Almost everyone knows what a DWI charge is, but few are familiar with the offense of Obstruction of Highway. In rare circumstances, a DWI may be “reduced” to an obstruction of highway charge even though both are legally the same level offense. Despite this, obstruction of highway is a highly-desired, but rarely achieved, outcome in […]
How & Why DWIs Are “Reduced” to Obstruction of Highway Read More »
Abuse of a Corpse is Now a Felony in Texas Over the past decade, a number of “abuse of a corpse” cases in Texas have made headlines. Most notably in 2014, a husband and wife were arrested after eight decomposing bodies were found in their Fort Worth funeral home. They were accused of taking money
What is Abuse of a Corpse in Texas? Read More »
Governor Abbot recently signed House Bill 1935, which will become law on September 1, 2017. Known as the Knife Law Reform Bill, HB 1935 removes the term “illegal knife” from the Penal Code. As a result, blades over 5 ½ inches, throwing knives, daggers, dirks, stilettos, poniards, bowie knives, swords, and spears are not considered
Texas Knife Reform Bill: Are Illegal Knives a Thing of the Past? Read More »
In Texas, not all crimes are created equal. This is especially true when we are talking about gang crimes. In an effort to crack down on gangs, legislators got creative and put a number of Texas gang laws on the books that are specifically geared toward members (or perceived members) of criminal street gangs. For
Texas Gang Laws | Gang Crimes in Texas | Criminal Defense Read More »
What are Revenge Porn Laws in Texas? In the age of smartphones and social media, it seems to be a growing trend for jaded ex-lovers to strike back at former partners by posting images or videos of a sexual nature online. “Revenge porn” is generally considered to be the act of sharing sexually explicit photos
Revenge Porn Laws in Texas: Unlawful Disclosure or Promotion of Intimate Visual Material Read More »
Carpenter v. United States On June 5, 2017, the United States Supreme Court granted a petition to hear a major Fourth Amendment case decided by the Sixth Circuit, Carpenter v. United States. This case will decide whether it is constitutional for the government to collect cell-site location information without first obtaining a warrant. Using cell-site location
Does Obtaining Cell-Site Location Information Require a Warrant? Read More »
Unfortunately, thousands of children run away from home each year. Some flee because they are rebellious and don’t want to follow rules. Others leave to escape abuse or neglect. Many take off to avoid crisis or conflict, such as drug addiction, an unplanned pregnancy, or being bullied at school. Regardless of the reason, running away
Harboring a Runaway Child | Consequences and Jail Time in Texas Read More »
Criminal Charges & the Church It is not uncommon for churches or clergy members to become the target of criminal probes. Each year, allegations of sexual misconduct, embezzlement, and tax fraud surface against church leaders and employees. This article looks at legal issues for churches in regard to criminal allegations that pastors, priests, and other
Legal Issues for Churches: What Clergy and Members Need to Know Read More »
In 2018, there were 540,561 crashes on Texas roadways. Of that number, 95,572 – or 18 percent – were caused by distracted driving, resulting in 394 deaths and 2,340 serious injures, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Those sobering numbers come just a year after the state outlawed texting and driving, suggesting that drivers
Texting While Driving Ban in Texas: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More »
