Have you been charged with a crime in Houston, Texas? We know it can be incredibly stressful, confusing, and daunting.

Penalties are stiff, and the idea of going up against Harris County prosecutors may seem impossible. You need someone in your corner who will fight tirelessly on your behalf to get you the best possible outcome.

But remember, the U.S. justice system is designed to give you rights. One is that everyone who has been accused of a crime is innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Another is that you have the right to an attorney.

You Need an Attorney With Experience

Choosing the right Houston criminal-defense attorney will increase your chances of a positive outcome. At Michael & Associates, we believe that everyone who has been accused of a crime is entitled to a defense by a Zealous Advocate.  

A Zealous Advocate is a defense attorney who:

• Knows how to earn dismissals for clients and works tirelessly until we have gotten you the best possible outcome
• Has established relationships with the prosecutors and judges
• Is far more prepared than the prosecution for every case
• Has at least a decade of experience in criminal defense
• Does a complete and thorough investigation of all evidence
• Has a track record of excellence throughout their career

Our services aren’t limited to Harris County. We also handle cases in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties.

If you’ve been charged with a crime in the Houston area, do not hesitate to contact us for a free, no-commitment case review today.

Why Michael & Associates?

Decades of Experience

Michael & Associates is a premium Houston law firm with over 100 years of combined experience getting great outcomes for clients.  

Our team includes defense attorneys with diverse backgrounds, so no matter what comes our way, we are completely equipped to handle it.

Our team includes three Certified DWI Scientists, former judges, a former FBI agent, former prosecutors, career defense attorneys, and ALR specialists.

Awards & Honors

Some of our awards and honors include:

• Perfect 5-star ratings from clients on Google, Thumbtack, and Trustpilot
• 9.7/10 superb rating on Avvo
• Ranked Top 10 by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys
• Ranked Top 10 Defense Attorney by Attorney & Practice Magazine
• 40 Under 40 by the American Academy of Attorneys

Additionally, our attorneys are often go-to authorities in the field, having been cited in Bloomberg, CNET, Business Insider, Newsweek, McClatchy News Service, and the Austin American-Statesman. 

5-Star Client Reviews

Honest and results orientated firm. Charles Peloswki handled my case and I received the outcome I expected and wanted. 100% recommend if you need defense counsel.

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Michael and Associates has done an amazing job on my DWI case! Way better result than I expected

How We Beat Charges in Houston

At Michael & Associates, we understand that every case is unique, and requires a tailored approach.  

But one thing is true for all cases: we investigate deeper and more thoroughly than anybody else — including the prosecution, police, a public defender, or another defense attorney.  

Once our investigation is complete, we choose the best defense.

Carefully Crafted Strategy

Common defense strategies include:

• You did not actually commit the crime
• Your constitutional rights have been violated
• You have been framed 
• There are issues with the evidence in question
• A police officer violated procedure or the law during the arrest
• A police officer has a history of violations or taking shortcuts
• You were acting in self-defense or defending others
• The laboratory that processed your blood may have made an error

High Standards

Throughout your entire case, we hold ourselves to extremely high standards. We will:

• Protect your rights and interests: This starts from day one. Everybody in this country has rights, and you are innocent unless proven guilty.
• Minimize bond conditions: We will fight to get you the least amount of restrictions when it comes to traveling out of the area, ignition interlock devices, bail amounts. 
• Play hardball with prosecutors: One of the reasons we only hire experienced attorneys is their rapport and knowledge of the prosecution. Our relationships with prosecutors are cordial.  But the prosecutors also know that we’re heavy hitters, and the last thing they want is to lose in trial to us.  All this combines to favorable case outcomes.

• Suppress evidence whenever possible: If the state’s evidence is flawed, we’ll present it to a judge to have it thrown out, increasing the chances of your case being thrown out.
• Select sympathetic jurors: If a case goes to trial, we’ll go to great lengths to ensure the jurors are likely to rule in your favor.
• Prepare solid arguments in your favor: Our goal is always to get the prosecutor and judges to agree with our argument that you deserve a dismissal or a favorable deal.

We Leverage Weaknesses in the Judicial System

For example:

• Harris County is notoriously understaffed and is trying to work through a massive case backlog. Many prosecutors simply want to get cases over with, and we use this to our advantage to secure the best deal possible.
• In some DWI cases, blood processing is backed up for a year — we’ll leverage this in our favor as well. 
• The Houston Forensic Science Center has a growing backlog of evidence as more seized drugs and weapons are sent for examination amid staffing losses. Backlogs are even delaying murder trials.
• Houston Police Chief Troy Finner recently announced that 264,000 incident reports, including 4,000 sexual assault reports, had been classified as “suspended – lack of personnel.” Finner called the code “unacceptable.” 
• Rampant reports of a “culture of chaos” at the Harris County Jail, which is reportedly failing to keep inmates safe.

It’s important to realize that while the justice system isn’t fair, it’s set up to protect your rights, and our team of Zealous Advocates will use that to our advantage.

Types of Cases We Handle

Michael & Associates handles nearly every type of criminal charge in the Houston area.  Below are some of the common case types:

DWI Charges: One of our most common charges, Driving While Intoxicated, involves operating a motor vehicle in a public place while impaired–usually because of alcohol.  We have an extremely high rate of DWI dismissals and handle all types including first DWIs, 2nd DWIs, 3rd+ DWIs, intoxication manslaughter, and DUI.  Our team has several Certified DWI Scientists who completed rigorous training in gas chromatography and know more about breath and blood testing than anybody on the opposing side.

Misdemeanor Charges: Misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, but penalties can still be harsh and a conviction can remain on your record for life. We handle Class A, Class B, and many Class C misdemeanors.

Assault Charges: In Texas, assault covers a broad range of cases from Assault Family Violence (which can carry charges ranging anywhere from Class C misdemeanor to second-degree felony) to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, which is typically considered a second-degree felony and carries a sentence of two to 20 years in prison. We can help you fight all of these.

Probation Violations: Parole violations need to be taken seriously. You could be at risk of having to serve out your entire original sentence. And if your parole violation involved more criminal charges, you’ll have to deal with that, too. If you receive a Motion to Revoke Probation, contact us. We have a strong track record of beating these. 

Felony Charges: There are more than a thousand different felony charges in Texas, ranging from Felony DWI to Felony Murder. All felony charges can result in long prison sentences and expensive fines. Whether it’s a Whether it’s a first-degree felony, second-degree felony, third-degree felony or a state jail felony – our top goal is to get your charges dismissed or reduced to something far less. If you’re facing felony charges in Harris County, let us help you.

Homicide Charges: Homicide charges require vigilant oversight and preparation. They can range from criminally negligent homicide to capital murder. Any manslaughter or murder charge requires a meticulous investigation of evidence and a detailed strategy. If you are facing one of these charges, don’t rely on an overworked public defender. We will devote the necessary time and resources to investigating the charges against you.

Drug Charges: Drug crimes vary from possession of small amounts to drug trafficking. No matter what the charge is, we have the experience to fight it.

Other common cases we defend include:

• Harassment
• Theft
• Burglary
• Criminal trespass
• Evading arrest
• Terroristic threats
• Unlawful carrying of a weapon

Contact us now to set up a free consultation.

Meet your Defense Team

Charlie Pelowski – Head Houston Trial Attorney

Charles Pelowski is a seasoned criminal defense attorney with a rich career spanning over a decade. He currently holds the position of Senior Trial Attorney at Michael & Associates. His journey in the legal field began as a Public Defender, eventually leading him to oversee the Houston office of Texas’ largest criminal defense firm before joining Michael & Associates.

With a proven record in handling criminal cases across the state, from minor infractions to high-profile murder cases, Charles has demonstrated his prowess in dozens of jury trials and successful appeals. His approach to defense is marked by creativity, a deep commitment to the jury trial system, and an unwavering pursuit of justice. Charles prides himself on being the most prepared presence in any courtroom, firmly believing that sound investigations are the cornerstone of preparing a defense.

Dedicated to the principles of freedom, Charles’s extensive trial skills and strategic insights make him a formidable advocate for those accused of a crime in the Greater Houston area.

Our Philosophy on Building an A+ Defense Team

We hire only the best at Michael & Associates.  

It Starts With the People

The firm conducts an extensive interview process for all attorneys, ensuring that only top-tier attorneys join our team. We only hire about 1% of applicants. 

We only hire experienced attorneys. We do not hire “associates” — also known as “baby lawyers.” On average, our attorneys have 15 years of legal experience.

Rigorous Screening

Each attorney goes through a rigorous screening process. This process takes several hours and involves walking through the candidate’s entire career, from high school to their most recent job. We then dive into legal cases, approaches, track records, and, most importantly, their commitment to Zealously Advocating for clients. From there, we interview every single one of their past bosses. By the time someone joins our firm, we have vetted that they have a track record of excellence and will do the same for our clients.

Exceptionally High Performance Standards

Our bar for hiring is high, but our standards for their performance are even higher.

In addition to hiring only the top percentile of defense attorneys, we have established extremely high standards for how cases get treated.  

For instance:

Evidence Review: We expect attorneys to go through an in-depth review of evidence that far surpasses what the police, the prosecutors, or any other defense firm would expect.

Court Date Preparation: You’ll receive a call seven days ahead of any court dates so that you’re not caught off-guard.

Case Speed: This time is stressful for you, so we want to resolve this as quickly as possible while achieving an excellent outcome.

Client Communication: Our attorneys return all client calls on the same business day.

Contact Information

The easiest way to get in touch is to schedule a free case review. From there we will set up a time with a senior attorney to walk through preliminary details of your case, and determine if it’s a good fit for us.

Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys