Criminal Law Overview

Tarrant County Criminal Defense Attorneys

For more information about a criminal offense, click on the heading.

DWI/DUI Defense

A DWI/DUI is not a traffic ticket. It is a more serious offense that carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine for a first offense. Repeat DWI offenders increase their exposure to fines and jail sentences. If you are convicted of DWI/DUI, you will have a permanent criminal record. You will have to pay a Texas driver's license surcharge of $1,000 a year or more for at least three years. Your auto insurance rates will increase. In certain professions, such as professional drivers or pilots, a DWI conviction can destroy a career.

Drug Offense

Drug changes can range from possession of a marijuana cigarette to possession with intent to deliver of a significant quantity of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, or other narcotics. In addition to the concerns of possible jail or prison time, a drug conviction can have serious collateral effects on your life. It can lead to a loss of driving privileges and a permanent criminal record. If you are a college student, it could make you ineligible for student loans. If you are not a citizen of the United States, you could be subject to deportation.

Sex Crimes

People who are accused of sex crimes—and child sex crimes in particular —are terrified for good reason. These cases carry with them a negative stigma just because someone is accused. The legal presumption of innocence does not remove this stigma. A conviction carries with it sex offender registration that can be for the remainder of a person's life. Sometimes these cases arise from a related family law case where child custody and other issues give an incentive for false claims of this type. Great care must be taken to examine available evidence such as child testimony and forensic evidence.

Computer Crimes

Examples of computer or Internet crimes include possession of child pornography, identity fraud, and financial fraud. Other crimes may involve computer evidence, such as e-mail messages or files stored on a computer hard disk drive. If you have been charged with crime that involves computers, it's important to hire a lawyer who understands computer evidence.

Theft Crimes

Theft includes shoplifting, embezzlement, fraud and other offenses. Theft is considered a crime of moral turpitude. A conviction for such a crime can carry additional consequences beyond that of many other offenses. Often in the cases where proof of guilt is clearly established, plea negotiations can produce results that avoid many of the harmful consequences that would result with a conviction.

White-Collar Crimes

So-called white collar offenses typically involve allegations of fraud. The more serious cases are frequently prosecuted in the federal courts and involve agencies such as the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspectors, IRS, Office of Inspector General among others. State prosecutions of this type are commonly handled by the Economic Crimes Division of the District Attorney's Office. We have vast experience dealing with these investigative agencies. We frequently represent clients when these cases are still in the investigative stages. We work to influence the course of the investigation to maximize favorable results.

Assault & Family Violence

Many domestic violence charges result when police are called to a residence after a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, or sibling calls 911. Even if family members tell police they don't want to press charges, Prosecutor's offices have no-drop policies in place. Police agency policy is usually to make an arrest on the scene. This means that if police are called to someone's residence, somebody is going to jail that night and will face criminal charges.

Juvenile Crimes

When a person under 17 is accused of committing a crime, this case is usually handled in Juvenile Court. Even though juvenile cases are technically civil proceedings, these are still serious events with serious consequences. If your child is adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent, he or she will have a record, which could affect them if they are later charged with a crime as an adult. Juveniles may also receive indeterminate sentencing, in which they are sentenced to a juvenile detention center and then are transferred to adult prison when they reach age 17.

Vandalism/Trespassing

Most vandalism or criminal mischief cases are charged as misdemeanors. If more than $1,500 worth of property is damaged, the case may be charged as a felony. In either case, it's important to contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. The earliest legal intervention can maximize a positive outcome.

Expungement

Texas allows expunction or clearing of law enforcement records in certain situations. The outcome of an expunction or expungement proceeding is to remove all records of an event from any law enforcement, court or governmental database. An expunction is a desirable goal that can give you a clean slate. At Ball & Hase, our lawyers have helped many clients through this process.

Jail Release

It is always a startling event to find a loved one or someone close to you has been arrested and is in police custody. Most citizens who have been arrested by the police are entitled to be released while the charges are resolved later in court. At Ball & Hase in Arlington, Texas, our lawyers often help arrange that release.

Criminal Investigations

As everyone knows from the media, anything you tell the police can and possibly will be used against you in a court of law. If you are contacted by police or other law enforcement investigators, you may feel like what you have to say will show that you are innocent. However, the police may have a different point of view when they interview you. If you are contacted by a police investigator concerning a matter, the wisest course is to first remain calm, be polite, and identify who the investigator is and what agency they are employed by. Advise the investigator that you want to seek the advice of an attorney. Then contact a lawyer immediately.

Weapons Charges

There are many different kinds of weapons law violations in Texas, some of which can happen to regular and otherwise law-abiding citizens. At Ball & Hase, our lawyers are experienced in defending clients who are charged with misdemeanor or felony weapons charges.

Homicide

There are various forms of homicide. We have vast experience in the trial and investigation of homicide cases. Undoubtedly, being accused of a homicide is one of the most serious crimes with which a person can be charged. Our experience allows us to evaluate the strength of the district attorney's case and prepare a strong defense.

Free consultation: If you have been charged with a crime in Texas, contact a board-certified criminal defense lawyer at Ball & Hase in Arlington. In an emergency, call 817.860.5000. We answer calls 24 hours a day.