The THC vape cartridge in your carry-on bag just cost you a felony charge. That sentence captures what tens of thousands of travelers who pass through Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport every year do not know until it is too late. A THC vape cartridge that is entirely legal where you purchased it, that you have […]
Most people arrested on prescription drug charges did not think of themselves as drug offenders. They were patients (often managing real, documented pain or anxiety) who at some point crossed a line they may not have fully understood existed. But Texas Health and Safety Code §481.129 treats prescription fraud as a serious felony, and prosecutors […]
Federal fraud prosecutions almost always involve multiple statutes charged together. A scheme that uses email communications, involves a bank, and includes documents sent through the mail can produce wire fraud counts, bank fraud counts, and mail fraud counts with each carrying its own penalty, each requiring the same or similar evidence, and each adding to […]
Texas has not legalized marijuana. It has not decriminalized it. But since 2019, prosecuting a marijuana case in Texas has become scientifically more complicated than it used to be and understanding why is essential for anyone arrested with cannabis in this state. The short version: marijuana and hemp are the same plant. The legal distinction […]
Most people facing a family violence assault charge assume the gun rights question only applies to felonies. It does not. A misdemeanor family violence conviction in Texas can cost you your right to possess a firearm under both Texas and federal law and the two legal systems impose different restrictions, different timelines, and different definitions […]
Being accused of sexual assault is one of the most frightening and isolating experiences a person can face. The accusation alone, before any investigation, before any charges, before anyone has heard your side, can upend your life. Your reputation, your relationships, your career, and your freedom are all at stake from the moment the words […]
Stalking is a felony in Texas. It does not require physical contact. It does not require a threat of violence. It does not require that the defendant and the alleged victim have any prior relationship. Under Penal Code §42.072, a person commits stalking by engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person […]
On December 29, 2024, Brianna Longoria (a California woman in Phoenix for her wedding) was pulled over, arrested for DUI, and booked into jail. Her breathalyzer result: triple zeros. Her blood test: zero alcohol, zero drugs. The red light violation that justified the stop: later voided by the arresting officer herself after reviewing body camera […]
By Deandra Grant, J.D., M.S. (Pharmaceutical Science), ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist The question: Can I refuse a breath test in Texas? The short answer: Yes. You can legally refuse a breath test in Texas after a DWI arrest, but refusal carries consequences under the state’s implied consent law including an automatic driver’s license suspension and the […]
By Deandra Grant, J.D., M.S. (Pharmaceutical Science), ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist The question: Can a DWI blood test be wrong? The short answer: Yes. Blood alcohol and blood drug testing is presented to juries as the gold standard of forensic evidence, but every step between the needle and the laboratory report is a potential source of […]