Criminal

On April 2, 2025, a devastating incident during a high school track meet in Frisco left a community in mourning and raised difficult questions about youth violence and the fragile line between rivalry and real-life consequences. Austin Metcalf, 17, a student-athlete at Frisco Memorial High School, was fatally stabbed in the chest in front of

What is Fentanyl Murder? Fentanyl murder is defined in Texas Penal Code 19.02(b)4 and refers to the criminal charge arising out of the delivery or manufacturing of fentanyl that results in a death. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be fatal even in small doses. Why Did the Fentanyl Murder Statute Become Law? The

A Shift from Departures to Variances Under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) On December 19, 2024, the United States Sentencing Commission (the “Commission”) proposed a transformative amendment to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual (“Guidelines”), marking what could be the most significant overhaul since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in United States v. Booker , 543 U.S.

A person’s home is their sanctuary—a place where they’re supposed to feel safe and protected. When that sense of security is shattered by an intruder, the consequences can be severe. Texas law takes home invasions extremely seriously, treating them as violent felonies with some of the harshest penalties in the country. Texas home invasion charges

On February 3, 2025, a Tarrant County jury acquitted a Fort Worth man accused of murder in the fatal stabbing of his friend, finding he acted in self-defense. Jurors in Judge Lee Gabriel’s court deliberated less than three hours before clearing Juan Ramos Escamilla of all charges related to the death of his friend, Augustine