Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer

What Is a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer?

A criminal defense lawyer is an attorney who represents people accused of crimes, from a Class C misdemeanor through a first-degree felony, and in some cases federal charges. In Texas, the offense determines almost everything: the court, the range of punishment, and the strategy. State charges are prosecuted by the District or County Attorney in the county where the case is filed, and federal charges are prosecuted in one of the four federal districts of Texas. What matters in every one of them is whether the defense can match the prosecution on both the legal side and the evidence.

We have offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Allen, Denton, Waco, and Rockwall. We have been in North and Central Texas courtrooms for more than 30 years, across more than 500 trials to verdict. You can see the full range of cases we handle above.

Why Hire a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Most criminal defense firms in Texas offer the same thing: a lawyer who knows the law, has been in court, and will fight for you. That description fits thousands of attorneys across the state. What it does not describe is what Deandra Grant Law actually brings to a criminal case.

Managing Partner Deandra Grant holds a Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Science and the ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation. Partner Douglas Huff holds the same designation and has completed advanced digital forensics training. Of Counsel James Lee Bright has more than 25 years of federal criminal trial experience across all four federal districts in Texas. Together, that team covers the legal, scientific, and federal dimensions of criminal defense in ways that a traditional criminal defense firm cannot.

Criminal prosecution in Texas rests on evidence. The question is whether the defense can independently evaluate that evidence at the same level of sophistication the prosecution uses to present it. In most criminal cases, the answer from most defense firms is no because evaluating forensic evidence requires scientific training that most attorneys do not have. The defenses in your case begin with that evaluation.

What Are the Penalties for a Criminal Charge?

The penalty range depends entirely on the exact charge. Texas categorizes offenses by class and degree, and aggravating factors can move a case up the ladder. The consequences can vary widely based on the nature and severity of the crime.

Misdemeanors. Less serious offenses, but they can still result in significant penalties.

• Class A Misdemeanor. Up to one year in county jail and fines up to $4,000.
• Class B Misdemeanor. Up to 180 days in county jail and fines up to $2,000.
• Class C Misdemeanor. Typically results in fines up to $500 without the possibility of jail time.

Felonies. More serious crimes that carry more severe penalties. Texas classifies felonies into five degrees.

• Capital Felony. The most severe, punishable by life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.
• First Degree Felony. 5 to 99 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
• Second Degree Felony. 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
• Third Degree Felony. 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
• State Jail Felony. 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and fines up to $10,000.

Aggravated offenses. Aggravating factors, such as the use of a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury, can elevate the severity of a crime, leading to enhanced penalties.

Collateral consequences. In addition to legal penalties, criminal arrests in Texas can have collateral consequences. These include difficulties in finding employment, obtaining housing, and securing loans. A criminal record can significantly impact various aspects of your life. The full set of long-term costs is on our consequences of a criminal conviction page.

The Constitutional Foundation Every Defense Starts With

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23 prohibits the use of evidence obtained in violation of the Texas or United States Constitutions. Texas has no good faith exception. When law enforcement obtained evidence through an unlawful stop, an insufficient warrant, a search that exceeded the scope of consent, or a blood draw without proper legal authority, that evidence is suppressible and suppression frequently ends the prosecution’s case. Every Deandra Grant Law case begins with an Article 38.23 analysis before any other defense strategy is built.

What Evidence Do Prosecutors Need to Convict?

To convict, the State must prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. In modern cases that proof is increasingly forensic and digital. The prosecution’s central exhibit may be a laboratory result in a DWI, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, or drug case, or it may be digital evidence in a fraud, theft, sex offense, or cybercrime case. Every category of that evidence can be independently evaluated, and every category has conditions under which it becomes unreliable. How we evaluate and challenge each one is covered in our defense strategies.

What to Do Right After a Criminal Arrest

If you or someone you care about has been arrested in Texas, the most important thing you can do right now is speak with an attorney before making any decisions about what to say to law enforcement, whether to cooperate, or what to do about bond conditions. Those early decisions shape the entire case. Do not discuss the facts with anyone but your lawyer, write down everything you remember while it is fresh, and preserve anything that could be evidence. Our guide on what to do after a criminal arrest walks through each step.

Can I Fight My Criminal Charge?

Being arrested is not the same as being convicted. Criminal prosecution rests on evidence, and when that evidence was obtained unlawfully or cannot withstand independent review, it can be suppressed, excluded, or undermined. Under Article 38.23, suppression frequently ends the prosecution’s case. The available criminal defenses depend on the specific facts and the specific charge.

What Makes the Difference in a Criminal Case 

Every serious criminal defense has two components: the legal analysis and the scientific analysis. Most defense attorneys cover the legal side. The forensic science side is where Deandra Grant Law is different.

Blood and toxicology evidence. In DWI, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and drug cases, the prosecution’s central exhibit is a laboratory result. Evaluating that result (the methodology, the chain of custody, the analyst’s qualifications, the instrument calibration records, the possibility of in vitro fermentation or sample contamination) requires pharmacokinetic and analytical chemistry training. Deandra Grant’s Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Science and ACS-CHAL designation make that evaluation possible in every case where blood or toxicology evidence is at issue.

Digital evidence. In fraud, theft, sex offense, and cybercrime cases, the prosecution’s evidence is increasingly digital: phone extractions, metadata, account records, and device forensics. Doug Huff’s digital forensics training means the defense can better evaluate that evidence and not just challenge its admissibility.