Criminal Defense Case Results in Houston, TX

Charge

Criminal Trespass (Misdemeanor)

Location

Montgomery County, CCL5

Allegations

Police were called after a resident reported someone on an ATV in an open tract near a neighborhood. Our client had become stuck in a muddy drainage area and, when told to leave, tried but could not get the ATV out. He was detained and cited for criminal trespass along with another charge. We obtained the bodycam and 911 audio, surveyed the location, and reviewed property and plat records. With no clear fencing or signage, and video showing his attempts to depart, we challenged the elements. The prosecutor dismissed the trespass.

Charge

Civil Asset Forfeiture - Vehicle Seizure

Location

Harris County, 189th District Court

Allegations

After a highway stop where officers alleged street racing, the client’s car was seized and a civil forfeiture suit was filed. We obtained the seizure file, requested the dash and body camera footage, and reviewed the property inventory. We pressed the State on the lack of a solid nexus between the allegation and forfeiture, and raised proportionality concerns under the excessive fines clause. Confronted with these evidentiary and constitutional issues, the State dismissed the forfeiture action.

Charge

Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Harris County, CCL13

Allegations

Officers contacted our client in a residential parking area and said the handgun in the cup holder made it unlawful because it was in plain view and not holstered. We pulled the bodycam and dashcam and showed the car was already parked at the client’s residence, the holster was visible on the seat, and the client had not consented when the officer opened the door and seized the gun. We challenged both the basis for UCW and the warrantless seizure, documented the issues with video timestamps, and pressed the prosecutor. The case was dismissed.

Charge

Child Endangerment

Location

Montgomery County, 359th Judicial District Court

Allegations

Officers were called after a young child left a residence and knocked on a neighbor’s door. The client had stepped out, returned when contacted by police, and was arrested for child endangerment. We pulled the 911 audio, body cam, and call recordings to pin down the sequence of events, then built mitigation showing this was an isolated lapse. The client completed parenting and decision-making classes. With that leverage and steady negotiations, we secured deferred probation, avoiding jail and keeping a conviction off the record if successfully completed.

Charge

Leaving a Child in a Vehicle (Class C)

Location

Brazoria County, Pearland Municipal Court of Record

Allegations

Our client received a Class C citation after briefly leaving young children in a locked, running car during a quick stop at a retail location. There was no arrest and no prior record. We obtained discovery to confirm the timeline and how officers were alerted, emphasizing that the children showed no distress and the vehicle was secured. We also provided context about the client’s circumstances and a child welfare inquiry that found no concerns. After targeted negotiations with the prosecutor, the case was dismissed.

Charge

Assault - Family Violence

Location

Montgomery County, CCL 4

Allegations

Following a domestic dispute, our client was accused of pulling, pushing, and striking a household member. We gathered the police reports and photos and spoke directly with the complainant. She submitted an affidavit of non-prosecution and stated she would not participate further. The photographs did not corroborate key injury claims in the report. We used these weaknesses to push back and limit the exposure to custody. The case resolved with straight probation, avoiding jail time and more severe penalties.

Charge

Indecent Assault

Location

Brazoria County, CC1

Allegations

After a report made at a school, our client was arrested for indecent assault and held on an unusually high bond. We met with the client in the jail, moved for a bond reduction, and demanded full discovery. Our review showed a related felony allegation had already been rejected by a grand jury, and we pressed for those transcripts. We also challenged the admissibility of unrecorded statements and raised credibility issues in the complainant’s accounts. With trial set and our motions pending, the prosecution dismissed the case.

Charge

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Location

Montgomery County, JP4

Allegations

A routine traffic stop for an expired registration led to a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. The individual admitted there was a small amount of marijuana and officers found a grinder with residue, but they discarded the marijuana at the scene and did not seize the grinder or the gun. We entered the case early, demanded the police report and video, and focused on the lack of seized evidence, chain of custody, and whether any statements could reliably establish the elements. After presenting these deficiencies and making clear we were ready to litigate, the prosecutor dismissed the case.

Charge

Evading Arrest or Detention in a Motor Vehicle

Location

Galveston County, 10th District Court

Allegations

Police approached a parked vehicle at an intersection and found the driver unresponsive. When awakened, the driver pulled forward, struck a patrol unit, and a brief pursuit followed before a stop and arrest for evading in a motor vehicle. We obtained and reviewed the dash and body camera videos to map the sequence of events. Then we built a mitigation package with treatment and sobriety logs, steady employment records, and character support. We also negotiated a structured restitution plan for the property damage. The prosecution agreed to deferred probation.

Charge

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

Location

Harris County, 497th DC

Allegations

The client, a passenger in a car with children in the back seat, was stopped for an alleged signaling and wide turn violation. Officers focused on window shades in the rear, then claimed to smell marijuana, though only a small remnant in a bottle was found. Despite no consent, they searched and discovered a firearm in the glove box, which the client acknowledged. We obtained the dash and body cameras, showing shifting reasons for the stop and a shaky basis for the search. We prepared a suppression motion and pressed the issues with the prosecution. The state dismissed the case.

Charge

Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Location

Harris County, County Court 5

Allegations

The case began when officers responded to a minor single-vehicle incident and contacted our client. During the encounter, the client disclosed a handgun in the car and was arrested for unlawful carrying tied to the broader investigation. We obtained the records, assessed the legal basis for the charge, and pressed the prosecution in negotiations. Emphasizing the nonaggravated circumstances, we agreed to a property forfeiture of the firearm. The state dismissed the unlawful carrying charge in full.

Charge

Criminal Mischief

Location

Harris County, CCL9

Allegations

At a storage facility, the client asked another driver to move so he could pass. The other man refused, pulled furniture from his vehicle and it struck the client’s truck. The client, upset, pushed the item aside. The other party then claimed assault. We obtained the surveillance video, the 911 recording and body cam footage, which showed no physical contact with the complainant and raised credibility and valuation issues. Using that leverage, we secured an agreement for a brief class, and the prosecution dismissed the case.