If you’re facing criminal charges in San Antonio, Texas, you need the best possible defense team.

A conviction can follow you for life, impacting your ability to find a new job or rent an apartment. And if you’re facing a DWI charge, you’re at risk of losing your driver’s license.

You need the right criminal defense attorney — one who is always on your side and knows the inner workings of the San Antonio-area legal system. The legal system favors you, and you have rights — you’re innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

You also have the right to have a criminal lawyer represent you at all court appearances.

You Need an Experienced Defense Attorney

An experienced criminal defense attorney makes a huge difference when navigating the legal system in the San Antonio area. We know the key players, strengths, and weaknesses in the system and capitalize on them. Everyone who has been accused of a crime needs a Zealous Advocate fighting on their behalf.

The San Antonio area isn’t limited to Bexar County. We can also help clients in Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson counties.

When a Zealous Advocate represents you, you will get:

• An attorney who knows how to get cases dismissed
• Someone who works tirelessly to defend you
• A team that will meticulously examine all of the evidence in your case
• A law firm with an established track record of excellence
• A lawyer with at least a decade of experience in criminal defense to help you navigate the legal system
• Professionals who have established relationships with San Antonio-area prosecutors, district attorneys, and judges
• People in your corner who will fight to defend you no matter what the charge — we will aggressively protect your rights and be far more prepared than the prosecution

If you’ve been charged with a crime in the San Antonio area, contact Michael & Associates today to set up a free consultation. There’s no commitment, and we will fight for you until you walk away with the best possible outcome.

Why Choose Michael & Associates?

Michael & Associates is a premium criminal defense law firm in the San Antonio area. Our team boasts an established track record of winning great outcomes for our clients, and our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience.

5-Star Client Reviews

Just check out these five-star client reviews on Google:

RC Pate has helped me in the past and I can speak to his professionalism, knowledge, and expertise in the legal industry.

He responds to inquiries promptly and definitively and has always been able to address and answer any questions I have had.

Highly recommended!

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Let me start by saying what a phenomenal job Mr-.Tommy Stolhandske did on my case!!! He was super easy to work with, extremely polite went above and beyond and was very detailed and informative. He delivered exactly the result I was hoping for! I am overly ecstatic, how quickly he executed a plan and proficient he was to get things done in the beginning! Keep up the outstanding work!

A Wide Range of Experience

Our team of defense attorneys has expertise in all types of criminal defense cases. This includes three certified DWI scientists, a former FBI agent, former prosecutors, career defense attorneys, and experienced ALR (Administrative License Revocation) advisers.

No matter what comes our way, we are prepared.

Awards and Honors

Some awards and honors include:

• Named to the 40 Under 40 by the American Academy of Attorneys
• Ranked Top 10 Defense Attorney by Attorney & Practice Magazine
• A Top 10 ranking by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys
• A 9.7/10 superb rating on Avvo
• An “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot
• Five-star client ratings from Google and Thumbtack

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

How We Beat Criminal Charges in San Antonio

At Michael & Associates, we realize that each case and county court system is unique. We prepare a custom defense for each client based on the evidence and location.

We investigate every case that crosses our desks more thoroughly than anyone you’ll face in court – this includes the police department and case prosecutors.

If you’re facing a DWI charge, we will analyze your test results and look for weaknesses. Three of our lawyers are certified in Gas Chromatography. They completed a rigorous curriculum at Axion Labs in Chicago, a premier training facility.

We Create a Customized Approach

When our investigation is complete, we customize our approach based on the specifics of your case.

Some strategies may include:

• There may have been a laboratory error
• You were acting in self-defense or defending others
• There are issues with the evidence in question
• Your Constitutional rights have been violated
• The police violated procedure or your rights during your arrest
• A police officer has a documented history of taking shortcuts or violating procedures
• You did not commit the crime
• You have been framed

We hold ourselves to the highest standards in the industry. Michael & Associates will:

Protect Your Rights and Interests: We will fight as hard as necessary to protect your rights. You are innocent unless proven guilty, regardless of the allegations you face.

Minimize Bond Conditions: The court sets a bail amount after you’re charged with a crime. We will work diligently to get you the best bond deal possible and fight high bail requirements, ignition interlock devices, and travel restrictions.

Negotiate Hard with Prosecutors: Our experienced attorneys know how to build rapport with prosecutors. We take what we learn and use it to fight for our clients. Prosecutors know we play hardball, and they don’t want to risk a loss to us in trial.

All these factors combined lead to positive case outcomes for our clients.

We Identify Weaknesses in the Justice System

• A scathing analysis found an array of problems with the Bexar County/San Antonio justice system, including case backlogs and inefficiencies.
• In 2022, cases had to be stripped from Judge Grace Uzomba due to “concerns” regarding the manner in which she handled her criminal court docket. Those concerns included a lack of attention to pretrial violation reports, probation matters, family violence cases, and other misdemeanor cases.
• A grand jury indicted two San Antonio Police Department officers for murder and a third was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant and deadly conduct after 46-year-old Melissa Perez was fatally shot inside her residence while tinkering with her fire alarm. Perez was believed to have been suffering a mental health crisis at the time.
• The Bexar County crime lab is backlogged by more than 2,500 requests to test seized items for controlled substances.

Then We Capitalize on Them

We will do whatever it takes to use these weaknesses to our advantage.

We will:

Suppress Evidence when Possible: If the evidence against you is flawed, we’ll present it to a judge to have it thrown out. This increases the chances of the case being dismissed.

Seek Out Empathetic Jurors: If your case proceeds to trial, we’ll work to ensure that the jurors are inclined to rule in your favor.

Prepare the Best Possible Arguments: We believe that you deserve the best possible outcome and we will zealously fight for your rights.

We’re Never Afraid of Going To Trial

We know Texas courtrooms can be daunting, but sometimes taking your case to trial is necessary to get you the best possible outcome. It’s important to choose an attorney who isn’t afraid to take your case to court. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

Types of Cases We Handle

Michael & Associates handles virtually every type of criminal charge in the San Antonio area.

Here are some of the common cases we take on:

DWI Charges: Driving While Intoxicated involves operating a motor vehicle or watercraft in a public place while impaired — typically due to alcohol consumption. It is one of our firm’s most common cases, and we have an impressive rate of DWI dismissals. Our team includes DWI Scientists who have been certified in breath and blood testing. They know more than any police officer or prosecutor. We handle all types of DWI offenses, whether it’s first DWI offense, second offense, third (or more) DWI offense, intoxication manslaughter, or DUI.

Homicide Charges: Homicide charges are by far the most serious and require meticulous care and preparation. The charges range from Involuntary Manslaughter to Felony Murder.  Any manslaughter or murder charge requires a carefully planned strategy. If you face any of these charges, do not leave your future in the hands of an inexperienced defense attorney.

Felony Charges: If you’ve been charged with a felony, it is imperative that you hire an experienced attorney. There are over 1,400 ways to commit a felony in Texas, many of which can result in massive fines and long prison sentences. We will fight to get the charge dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge.

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

Misdemeanor Charges: Even though misdemeanors aren’t as serious as felony charges, the penalties can still be harsh. We handle Class A, Class B, and many Class C misdemeanors.

Assault Charges: In Texas, assault covers a wide range of charges, from Assault Family Violence to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. No matter what the charge, we can handle it.

Probation Violations: Typically covered under a Motion to Revoke Probation, probation violations can be dangerous. If probation is revoked, an offender may have to serve the entire original sentence. If the violation involves breaking another law (no matter how minor), the offender can be punished for both the violation and the new criminal offense. Michael & Associates has a strong track record of beating these.

Other Charges: At Michael & Associates, we handle almost all types of criminal charges.

This includes:

• Burglary
• Criminal Trespassing
• Evading arrest
• Harassment
• Terroristic threat
• Theft
• Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon

Contact us today to set up a free consultation to review your case.

Our firm does not handle Civil Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, or Traffic Law.

Meet your San Antonio Defense Team

RC Pate

RC is a Corpus Christi native whose pre-law school experiences included serving as leader of an Episcopal youth group, rock guitarist, Dillard’s gift wrapper, and mall security officer. When those didn’t pan out, he decided to attend law school.

After that, he joined the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. After two and a half years with the opposition, RC realized his actual calling was defending those accused of crimes.

Before joining Michael & Associates, RC owned and operated his own criminal defense firm.

In 2015, the American Chemical Society designated RC a Lawyer Scientist. RC has completed the NHTSA/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Practitioner course twice. He has also been honored to teach educational seminars on criminal defense.

Tommy Stolhandske

Born and raised in San Antonio, Tommy was an all-city basketball player at Churchill High School before attending Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. While at TLU, he was a member of the men’s basketball team and a three-time All-American.

After graduating, Tommy spent a year in sports marketing before deciding to follow in the footsteps of his father, local attorney Matt Stolhandske, and grandfather, former Bexar County Commissioner Tom Stolhandske, and attend St. Mary’s University School of Law.  After becoming licensed as an attorney, Tommy launched his own practice and shared an office with his father and grandfather.

As a trial court judge, Tommy presided over more than 100 jury trials, the majority of which were DWI and family violence cases.

We Hire the Right People

We pride ourselves in our rigorous interview process. Our team ensures that only the best attorneys end up at Michael & Associates. We hire about 1% of all applicants.

Our attorneys average 15 years of legal experience. Our staff does not include “associates” (also known as “baby lawyers”).

The screening process reviews:

• Their legal cases
• Case approach strategy
• Track record for success
• Commitment to clients

We contact every single past boss for an interview. When someone joins our firm, we are assured that clients will get the best possible representation.

Extremely High Standards

Our performance standards are even higher than our hiring standards.

We have an established process for how each case is handled. For instance:

Evidence Review: We thoroughly review the evidence for every single case. Our analysis will far surpass what the police, prosecution, or any other defense firm would expect.

Case Speed: We work quickly. We know this is a stressful time for you, but our goal is to get you the best possible outcome.

Client Communication: There’s no waiting by the phone. Our attorneys return all client calls on the same business day.

Court Date Preparation: We contact you seven days before any court dates to ensure that you are fully prepared.

Contact Information

The easiest way to get in touch is to schedule a free case review. We’re available 24/7. From there, we will set up a time with one of our senior attorneys to discuss the preliminary details of your case and determine if it’s a good fit.

Address: 321 S Flores St Suite A, San Antonio, TX 78204
Phone: (210) 871-8682

We have offices across Texas and are ready to help 24 hours a day.