Posted on May 01,2019 in DWI

Like every state, driving while intoxicated laws are aggressively enforced by police and the courts in Texas because statewide, a person is injured or killed in an alcohol-related crash every 20 minutes.

Regardless of whether you are a first-time DWI offender or you have multiple DWI charges on your criminal record, a DWI conviction can severely impact your life. As a Class B misdemeanor, a DWI can result in anywhere from three days to six months in jail, a license suspension of up to two years, and $2,000 in fines. A DWI charge can negatively affect your employability, especially if you perform a job that requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Still, like any criminal allegation, with a DWI, you are innocent until proven guilty, and the burden rests with the prosecutor to prove that guilt. There a numerous ways your DWI charge can be dismissed. Here are some of the possible DWI defense strategies a skilled criminal defense lawyer can pursue on your behalf:

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 Posted on April 26,2019 in DWI

What is a DWI?

DWI is short for Driving While Intoxicated. In Texas, DWI is defined as having lost the normal use of your physical or mental faculties or having a blood alcohol concentration above .08.

Is a DWI the same thing as a DUI?

No, these are very different legal terms. A DWI, or Driving While Intoxicated, refers to someone who is driving a vehicle and has lost the normal use of their mental or physical faculties. However, a DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, refers to someone under the age of 21 with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. 

How do the police test for blood alcohol concentration?

After your arrest, the police will either ask you to submit to a breath test or a blood draw. 

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 Posted on April 19,2019 in Juvenile Law

JUVENILE LAW AND THE DETENTION HEARING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Having a child arrested can be a devastating thing for a family to go through. But it does happen. If you find yourself in this position, it is important to understand what occurs at the beginning of most juvenile cases: the juvenile detention hearing.  

What Is a Detention Hearing?

A detention hearing is something unique to juvenile law. It is similar, but not exactly like the process of granting or denying bail in an adult case.

At this hearing, the judge will determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the child committed an offense and whether the child should be detained for a longer period. By having a neutral judge decide whether there has been probable cause, rather than just the police and prosecutor, it inserts an extra level of scrutiny to the case. Release is not guaranteed, and often children will be detained for 10 working days pending further investigations into the alleged offense. 

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 Posted on April 15,2019 in DWI

Have you been charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in Atascosa County? Wondering what to do next? There are some important things to know and expect when facing a DWI charge in Atascosa County.

Consequences of a DWI

Punishment for misdemeanor DWI cases can be severe, and they can include jail time, fines and a license suspension.

DWI 1st Conviction: 0-180 Days in Jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.

DWI 2nd Conviction: 0-365 Days in Jail and/or a fine up to $4,000.

Up to 2 years of probation is available for DWI convictions, but there can be many cumbersome terms and conditions which you might have to abide by and perform. These might include community service hours, having to install an interlock ignition device on your vehicle, being drug tested regularly, taking various classes and even possible jail time.

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