence of potential drug crimes. In some cases, however, these actions may cross the line from a legitimate investigation into what is known as “entrapment.” As defined by the Texas Penal Code, entrapment refers to a situation where a defendant engaged in […]

Many crimes in Texas have what are known as “lesser-included offenses.” This means that based on the available evidence, a jury could find the defendant guilty of a lower-degree of crime than the one charged by the state. For example, the crime of “robbery” is considered a lesser-included offense to “aggravated robbery” under the Texas […]

Identity theft is one of the most commonly prosecuted white collar crimes in Texas. If you intentionally use someone else’s name, Social Security number, or other personal identifying information (PII) to obtain money, credit, or anything else of value, you can face serious federal criminal charges. And prosecutors will not hesitate to charge a potential […]