Felony Crimes

Southlake Felony Defense Attorney

If the police in Southlake arrest you for a felony, where can you turn for help? Texas enforces harsh criminal penalties and leads the nation in prison incarcerations. A felony charge can threaten your career, your financial stability, and your freedom.

A Southlake felony defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC knows the pressure you can face in the Texas criminal justice system. We don’t sit back and hope for mercy; we fight fiercely to protect your rights and liberty at every step of the legal proceedings.

If you are charged with a felony in Tarrant County, now or in the future, call Barrett Legal PLLC promptly at 817-512-7044 to schedule your initial consultation with an experienced Southlake felony defense lawyer. In a felony proceeding, a defense lawyer’s early intervention can make the difference.

Understanding Texas Felony Classifications and Penalties

Under Texas law, criminal offenses are either misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors range from a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a small fine, to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail. Felonies involve state jail or state prison time, substantial court fines, and additional extralegal penalties. Texas law organizes felony charges into five distinct categories based on severity:

  1. Capital felonies: A conviction for a capital felony carries a sentence of life without parole or capital punishment. Capital murder is the primary crime in this classification.
  2. First-degree felonies: A first-degree felony conviction carries a sentence of 5 to 99 years or life and a fine of up to $10,000.
  3. Second-degree felonies: A second-degree felony conviction carries a sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
  4. Third-degree felonies: A third-degree felony conviction carries a sentence of 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
  5. State jail felonies: A state jail felony conviction carries a sentence of 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

Understanding these categories is important because aggravating factors can raise a charge to a higher level. For example, using a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime or perpetrating a crime in a designated drug-free zone increases the potential prison time and eliminates certain probation opportunities.

What Felony Cases Do We Handle?

Barrett Legal PLLC represents clients against the full range of felony charges. Whether the police arrested you or a prosecutor obtained a formal indictment, a Southlake felony defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC can prepare a defense strategy based on the particular details of your felony case.

Assault and Battery and Domestic Violence

A simple assault becomes a third-degree felony if the victim is a family member and the perpetrator has a previous domestic violence conviction.

If the state alleges the use of a deadly weapon or severe bodily injury, the charge is aggravated assault, a second-degree or first-degree felony. We investigate domestic violence allegations to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence.

Burglary and Theft

Burglarizing a habitation is a second-degree felony offense in Texas, but it becomes a first-degree felony if it involves intent to commit another felony inside the habitation. Theft is a felony when the value of the stolen property or cash exceeds $2,500.

In a burglary or theft prosecution, a Southlake felony defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC considers criminal intent, valuation claims, and potential violations of your constitutional rights regarding search and seizure procedures.

Drug Charges

Drug trafficking and distribution are serious felonies in Texas, and even possession is a felony in some circumstances. The criminal defense attorneys at Barrett Legal PLLC challenge drug-related search warrants, laboratory testing procedures, and traffic stops to cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence in drug cases.

Felony DWI Offenses

While a first or second intoxicated driving offense is usually charged as a misdemeanor, driving while intoxicated rises to a felony under specific conditions. A third DWI in Texas is charged as a third-degree felony. DWI with a child passenger under 15 years old is a state jail felony.

If a DWI-related accident results in a serious injury, the charge is a third-degree felony, and if a DWI-related accident results in a fatality, the charge is a second-degree felony. A DWI attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC can challenge breathalyzer results and the testimony of the arresting officer.

Juvenile Offenses

Prosecutions of juveniles facing serious felony charges can be transferred to the adult courts. A Southlake juvenile defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC strives to keep juvenile cases in the juvenile justice system, advocating for rehabilitation and protecting young clients from adult criminal records.

The Tarrant County Justice Process

Most felony prosecutions stemming from arrests in the Southlake area are filed directly in the Tarrant County courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth.

Arrest and Booking

After felony arrests, defendants are taken to a holding facility for booking. A magistrate judge then reviews the charge or charges and determines bail conditions. Your felony defense attorney can insist on reasonable bond amounts and favorable pre-trial release conditions.

Grand Jury Proceedings

In felony cases, a prosecutor must obtain a grand jury indictment before proceeding to trial. A grand jury privately reviews the prosecution’s evidence to determine if there is probable cause to proceed with a criminal trial.

During the pre-indictment phase, a defense attorney’s intervention can prove invaluable. Barrett Legal PLLC can offer exculpatory evidence to the prosecutor and seek to have any charges reduced or dismissed before an indictment is issued.

Pre-Trial Discovery and Motions to Suppress

If a grand jury returns a felony indictment, the proceedings move to a Texas criminal district court. Your defense lawyer can file a pre-trial motion demanding full disclosure of the state’s evidence or a motion to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence.

Plea Negotiations and Jury Trials

A negotiated plea bargain can yield reduced charges or community service options, but we never advise a client to accept an unfavorable plea deal out of fear. If you are not guilty of the felony charge, or if a prosecutor refuses to offer an acceptable plea agreement, Barrett Legal PLLC can present your case to a judge or jury and contend for a favorable outcome.

Additional Consequences of a Felony Conviction

A felony conviction continues to affect you after you’ve served the time and paid the fine. These are some of the consequences that can affect your daily life long after your felony case concludes:

  1. A felony conviction removes your right to vote and your right to possess firearms.
  2. State licensing boards routinely revoke or deny credentials to healthcare workers, real estate brokers, accountants, attorneys, and teachers convicted of felony charges.
  3. Many prospective employers and landlords require background checks. A felony record usually disqualifies applicants from rental housing or key employment opportunities.
  4. Texas family courts put a child’s best interests first. A felony conviction, particularly involving domestic violence or drug offenses, puts you in a negative legal position in child custody and visitation proceedings.
  5. Non-citizens convicted of felonies face deportation, inadmissibility, or denial of naturalized citizenship under federal immigration laws.

How We Fight Your Felony Charges

Facing a felony charge requires an experienced, effective defense attorney who is prepared to attack the state’s case from multiple angles.

Challenging Police Procedures

Police officers can make mistakes during investigations, searches, arrests, and interrogations. An attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC can evaluate whether the police had lawful cause for a traffic stop, search, or arrest. If your rights were violated, your defense lawyer can ask the court to exclude any unlawfully obtained evidence.

Undermining the State’s Evidence

In a felony case, an attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC can review physical evidence, conduct independent re-testing of controlled substances, and re-interrogate witnesses. Finding gaps and inconsistencies in the state’s case undermines the prosecutor’s ability to prove a defendant’s guilt.

Reducing or Dismissing Charges

By identifying weaknesses in the state’s case early in the legal proceedings, we gain leverage in negotiations with prosecutors. This approach often leads to a reduction of charges, deferred adjudication, or full case dismissals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Felony Defense

Should I speak with police officers if I am under investigation?

No. You should never answer questions or provide written statements to a police officer without an attorney present. Police officers use strategic questioning to elicit incriminating statements.

When should I hire a Southlake criminal defense lawyer?

Retain an attorney immediately upon learning you are under investigation or as soon as an arrest occurs.

Can a felony charge be expunged?

You may qualify for expungement only if your felony charge was dismissed, you were acquitted at trial, or the matter was resolved without an indictment. If you completed deferred adjudication, you may qualify for an Order of Nondisclosure, sealing your criminal record from public view.

Call Barrett Legal PLLC for Effective Felony Defense

A felony accusation can be frightening. Don’t confront the legal system alone. At Barrett Legal PLLC, we can prepare an aggressive defense strategy to protect your freedom. We know Texas criminal law; we understand local court procedures, and we fight vigorously for every client.

Call 817-512-7044 to schedule a legal consultation with an experienced Texas felony defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC.