Criminal Defense Case Results in Austin, TX

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Obstruction or Retaliation

Location

Travis County, 331st District Court

Allegations

Prosecutors filed a felony obstruction or retaliation case after a domestic disturbance report alleged our client made threats toward law enforcement during a severe mental health episode. The accusation rested on a third party statement, not on any direct contact with an officer or overt act. We obtained the police reports and underlying statements, documented the crisis context and treatment efforts, and pressed the state on proof of a true, specific threat. Faced with those evidentiary gaps, the prosecution dismissed the case.

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Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Location

Travis County, 147th District Court

Allegations

An early morning warrant led to our client being booked on an allegation of failing to register as a sex offender. From the start, he reported that he had been checking in regularly with supervision and the local registration unit. We moved quickly to secure his release and pulled the case file and related records. The paperwork did not line up with his reporting timeline, and we pressed the prosecution on those discrepancies and the lack of proof of a willful lapse. After negotiations and prosecutorial review, the charge was dismissed.

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Unlawful Use of a Criminal Instrument

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

After a traffic stop, officers seized our client's work tools and claimed they were criminal instruments. We documented legitimate reasons for having the tools, including regular work and parts pickups, and obtained statements supporting that explanation. Reviewing the police reports, we found no evidence of intended criminal use, no modifications, and no offense linked to the tools. We presented those gaps and made clear we were ready to litigate the issue. The prosecution dismissed the case.

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Assault on a Pregnant Person

Location

Travis County, 450th District Court

Allegations

Police responded to a domestic incident and arrested our client based on the complainant's statement and photos of facial and arm injuries. We recorded the client's account that the phone was his and that he took a knife away to prevent self harm, explaining how contact occurred. We obtained the reports, compared the narrative to the photos, and highlighted the conflicting accounts. We then negotiated a path to dismissal conditioned on completing a family violence intervention class. After the client finished and we filed proof, the state dismissed the case.

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DWI - Second Offense

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #8

Allegations

After a two-vehicle collision following an illegal U-turn, the client was taken to a hospital. No field sobriety tests were done due to injuries and a preexisting vision impairment, yet a breath test showed 0.11. The case also involved a prior out-of-state DWI and the absence of a local driver's license. We challenged the reliability of impairment observations given there were no roadside tests and highlighted the client's medical limitations. By pressing those issues in negotiations and ensuring interlock compliance, we secured straight probation.

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DWI - First Offense

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #9

Allegations

After a late night crash triggered by a lane drift, the client was arrested for DWI. They reported eye irritation, admitted to a few drinks, completed field sobriety tests, and provided breath samples reportedly over .15. An interlock was ordered while the case was pending. We gathered the crash and testing records, addressed the circumstances with the prosecutor, and pushed to avoid an enhanced conviction. The State agreed to waive enhancements and accept deferred probation with credit for time already on the interlock, allowing removal and keeping a conviction off the record.

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Possession of Marijuana

Location

Bell County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

After a traffic stop for speeding, officers obtained consent from the driver of a rental car and searched the vehicle. Marijuana was located in a door pocket and behind a seat, not on our client, and officers did not question him about ownership at the scene. We obtained the body camera footage and reports, highlighting the lack of evidence tying him to the contraband and the shared control of the car. We negotiated a resolution requiring a brief online class. After completion, the prosecutor dismissed the case.

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Illegal Dumping

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #5

Allegations

The client was accused after assisting two others with a cleanout and leaving household debris near dumpsters when a usual site was closed. Law enforcement contacted them later, and they gave statements by phone and at an office about the items and vehicles. We reviewed the investigative materials and analyzed each statement, noting they were non-custodial and equivocal about roles and location. We pressed the State on proving the alleged volume that elevated the charge and the lack of direct proof tying our client to a specific dump site. Faced with these weaknesses, the prosecution dismissed the case.

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Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Bell County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

After a traffic stop for speeding, our client was a passenger in a rental when the driver consented to a search. Officers found ammunition in the console and two unloaded pistols in boxes in the trunk, with paperwork showing they belonged to another individual. No weapon was on or near our client, yet he was arrested for unlawful carrying. We obtained and reviewed the body camera footage, documented the location of the items, and emphasized lack of access and ownership. After pressing the state on proof of possession, we secured a dismissal, with the client completing brief online classes and agreeing to forfeit the seized firearm.

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Illegal Dumping of Trash

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #5

Allegations

After clearing out a residence, the client and two others left bulky items at dumpsters behind a commercial complex when their usual facility was closed. Investigators later traced them through a document found in the debris. The client promptly cooperated, met with officers, and tried to fix it by going back to clean up, providing a truck receipt as proof. We got involved early, documented the remediation, and challenged the reliability of the statements taken and the lack of clear notice against dumping. The state dismissed the case.

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Possession of Marijuana

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

The client was in a parked car when officers approached after a store incident involving another person. They reported the odor of marijuana, searched the vehicle, found a small amount, and our client acknowledged it was theirs. We analyzed the police reports, challenged the expansion of a detention that began with someone else, and questioned the scope of the search. We also highlighted the client’s cooperation and minimal history. After negotiations, the state reduced the charge and agreed to a sentence of time served.

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Assault - Family Violence

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

After a domestic argument, a relative called 911 after hearing commotion, but no one outside the couple saw what happened. Officers arrested our client based on the complainant's statement. We reviewed the reports and evidence, noting she was intoxicated during the interview, her account shifted, and there were no independent witnesses. The injury documentation was minimal and inconsistent with the allegations. The complainant later made clear she did not want to pursue the case. We presented these issues to the prosecutor, who dismissed the charge.