What’s the difference between a protective order and a restraining order in Texas? A protective order is an order that is most commonly used to prevent acts of family violence (including violence in a dating relationship) and sexual assaults. Temporary Restraining Orders are used in the civil context to avoid some sort of immediate and […]
What is a juvenile detention hearing in Texas? When juveniles are taken into custody for allegedly violating the law in Texas, they have certain rights that kick in very quickly. One of them is the right to have a juvenile detention hearing within two business days. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether […]
Did you know that an intoxication-related offense can make it very difficult for you to enter certain countries – even if you are not convicted? This article covers what countries you can’t go to with a DUI, a DWI, or other serious intoxication-related offense. Driving under the influence (DUI) is another term used outside of […]
Types of Homicide in Texas Homicide is the unlawful killing of a person. In Texas, there are four basic types of homicides: capital murder, murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. This article discusses the difference between murder manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in Texas, which differs primarily in the mental state required to establish each […]
Check back regularly for updates on the murder trial of ex-Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean, who is accused of fatally shooting Atatiana Jefferson. On Oct. 12, 2019, Jefferson’s neighbor called a non-emergency number about 2:25 a.m. to report an open door at Jefferson’s home. Officer Dean and his partner arrived and went around the […]
Fort Worth attorney Benson Varghese doesn’t call his law firm’s latest video a music video. He refers to it as a “lyrical poem video.” Not exactly sure what’s the difference, but who is going to argue with an attorney? The music video, err lyrical poem, features Benson rapping about his firm, Varghese Summersett, a premier […]
Violent juvenile crimes in Texas are on the rise, and in Tarrant County, that’s especially true with homicides. In fact, homicides increased 80 percent from 2020 to 2021, the most recent year statistics were available. This increase in violent juvenile offenses has led to a need for experienced, highly-skilled juvenile defense attorneys. Fortunately, the law […]
Juvenile First Offender Program in Texas Texas Family Code Sec. 52.031 allows juvenile boards across the state to establish first offender programs for the referral and disposition of children aged 10 to 16 taken into custody or accused before the filing of a criminal charge of: Conduct indicating a need for supervision; A Class C […]
What is the Romeo and Juliet Law in Texas? The Romeo and Juliet statute is an affirmative defense that recognizes that, although a person has to be 17 in Texas to be able to give consent to sexual activity, it does not make sense to prosecute minors for a felony when they willingly engage in […]
What Texas law makes selling fake drugs a crime? Under Chapter 482.002 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, a person commits the offense of “unlawful delivery or manufacture with intent to deliver” a simulated controlled substance if he or she: (1) expressly represents the substance to be a controlled substance; (2) represents the substance […]
