Felony Defense

Abilene Felony Defense Attorneys

Texas law enforcement officers and prosecutors take a forceful stance against felony offenses, actively building cases to win convictions. Facing state or federal felony charges means your freedom, reputation, career, and family life are on the line. An Abilene felony defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC knows how frightening an arrest can be. Suddenly, your entire future is called into question.

Barrett Legal PLLC provides aggressive, unyielding representation to every felony client. As experienced criminal defense lawyers, we step directly between you and the state’s prosecution team. When law enforcement officers and district attorneys combine their resources against you, we fight back with a disciplined trial strategy and relentless advocacy.

Don’t speak with law enforcement officers or accept a prosecutor’s offer without an Abilene felony defense lawyer by your side. Call Barrett Legal PLLC at 325-241-2868 to schedule your initial legal consultation. We can take immediate action on your behalf.

Aggressive Felony Defense in Taylor County Courts

At Barrett Legal PLLC, our attorneys have considerable felony defense experience. We handle complex local felony trials in Taylor County courts as well as high-stakes cases brought by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

A prosecutor begins collecting evidence against you long before your first court appearance. In Taylor County, the District Attorney’s office prosecutes roughly 2,000 felony cases every year. 

Facing an aggressive Texas prosecutor requires an Abilene felony defense attorney who refuses to back down. The attorneys at Barrett Legal PLLC systematically scrutinize police reports, evaluate physical evidence, and file targeted pre-trial motions to challenge the prosecution’s claims before a felony trial even begins.

Understanding Texas Felony Penalties

A felony in Texas falls into one of five categories:

  1. Capital felonies: A capital felony conviction carries a sentence of either life with no parole or the death penalty. Capital murder is the primary criminal offense in this classification.
  2. First-degree felonies: First-degree felony convictions carry a sentence of 5 to 99 years or life and a fine of up to $10,000.
  3. Second-degree felonies: Second-degree felony convictions carry a sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
  4. Third-degree felonies: Third-degree felony convictions carry a sentence of 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
  5. State jail felonies: State jail felony convictions carry a sentence of 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

Repeat offenders face enhanced penalties. A prior felony conviction can substantially increase a sentence, elevating a second-degree felony to first-degree punishment ranges. A felony conviction also takes away some of your civil rights, including your right to vote and your right to own firearms.

Felony Charges We Fight

Barrett Legal PLLC defends hardworking people facing life-changing felony prosecutions throughout West Texas. We handle the following types of felony cases:

Violent Crimes and Homicides

Barrett Legal PLLC aggressively defends clients against charges of murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and home invasion robbery.

Drug Crimes

We challenge state and federal charges of drug possession and manufacturing, prescription fraud, and large-scale drug trafficking involving cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, or fentanyl.

Sex Crimes and Domestic Abuse

Barrett Legal PLLC prepares personalized defense strategies for clients accused of aggravated sexual assault or felony family violence.

White-Collar and Federal Offenses

The defense attorneys at Barrett Legal PLLC fight bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering accusations brought in state courts or by a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Texas.

The Importance of Remaining Silent

If you are placed under arrest, you should absolutely remain silent. Many people believe that it is the police’s job to identify criminals and help bring them to justice. The truth is a bit more complex. It is the police’s job to locate and arrest suspects who may have perpetrated a crime.

When prosecutors believe they can win convictions, they usually bring charges. It is not the prosecutor’s responsibility to decide whether a suspect is guilty or innocent. It is up to a prosecutor to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to secure a conviction at trial. It is ultimately up to a jury to decide a felony defendant’s guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented at trial.

Law enforcement officers gather statements that strengthen the prosecutor’s position. If you answer questions without a defense attorney, you allow the prosecutor to build a case against you. If you are placed under arrest, politely inform the police officers that you are invoking your right to remain silent, and request a consultation with an Abilene felony defense lawyer immediately.

Strategic Defense in the Criminal Justice Process

The criminal justice process in Texas requires tactical decision-making at every stage. The felony defense attorneys at Barrett Legal PLLC guide our clients through each stage of the process:

  1. Grand jury representation: Before felony charges go to trial in Taylor County, a grand jury composed of 12 local citizens reviews the state’s evidence. During this phase, we can offer exculpatory evidence to convince grand jurors to issue a “no bill,” dropping the case entirely.
  2. Arraignment and bail: After an indictment, we can advocate aggressively during bail hearings to secure reasonable bail conditions.
  3. Pre-trial motions: Our attorneys scrutinize every detail of law enforcement officers’ actions. Evidence obtained in illegal searches cannot be used at trial. We can file pre-trial motions to exclude questionable evidence.
  4. Trial: If a prosecutor will not drop charges or offer an acceptable plea agreement, we present an aggressive, powerful defense directly to a Texas jury. We cross-examine the state’s witnesses, highlight inconsistencies in police officers’ testimony, and fight for your acquittal.
  5. Appeals: If procedural errors or unconstitutional rulings affected your trial, our services extend to filing appeals in Texas appeals courts to win justice on your behalf.

An Abilene defense attorney may consult psychologists, forensic experts, private investigators, or other specialists and authorities. If a prosecutor’s evidence is persuasive and your conviction is inevitable, your lawyer may seek to negotiate a plea bargain. In most plea deals, a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge and serves the sentence for that charge.

Carefully consider any plea bargain offer and review it carefully with your attorney, but if you’re not guilty, you may insist on your right to a jury trial. If your case goes to trial, you must be defended by a lawyer you trust.

Fight For Your Freedom with Barrett Legal PLLC

A prosecution for a felony charge carries severe risks. You face potential penalties, including years in prison, fines, and a permanent felony record. Having an experienced and dedicated felony defense attorney is essential to protecting your future.

The attorneys at Barrett Legal PLLC have extensive felony defense experience, often resulting in charges being dropped or reduced so our clients can return to their lives. We don’t wait for a prosecutor to dictate the terms. We take the initiative, investigate the facts, and fight aggressively for the most favorable outcome available under Texas law.

Don’t allow law enforcement officers or a Texas prosecutor to decide your future. If you face a felony charge in Abilene or anywhere in West Texas, now or in the future, call Barrett Legal PLLC at 325-241-2868 to schedule your initial consultation with an experienced Texas criminal defense lawyer.