Criminal Defense Case Results in Denton, TX

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Denton County, County Criminal Court #1

Allegations

Stopped at night for driving without lights during a short trip to get food, our client was arrested for DWI. The car used automatic headlights and the client believed they were on, but the officer said the rear lights were off. Field sobriety tests were performed in cold conditions and went poorly. The client consented to testing and a BAC over .15 was later reported. We obtained discovery, highlighted the minimal driving and circumstances of the stop and FSTs, and guided the client through DWI classes and a victim impact panel. With that leverage, we negotiated the charges down.

Charge

Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony)

Location

Denton County, 462nd Judicial District Court

Allegations

A traffic stop for a minor equipment issue became a felony case when the officer claimed to smell marijuana and searched the car, finding a bag in the passenger area. There was no corroborating officer, and our client, upset during the arrest, blurted out a statement taking responsibility. We obtained the police reports, dissected the stated reasons for the stop and the odor claim, and challenged the legality of the search and the reliability of the statement. We pressed these defects with the prosecutor and made clear we were ready to litigate suppression. The prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Assault - Family Violence (Class C)

Location

Denton County, The Colony Municipal Court

Allegations

During a heated argument between partners outside a commercial venue, an officer arrived and, after seeing a brief push, issued a Class C family violence citation. We gathered the citation and police narrative and focused on the limited scope of what the officer actually observed. The other party later indicated they did not wish to pursue charges. We relayed that position and challenged whether the elements were met by a momentary contact. The prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Injury to a Child (Felony)

Location

Denton County, 16th Judicial District Court

Allegations

During a volatile custody dispute, our client accompanied a relative to pick up the children and went inside to ask police to supervise. Outside, a struggle broke out as the other adult pulled a child away. The client used pepper spray toward the adult to protect the child, but a sudden wind shift blew it back, affecting the child and others, not the intended target. We obtained surveillance and body cam video, documented the prior request for police help, and gathered records showing CPS later placed the children with their mother. We pressed the lack of intent and were ready for trial. The state dismissed the case.

Charge

DWI - Second Offense

Location

Denton County, County Criminal Court #3

Allegations

After a traffic stop for alleged swerving, our client was arrested on a second DWI. They declined field sobriety tests and a breath sample, and officers later obtained a warrant for a blood draw. We obtained discovery, including the warrant materials, and scrutinized the basis for the stop and the affidavit supporting the draw, while pressing the state for complete disclosure. With an old prior on the record, jail time was a real risk. Through targeted negotiations informed by our review, we secured straight probation.

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Denton County, County Criminal Court #4

Allegations

Police found the client stopped in the roadway and asleep at the wheel, turning a welfare check into a DWI investigation. The client said they had a few drinks, performed field sobriety tests, and a blood sample was taken under a warrant. We pulled the dash and body camera video and all reports, analyzing how the tests were instructed and recorded, noting that a trainee officer participated. We also pressed the state on the reliability and chain of custody of the blood draw. Using that leverage, we secured deferred probation, avoiding a final conviction.

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Denton County, CCL3

Allegations

Officers stopped our client after a U-turn they labeled illegal and claimed the vehicle accelerated quickly. The client declined roadside sobriety tests and refused a breath sample. After reporting chest pain, a blood draw was taken at a hospital under a warrant several hours after the stop. We scrutinized the basis for the stop, the reliability of the officer’s speed estimate, and the long gap between driving and the blood test. Using those weaknesses, we negotiated with the prosecutor and secured a reduction of the charge.

Charge

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Location

Denton County, 462nd Judicial District Court

Allegations

A school-zone traffic dispute escalated when another driver followed our client to a light and began to exit their vehicle, prompting the client to briefly display a plastic pellet gun and leave. A short cell phone video led to a felony charge. We compiled the full context, including the clip showing no aiming, the complainant’s posts admitting she pursued the encounter, and documentation of the client’s recent victimization and therapy. Supported by strong character letters and mitigation, we pressed negotiations. The prosecution reduced the case to a misdemeanor with deferred probation, avoiding a felony record.

Charge

DWI - First Offense

Location

Denton County, CCC4

Allegations

The client was stopped for an alleged headlight issue and arrested after officers reported a marijuana odor. The initial portion of the dash video was missing, and when the recording began the headlights were on. Field sobriety tests were given, but our client appeared steady and no marijuana was found. A consensual blood draw later showed low THC levels with a wide margin of error. We challenged the basis for the stop, the missing video, and the reliability of the tests and lab results. The state reduced the case to a non DWI offense with deferred terms, keeping a conviction off the client's record.

Charge

Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Misdemeanor)

Location

Denton County, County Criminal Court #1

Allegations

The case stemmed from a collision with a parked vehicle, after which the driver left the immediate area. A witness called police and officers made contact with our client within minutes at a nearby location. We closely reviewed the report and timeline, highlighting the rapid contact and challenging whether the state could prove an intentional failure to stop and provide information. We pressed these issues with the prosecutor and prepared to litigate. The state dismissed the charge.

Charge

Theft (Misdemeanor)

Location

Denton County, County Criminal Court #1

Allegations

After a contentious business split, our client was accused of using a former business account to make two payments to a personal credit card. The client immediately called the bank and the card issuer to reverse the charges and documented those calls. We prepared for trial by building a precise timeline, obtaining financial records confirming the reversals, and presenting witnesses who explained the account mix-up and the lack of intent to deprive. We also challenged the complainant's credibility. The jury agreed, and the client was found not guilty.

Charge

DWI - Second Offense

Location

Denton County, CCC1

Allegations

After a minor collision with a parked vehicle near the client's residence, a witness called police and the client drove home. Officers arrived as the client parked. No field sobriety tests were conducted, the client refused roadside testing, and a blood sample was later taken. We obtained the police reports and blood records, emphasizing the lack of standardized testing and the rapid timeline from first contact to arrest. Leveraging those issues, we negotiated a reduced charge with deferred probation.