Fort WorthCriminal DefenseLawyer.
We wrote the playbook prosecutors in Tarrant County still use today. We know exactly how to take it apart.
Introduction
Varghese Summersett is home to five Board Certified specialists, three in Criminal Law and two in Juvenile Law. That is the highest designation a Texas attorney can hold, awarded to fewer than 10% of practitioners in any specialty. Every criminal division partner served as a prosecutor in Tarrant County before joining the firm.
We wrote the playbook prosecutors in Tarrant County still use today. We know exactly how to take it apart.
Our office at 300 Throckmorton Street sits two blocks from the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center. Our attorneys walk to court. They know every judge, every prosecutor, and the local practices that vary from courtroom to courtroom.
The attorneys defending your case.
Five Board Certified specialists. Former Tarrant County prosecutors at the partner level. Our lawyers have been featured on 48 Hours, Dateline, Forensic Files, and Court TV. This is who handles your case.
Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers. More than 100 cases tried to verdict across Texas, including murder, federal drug conspiracies, and financial crimes.
Former Tarrant County prosecutor. Hundreds of cases tried to verdict. Focus on complex felony defense including capital murder and serious drug offenses.
22 years at the Tarrant County DA’s Office, retiring as Deputy Chief. Trusted by high-profile clients including current NFL players.
15 years as a Tarrant County chief prosecutor. Featured on 48 Hours, Dateline, Forensic Files, and Court TV.
Former Tarrant County chief prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney. Extensive trial experience in federal and state felony cases.
Former Tarrant County prosecutor. More than 80 cases tried to verdict. Handles serious felony and juvenile defense.
Career devoted to juvenile defense in Texas. Misdemeanor through capital murder cases in Tarrant County’s juvenile system.
Misdemeanor and felony defense across Tarrant County. Focus on intoxication offenses, drug cases, and crimes against people.
Felony prosecutor in both Tarrant and Dallas Counties before private practice. DWI through capital murder and federal offenses.
Foundation in criminal defense from the Federal Public Defender’s Office and the 68th District Court. Intoxication, drug, sex, theft, and assault.
Earned experience in Tarrant County, case by case.
Below is the working scope of our criminal division. Each row shows a recent Tarrant County outcome we secured, alongside a link to the practice page where you can review more results in that area. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Class B first-offense, Class A with BAC over 0.15, third-offense felony DWI, DWI with a child passenger, and license suspension hearings (ALR). We handle the criminal case and the administrative license case in parallel.
Second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter and third-degree intoxication assault. Deadly weapon findings, 3g parole restrictions, and the science of blood and breath testing are all in play.
Class C assault by contact, Class A bodily injury assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and assault on a public servant. Penalty ranges run from fines to first-degree felony time.
Assault family violence, continuous family violence, assault by impeding breath (choking), protective order violations, and family violence enhanced by prior convictions. Lifetime gun rights and immigration consequences attach.
Indecency with a child, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, and continuous sexual abuse. Most are first or second-degree felonies that carry lifetime sex offender registration on conviction.
Sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by contact, and continuous sexual abuse. First-degree exposure with lifetime registration. CPS, forensic interviews, and grand jury intervention all come into play.
Recent results available on the dedicated practice page.
Review our child sex charge defenseManslaughter, murder, and capital murder. Self-defense, sudden passion, lesser-included strategies, and challenges to scientific evidence. Our criminal division has tried more than 700 cases to verdict, including homicide matters.
Recent results available on the dedicated practice page.
Review our homicide defensePossession (Penalty Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4), possession with intent to deliver, delivery, manufacturing, and drug-free zone enhancements. Marijuana and THC vape cases handled separately.
Federal drug conspiracies, wire and bank fraud, healthcare fraud, firearms offenses, and white-collar matters in the Northern District of Texas. Defense centers on Sentencing Guidelines, cooperation analysis, and pre-indictment intervention with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Penal Code 33.021. Sting operations run by undercover officers, digital forensic evidence from chat platforms, and intent and entrapment defenses. Second-degree felony with sex offender registration on conviction.
Recent results available on the dedicated practice page.
Review our online solicitation defenseEducator-student cases under Penal Code 21.12. A second-degree felony that ends teaching careers, triggers TEA license revocation, and carries sex offender registration. Defense requires parallel handling of the criminal case and the licensure exposure.
Recent results available on the dedicated practice page.
Review our improper relationship defenseJuvenile matters from Class C citations through determinate sentence offenses and certification to adult court. Two of our partners are Board Certified in Juvenile Law, the highest credential available.
Motions to Revoke (regular probation) and Motions to Adjudicate (deferred adjudication). New offense allegations, technical violations, and absconder warrants. Exposure can be the full original sentence range.
Misdemeanor and felony theft, theft of motor vehicle (EOC), aggregated theft, theft from a person, and organized retail theft. Classification is value-driven and enhanced for priors.
What past clients say.
Over 1,100 five-star Google reviews. Below is a live feed of the most recent.
How we get these results.
Every result on this page was produced by the same approach. We do not wait to see what the state files. We do not wait for the state to make its case. We attack the file from the day we are retained.
We start before the state does
The strongest outcomes in any felony case come before charges are filed. The moment we are retained, we contact detectives and prosecutors directly. We provide mitigation, identify weaknesses in the state’s theory, and put our client’s story in front of the people who decide whether the case moves forward. Several of the outcomes on this page never reached a courtroom because of that work.
We control the grand jury narrative
When a felony reaches the grand jury, we do not leave the presentation to the state. We prepare written packets, supporting documentation, and witness statements. Where appropriate, we request that our client be heard directly by the grand jurors. That is the work behind our no-bills.
We try cases the state thought would plead
Our criminal division has tried more than 700 cases to verdict. Prosecutors know that. The cases we negotiate resolve better because the state knows we are not bluffing about trial. The cases we try are the ones the state should have dismissed.
We use the prosecutor’s playbook against the prosecution
Every partner in our criminal division was a prosecutor in Tarrant County. We trained the lawyers who are now across the aisle. We know how their cases get built, what evidence they hold back, which witnesses they actually need, and where their files have gaps. That is not a marketing line. It is the operational advantage on every file.
You hear from the attorney, not a paralegal
You will not be passed off for substantive decisions. You will hear from the attorney handling your case. Every file gets multiple sets of experienced eyes because the firm pairs former prosecutors with associates and senior counsel by design.
We have analyzed 52,320 Tarrant County bonds.
Most firms tell you they know the local courts. We prove it. Our team conducted a year-long analysis of every bond set in Tarrant County during 2025. The dataset covers 52,320 cases. The findings drive how we advise clients calling from the jail at 2 a.m.
Bond patterns vary dramatically by charge. A first-offense DWI averages $3,178, with $500 the most common amount. Murder charges average $445,000. Aggravated robbery cases run higher than $87,000 on average. Drug possession in the lowest penalty group typically sits at $1,500. Knowing the realistic range for your specific charge changes what we ask for at magistration and how quickly we can get you out.
For charge-specific bond averages, see our individual practice pages on DWI, drug charges, assault, theft, and homicide.
At home in Fort Worth.
Our main office at 300 Throckmorton Street, Suite 700 is located two blocks from the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center and seven blocks from the Eldon B. Mahon Federal Courthouse. Our attorneys walk to court. They know every judge’s preferences, every prosecutor’s tendencies, and the local practices that vary from courtroom to courtroom. That knowledge comes from years of practicing in these specific courts every single day.
300 Throckmorton Street, Suite 700, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Take the elevators to the 7th floor. Call (817) 203-2220 if you need assistance finding the office.
Meet our Fort Worth criminal defense attorneys.
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Fort Worth?
Criminal defense fees in Fort Worth vary based on charge severity, case complexity, and whether the case goes to trial. Misdemeanor cases typically range from $3,000 to $10,000, while felonies can range from $7,500 to $50,000 or more for serious charges like murder or federal crimes. We offer free consultations to discuss fees for your specific situation.
What should I do if I’m arrested in Tarrant County?
Exercise your right to remain silent and request an attorney immediately. Do not answer questions about the alleged offense without legal counsel present. Avoid discussing your case with anyone except your lawyer, including cellmates or family members on recorded jail phone lines.
Can a Tarrant County felony case be dismissed without trial?
Yes. The outcomes on this page include felony dismissals at every level, including aggravated assault and family violence. Felonies are dismissed when the State cannot meet its burden, when key evidence is suppressed, when grand jurors no-bill, or when mitigation persuades a prosecutor to reject the charge.
What is a no-bill and how is it different from a dismissal?
A no-bill means a grand jury reviewed the State’s case and declined to return an indictment. A dismissal happens after a case has been filed in court and the prosecutor or judge orders it ended. Both are favorable. A no-bill usually means a cleaner record and often qualifies for earlier expunction.
How long does a Tarrant County criminal case take to resolve?
Misdemeanors typically resolve in 3 to 9 months. Felonies usually take 6 to 18 months, sometimes longer for serious cases or those that go to trial. Pre-indictment and diversion outcomes can be faster.
Do I need a lawyer for a first-time offense?
Yes, especially for a first-time offense. First-time offenders often have the most to lose in terms of a clean record, and they also frequently have the most options available, including deferred adjudication, diversion programs, or dismissal. An experienced attorney can identify these pathways and pursue them aggressively before they close.
What is Board Certification in criminal law?
Board Certification in Criminal Law is a designation awarded by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization to attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional competence in criminal defense. To earn it, an attorney must practice law for at least five years, devote a substantial portion of their practice to criminal law, complete significant continuing education, pass a rigorous written examination, and receive peer evaluations. Fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys in any specialty hold board certification.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is decided on its own facts and procedural posture. Reach Varghese Summersett 24 hours a day at (817) 203-2220 for a free consultation.