Criminal Defense Case Results in Austin, TX

Charge

Protective Order

Location

None County, None

Allegations

Following a domestic dispute arrest, an emergency protective order barred our client from the home and all contact. We moved quickly, requested the officers’ materials, and collected the client’s home surveillance clip showing the brief encounter outside. The protected person consistently told police they did not want to pursue action and that a visible cut came from a fall, not an assault. We compiled those statements with the video and showed there was no ongoing threat. The court dismissed the protective order.

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Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Bell County, County Court at Law #3

Allegations

During a traffic stop, officers located a handgun inside a backpack on the passenger seat and filed a UCW charge. We secured the police reports and property inventory and examined the basis for the stop, how the bag was accessed, and whether the elements of UCW were actually met. We highlighted that the firearm was lawfully owned and stored in a closed bag. After sustained negotiations and signaling we would pursue suppression, the prosecution dismissed the case.

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Injury to a Child, Elderly, or Disabled Individual

Location

Coryell County, 52nd District Court

Allegations

Police filed an injury-to-a-child case after an emergency at a residence where our client called 911 when a very young child was hurt. The matter sat for years before being revived near the charging deadline. We obtained the medical records and interview videos, emphasized the lack of intent and the client’s immediate call for help, and pressed the State on the long delay and gaps in the evidence. We also challenged efforts to tie later medical issues to the incident. After sustained negotiations, the State agreed to deferred adjudication, avoiding a conviction and incarceration.

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Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Williamson County, County Court at Law #2

Allegations

During a roadside encounter, officers approached our client while his vehicle sat parked at a light and discovered a pistol in the car. The gun had no round chambered, with a magazine nearby. We pulled the reports and video, challenged the legal basis for the contact and the manner the weapon was found, and questioned whether the statutory elements of the offense were met. After sustained negotiations and our notice that we would move to suppress, the State dismissed the case.

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Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Hays County, CC2

Allegations

Officers approached a parked vehicle in a commercial lot and detained the driver during an unrelated investigation. They found a handgun in the center console and filed an unlawful carrying charge. We obtained the videos and reports, showing the firearm was lawfully owned and the client had a valid carry license. We challenged the basis for the detention, the scope of the search, and whether the statute applied. Leveraging those issues, we negotiated forfeiture of the seized firearm. The state dismissed the UCW case.

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DUI - First Offense

Location

Rutherford (Smyrna) County, SMYRNA JUSTICE CENTER

Allegations

The client was stopped after an officer said they lingered in a center turn lane too long leaving a commercial area. They declined all roadside tests, later consenting to a blood draw that reportedly came back over the limit. We pulled the reports and video, pressed the state on the thin basis for the stop, and highlighted the lack of standardized field testing captured on camera. We prepared to litigate the stop and the blood's reliability, and opened negotiations. The prosecution agreed to reduce the charge, and the client received straight probation.

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Unsafe Speed

Location

Bell County, JP2

Allegations

The client received a citation for unsafe speed after the vehicle briefly slid on loose gravel near a traffic circle. We entered an appearance in JP court and requested the officer's report and related materials. In negotiations, we highlighted the roadway surface and explained that the momentary slide was consistent with the conditions rather than excessive speed. After we pressed the issue, the prosecutor agreed there was not enough to proceed, and the case was dismissed.

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Aggravated Kidnapping (Deadly Weapon)

Location

Travis County, 331st District Court

Allegations

After a late night out, the client offered a ride to two people, dropped one off, and continued driving the other passenger. That passenger later alleged the client restrained them and referenced a gun. Our client denied any threat, and officers found no weapon. Police detained him and collected DNA swabs while we pushed for full discovery and a charging decision. We reviewed bodycam and reports, highlighted the absence of a weapon and thin proof of restraint, and presented strong mitigation. With lab results that did not corroborate the claim, the state dismissed the case.

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Assault Causing Bodily Injury

Location

Bell County, County Court at Law #2

Allegations

Police were called after a disturbance at a bar where staff claimed our client struck an employee while being escorted out. Video captured a single strike after the staffer stayed very close to the client as multiple people shouted, creating a chaotic scene. We obtained the police video, reports, and statements and highlighted the lack of deescalation and that there was no ongoing fight. The client completed anger management and alcohol education early and provided medical documentation of stress issues. Using that mitigation, we secured deferred adjudication.

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Attempted Sexual Assault (Felony)

Location

Travis County, 331st District Court

Allegations

After a late-night encounter near an entertainment area, our client gave two strangers a ride; after dropping one off, an encounter in the car led to an allegation of attempted sexual assault. The arrest followed a high-risk stop, and detectives collected DNA swabs, but no weapon or physical evidence corroborating force was found. We obtained body-worn camera and interview recordings, compared them to the written report, and documented material inconsistencies in the complainant’s account, including whether they had met before and how the car doors were operated. When lab results proved inconclusive and key facts lacked support, we pressed the prosecution on proof problems. The state dismissed the case.

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Violation of a Protective Order

Location

Travis County, County Court at Law #5

Allegations

The client was accused of violating a protective order after sending a series of social media messages to protected parties. We obtained the message records, compared them to the specific terms of the order, and emphasized there were no explicit threats and that the client cooperated once aware of the restrictions. We compiled mitigation including completed counseling steps and an evaluation. After presenting the context and mitigation to the prosecutor, we negotiated a result that avoided jail. The court approved deferred adjudication with supervision, keeping a conviction off the record upon successful completion.

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Class C Citations: Speeding, Open Container, Obscured License Plate

Location

Travis County, Jonestown Municipal Court

Allegations

The client was stopped by police and issued three Class C tickets for speeding, possessing an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, and an obscured license plate. We obtained the citations, engaged the prosecutor, and focused on keeping the record clean. The plate citation was dismissed outright. For the speeding and open container tickets, we negotiated a 90 day deferred disposition with reduced fines. The client agreed to complete a four hour alcohol awareness class and avoid new citations, resulting in deferred adjudication.