Are you looking for a Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyer?

There are many accomplished criminal defense lawyers in Lubbock County, Texas.

 

The Lubbock Criminal Defense Association (LCDLA) is known, and respected, throughout Texas for taking criminal defense representation seriously.

 

If you have been arrested in Lubbock County, Texas and you are looking for a Lubbock criminal defense lawyer then consider yourself fortunate to be arrested in a place that cares so much about the art of criminal defense representation.


 

 

Are you looking for a Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you have been arrested in Lubbock for a criminal charge then you need to seriously consider retaining a Lubbock criminal defense lawyer. A professional, competent, and experienced criminal defense lawyer for your Lubbock County criminal charge can make all the difference in the world when you are faced with having your freedom taken away.

 

For this reason, it is important to make sure that the criminal defense lawyer you retain is the right attorney for you and your case. And for this reason, you should always speak with the criminal defense lawyer you are considering hiring about his/her qualifications and whether they are the right criminal defense lawyer for your case.

 

Recently updated: Lubbock Criminal Defense Attorney Practice Areas Page

 

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers serving Abernathy, Texas; Buffalo Springs, Texas; Idalou, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; New Deal, Texas; Ransom Canyon, Texas; Shallowater, Texas; Slaton, Texas; Southland, Texas; Texas Tech University; Wolfforth, Texas

 

NOTICE: The information contained on this web site is for informational purposes only. It is not to be considered legal advice and does not create an attorney client-relationship. The law is an ever changing body of information, and you should verify the information is current. The owner of this web site, and/or its content provider, does not warrant in any manner whatsoever that the information contained on this web site is current and/or reflects the current status of the law. If you have a legal problem, situation, or question, you should seek legal advice directly from an attorney.

 

If you have to ask, the answer is probably yes!

The Texas legislature has passed many criminal laws. The severity of the crime and the punishment is determined by the alleged offense committed. Punishments may range from a mere fine to substantial prison time.

Often a criminal conviction can have consequences far beyond the initial charge and conviction. Some criminal cases can not only impact your current freedom, but impact your employment and quality of life for years to come.

Crimes that were once considered "minor" have now taken on even more serious consequences beyond the initial criminal judgment. For example, even a minor Class C misdemeanor theft conviction from a Lubbock court might have major consequences for you down the road. Since theft is considered a crime of "moral turpitude" employers might not want to hire you, you might not be eligible for certain licenses, and it can leave a black mark on your record that could later be used against you if you were ever arrested for theft again (in Lubbock or elsewhere in Texas). As you can see even a small theft charge can have implications for beyond a ticket.

Moreover, criminal charges, such as DWI and Possession of Marijuana, can restrict, or even eliminate, your right to drive for a period of time in addition to the criminal penalties associated with those criminal offenses.

The Lubbock County District Attorney's office is not your friend if you have been arrested for a crime, and the DA is trying to convict you of a crime that could have major impacts in your life in most cases. For this reason, you need someone in your corner fighting for your rights!

If you need legal representation for an alleged crime in Lubbock County, Texas, it is often unwise to take the law into your own hands. Since Texas criminal laws are often difficult to interpret, it is advisable to seek a qualified criminal defense lawyer to handle your Lubbock County case.

Lubbock Criminal Defense Attorney

In Lubbock County, along with the rest of Texas, crimes are classified by the type of criminal offense alleged to have occurred.  In Texas, there are two (2) primary classifications, which are felony crimes and misdemeanor crimes. 

The Texas Penal Code further classifies crimes in Texas within these two (2) primary classifications into misdemeanor and felonies with each having its own respective punishment ranges.  Of note, this is merely a general description of the classifications, and does not take into account hybrid charges, such as Reckless Driving or criminal enhancement paragraphs.  A criminal defense lawyer in Lubbock can

Within the misdemeanor classifications, a crime committed in Lubbock County could be filed as a 1) Class C Misdemeanor; 2) a Class B Misdemeanor; or 3) a Class A Misdemeanor.

Within the felony classifications, a crime committed in Lubbock County could be 1) a State Jail Felony; 2) a Third Degree Felony; 3) a Second Degree Felony; 4) a First Degree Felony; or 5) Capital Murder.

Each crime carries its own level of punishment.  The punishment ranges are below.

Misdemeanors (Texas):

  1. Class C – punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00
  2. Class B – up to six (6) months in Lubbock County Jail, plus a fine not to exceed $2,000
  3. Class A – up to twelve (12) months in Lubbock County Jail, plus a fine no more than $4,000

Felonies (Texas):

  1. State Jail Felony – 180 days to 2 years in a State Jail Facility
  2. 3rd Degree Felony – 2 to 10 years in a Texas prison
  3. 2nd Degree Felony – 2 to 20 years in a Texas prison
  4. 1st Degree Felony – 5 years to 99 years or Life in a Texas prison
  5. Capital Felony Offense – If the Lubbock County District Attorney’s office seeks the death penalty then death or Life without parole.  However, if the prosecutor is not requesting a death sentence then Life without parole.

Of note, fines generally do not exceed $10,000 for a felony.

Lubbock Criminal Defense Attorney

Let’s look at a few examples of criminal charges in Lubbock County, and how they relate to their perspective crime classification.

Class C Misdemeanor (Lubbock County, Texas) – There are several different types of Class C misdemeanors.  However, for an example, let’s say that one evening you are at a bar in Lubbock, Texas, and you’ve had one to many.  The Lubbock Police Department walks into the Bar, and believes that you are intoxicated in public.  As a result, you are arrested for Public Intoxication (PI), and are taken to jail.  

Another common Class C misdemeanor is a Minor in Possession (MIP), and this is a common where a person under 21 years of age is alleged to be in possession of alcohol.  Finally, you could be cited a DUI in Lubbock County if you are under 21 years of age and have any “detectable amount of alcohol in your system while driving a motor vehicle. 

In these cases, the fine cannot exceed $500 for each charge by Texas law; however, there could be other consequences, such as having your driver’s license suspended.

Class B Misdemeanors (Lubbock County, Texas) – Again there are several types of Class B misdemeanors an individual could be arrested for in Texas.  Using our drinking example, let’s say that instead of just sitting in a bar in Lubbock drinking you are now driving after drinking.  A Lubbock Police Officer pulls you over for a minor violation, walks up to your car, and says he smells alcohol.  The next thing you know you are asked to step out of the car. 

After a conducting the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, the officer says he believes you are intoxicated and arrests you for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).  If this were your first DWI arrest then you would be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.  As a result, you are now facing the possibility of spending six (6) months of your life in the Lubbock County Jail, plus a fine that could be as high as $2,000. 

A Lubbock criminal defense lawyer would then need to examine whether there was reasonable suspicion to stop you in the first place and whether there was actual probable cause to arrest you for a DWI.  In addition, your criminal defense lawyer would work to discover what evidence the Lubbock County DA’s office has against you, and advise you as appropriate.  Also, if the case were to trial before a judge or jury in Lubbock County then your criminal defense lawyer would advocate your position and work towards ensuring that the State of Texas did not receive a conviction against you unless it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that you were guilty of a DWI.

Class A Misdemeanor (Lubbock County, Texas) – Although there are several types of Class A misdemeanors, let’s keep with our DWI theme for a moment.  Perhaps a few years earlier you were convicted of a previous DWI in another Texas county.  Now, the Lubbock County District Attorney’s office will most likely opt to enhance the DWI charge to a Class A misdemeanor.  As a result, you are now facing 12 months in the Lubbock County Jail, plus a fine not to exceed $4,000.

Lubbock County Criminal Defense Attorney

One of the most common charges a person can face, especially in a college town, such as Lubbock, is Driving While Intoxicated (a.ka. DWI).

It is important to act quickly if you are arrested for a DWI in Lubbock you need to speak with an experienced DWI lawyer as soon as possible. In Texas, your attorney is only provided 15 days to challenge the Administrative Law Suspension of your license. This hearing is important, because it can provide valuable insight into your arrest, and possibly provide information that might be helpful to your DWI defense.

In addition to having your license suspended, you face up to 6 months in the Lubbock County Jail with a fine not to exceed $2,000 for a first time DWI arrest for a first time DWI arrest. In addition, if convicted, you are subject to DPS surcharges that are thousands of dollars.

One question most people have after being arrested for a DWI is whether or not they will have to do further jail time after they have bonded out of jail.

Unfortunately, no one can promise you an outcome in a criminal case, and this is why it is important to contact a Lubbock criminal defense attorney experienced with DWI charges, including the technical and scientific nuances that accompany the criminal charge.

If the case is unable to be dismissed then your criminal defense attorney will start looking at additional options for you, which might include trying to get the DWI dropped to a lesser charge or seeing whether the Lubbock prosecutor will agree to a probated sentence to avoid further jail time.

The important thing to remember is that if you are arrested for a DWI in Lubbock you need to speak with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

Defense Attorney for Lubbock, Texas

If you have been arrested for a crime in Lubbock County then you need to understand that it is a serious matter, Not only do you face jail time in most criminal cases, but the after effects of a criminal conviction on your record could have implications to your life that last for years.

For example, if you are convicted of a crime then you may not be able to get certain types of employment, and in many cases the jobs available to you as a convicted criminal are far less desirable than those available to people without a criminal record.

Furthermore, some criminal convictions can result in you being denied a place to live. For example, if you have been convicted of an assault (even a misdemeanor), and you try to rent an apartment you may discover that your application is denied.

An experienced Lubbock criminal defense attorney will be able to assist you in developing a strategy to fight the charges, and if the case investigation results in a determination that you might be found guilty if you proceed to trial then your defense attorney can work towards building a strategy to mitigate the damages.

Another advantage to hiring a criminal defense attorney early on in the process is that your lawyer can help prevent the prosecutor, and their investigators, from trying to twist your words to fit the elements of the crime they are attempting to prove against you.

Needless to say, walking into court without a criminal defense attorney by your side could result in the prosecutor talking you into signing a good deal when it actually is not. For example, some prosecutors that know you are not represented by a criminal defense attorney will try to persuade you that their offer is a good deal, and it typically does something along the lines of this..."we can just take care of the case today, and if you pled guilty then you won't have to do anymore jail time." What the prosecutor has actually done is ensure that you walk out of the courtroom convicted of a crime, which can have implications that last a life-time.

If you have been arrested, you need to speak with a Lubbock criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and fight to keep your record clean if possible.

Lubbock, Texas: Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested for a misdemeanor in Lubbock, Texas it is important for you to understand that a Lubbock Criminal Defense Attorney can be of great assistance to you, and it can prove beneficial for you to have legal representation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

A class B misdemeanor could result in you being jailed for up to 6 months with a fine not to exceed $2,000. While a class A misdemeanor could result in you spending up to 12 months in the county jail with a fine not to exceed $4,000.

It seems that many people arrested for misdemeanor criminal charges do not realize that a conviction could have serious implications that reach far beyond the courtroom and the penalties stated above.

For example, a misdemeanor theft conviction could prevent you from obtaining employment, because it is considered a crime of moral turpitude. In short, a crime of moral turpitude is one that labels you as being untrustworthy or honest. As a result, many employers may shy away from hiring someone that has such a criminal offense on their record.

Moreover, misdemeanor assault charges that result in a conviction, such as those involving Family Violence or just a simple assault, can have consequences that go well beyond employment issues.

For example, some apartments will not rent to persons that are convicted of an assault offense. Also, it tends to label you as a person of violence, and it could prevent you from holding a concealed firearm's license. In the case of a misdemeanor family assault conviction, you may find that you are permanently prevented from having a hand gun license.

Other misdemeanor convictions can result in the loss of your driver's license. For example, if you are convicted of Possession of Marijuana (POM) even in a small amount the State of Texas is authorized to suspend your driver's license.

As you can see, a misdemeanor criminal charge in Texas is a serious accusation that must be taken seriously, because it could have results that not only involve jail time, but could impact your life far beyond the courtroom.

If you have been arrested for a misdemeanor in Lubbock, Texas then you should consult with a criminal defense attorney in the Lubbock area as quickly as possible.

Lubbock Area Defense Lawyer