Criminal Defense Case Results in Austin, TX

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Blanco County, County Court

Allegations

Stopped for speeding, the client pulled to a safer spot before stopping, which the officer viewed as suspicious. The officer alleged signs of intoxication and said field sobriety tests were failed, though the client had documented physical limits that affected balance. A breath test was refused, and blood was drawn hours later by a paramedic after multiple attempts. We reviewed video and records, challenged the FST reliability and the timing and procedure of the blood draw, and used those defects in negotiations. The state reduced the charge, and the client received deferred probation.

Charge

Disorderly Conduct - Fighting in Public (Class C)

Location

Travis County, DACC CourtRoom 1

Allegations

After a late night in a busy entertainment district, our client was cited for disorderly conduct, accused of fighting in public. We pulled the videos and discovery and found the case file was a mess, with portions of body camera footage misfiled, no offense report, and no complainant statement tying anyone to a fight. What the footage did show was intoxication, but the state never filed a separate PI charge. We leveraged the gaps and delays in discovery and positioned the case for dismissal, while the client completed a brief online class to show good faith. The prosecutor dismissed the charge.

Charge

Possession of Marijuana

Location

Bell County, None

Allegations

During a traffic stop, officers reported finding about seven grams of marijuana and warned they would seek a warrant if the individual refused to cooperate. The case was held without a formal filing while that pressure continued. We were retained quickly and contacted the investigators and prosecutor to shut down the informant demand. We challenged the justification for the stop and the seizure and made clear we were prepared to litigate. The state dismissed the case.

Charge

DWI (BAC Over .15)

Location

Travis County, CCL3

Allegations

Police alleged our client was involved in a minor traffic contact near an active scene and then moved the individual across the roadway for field sobriety testing. The client admitted to drinking and reported not completing all of the tasks. At the station, two breath samples registered over .15 roughly an hour after arrest. We challenged the administration of the roadside tests, the basis for the initial contact, and the timing and maintenance records for the breath device. Confronted with these issues, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Public Intoxication

Location

Williamson County, JP4

Allegations

After a day outdoors with friends and too much to drink, the client chose to sleep in a parked vehicle, engine on for heat, after an argument made returning home difficult. Hours later an officer conducted a welfare check, noted an open container, and made a public intoxication arrest. We scrutinized the report and highlighted that there was no disorderly conduct, no danger to others, and no intent to drive. We negotiated a path to dismissal that required a short class and a modest fee. The client completed everything, and the charge was dismissed.

Charge

Possession of Marijuana

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

After a traffic stop for a registration issue, an officer reported smelling marijuana and searched the vehicle, recovering a small amount in a grinder. We dug into the basis for the stop and the search, then opened a dialogue with the prosecutor while building mitigation. At our direction, the client completed a drug education course and provided three clean drug tests. We compiled the documentation and submitted it ahead of the court setting, making clear we were ready to litigate the search issues. The state dismissed the case.

Charge

Driving While License Invalid

Location

Travis County, CC6

Allegations

The client was stopped for expired registration during a routine traffic stop. When the officer ran their information, a warrant tied to a license suspension came up and they were arrested. The client reported having no prior notice of any suspension, believing it stemmed from old toll balances. Our team obtained the DPS driving record, suspension history, and warrant documents, and engaged the prosecutor while we addressed the license issue. After reviewing our materials and the status of the suspension, the state dismissed the case.

Charge

Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony)

Location

Williamson County, 277th Judicial District Court

Allegations

After a traffic stop for expired registration, an officer with a K-9 conducted a sniff that led to a search. Police reported finding a small bag, a pipe, and several grams of meth. Our client explained the items were left by another person earlier. We dug into the justification for the stop, the timing and reliability of the canine alert, and the lab weight, which appeared to include packaging and paraphernalia. We pressed these issues with the prosecutor. The state ultimately reduced the case to a lesser charge.

Charge

DWI (BAC Over .15)

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #6

Allegations

After a nighttime stop, officers arrested our client for DWI following a breath test reported over .15. Moments before the stop, the occupants had switched seats, creating a real dispute over who was actually driving. Years later, the old warrant resurfaced and we took over the case. We demanded video and testing records, scrutinized the officer's instructions and the device documentation, and pressed the state on driver identification. After we raised significant evidentiary concerns, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Assault - Family Violence

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #4

Allegations

Our client was arrested after a domestic dispute following a night out where both sides had been drinking. The client reported trying to stop the other person from leaving to drive intoxicated by blocking a doorway, which officers interpreted as an assault. We engaged quickly, documented the context of the incident, and communicated it to the State. The complaining witness later signed an affidavit of non-prosecution, which we presented. Combined with the disputed facts, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

DWI - Class B

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #8

Allegations

Officers stopped our client after noticing the vehicle riding on a flat tire and arrested for DWI. The client denied drinking at the scene and declined the roadside breath test. There was no breath or blood sample, leaving the state with only observations and field notes. We pressed the limits of the stop and the reliability of the impairment evidence, and highlighted the absence of any chemical proof. After negotiations and early intervention, the prosecutor agreed to place the case into pre-trial diversion.

Charge

Indecent Assault

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #2

Allegations

Police filed indecent assault charges after an incident at a resort where alcohol and a dispute preceded allegations of unwanted contact. We dug into the reports and pressed for the surveillance video referenced by security, which the state never produced. For months the prosecution had difficulty securing the complainant, and we used that gap to push for better terms. As trial neared, they lined up the complainant and two bystanders, raising the risk at verdict given our client’s record. We negotiated a probation resolution that avoided jail and let the client move forward.