Former Prosecutor and Dedicated Plano Criminal Lawyer Protecting Your Rights

Many of the juvenile cases that we handle involve assault, drug possession, criminal mischief, and theft. Casey Davis began her career as a teacher and enjoys working with children and their families. When children are charged with crimes, they are usually arrested and put in the county juvenile detention center, with a detention hearing to follow the next day. The stress for parents can be immeasurable, and it is important to choose the right attorney to defend a child. Most juvenile charges are brought under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code, which is intended to remove the stigma of criminality from a child’s illegal acts. The Family Code provides a simple judicial procedure to ensure a fair hearing that respects a child’s constitutional rights and to provide for rehabilitation.

Texas has exceptionally harsh laws surrounding drug possession and other drug crimes. We handle both felony and misdemeanor drug possession cases. Texas drug laws classify offenses and punishments in four penalty groups, and various factors and circumstances affect the charges for drug possession in each group. Penalty Group I substances, for example, include cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. More minor drug possession charges are Class A or Class B misdemeanors. When there are larger quantities of particular substances involved, a charge may be a felony charge for drug possession with intent to distribute. Factors that can affect the severity of the charge include whether it is classified as possession with intent to distribute, whether the drugs were concealed and how they were stored, and whether drug paraphernalia and large quantities of cash were involved.

Sex crime charges can have devastating consequences. In this area, Plano criminal lawyer Casey Davis focuses on possession of child pornography charges. Under Texas Penal Code section 43.26, you can be convicted if you intentionally or knowingly possessed or intentionally or knowingly accessed with intent to view visual material that depicts a person younger than 18 engaging in sexual conduct, and you knew that the material depicted a child. Visual materials can include any photograph, video, film, slide, negative, disc, or other physical medium that allows an image to be shown or transmitted to a computer or video screen.

You can be charged with a theft crime under Penal Code section 31.03 if you illegally appropriated property while intending to deprive the owner of the property. The appropriation is considered illegal if it was done without the effective consent of the owner, or if the property was stolen and appropriated with knowledge that it was stolen. These cases often come down to whether the prosecution can prove the defendant’s intent or knowledge, or the owner’s lack of consent. A criminal lawyer in Plano can investigate the details of your situation and gather evidence to attack the prosecution’s case.

Felonies are serious crimes that can be punished harshly. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible if you have been charged with a felony. There are four levels of felonies in Texas, and the penalty range for each level is different. These levels are first degree, second degree, third degree, and state jail felonies. A first-degree felony is the most serious type of felony. A conviction of a first-degree felony can result in life imprisonment or 5-99 years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. State jail felonies, which are the mildest felonies, can be punished by 180 days to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine. When a crime is identified as a felony, but it is not designated as a specific kind of felony, and a specific sentence is not set, the felony is a state jail felony. In some cases, an experienced criminal attorney in Plano may be able to argue that a defendant should receive probation or deferred adjudication rather than prison time or state jail time.

Misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, but they should still be handled with careful attention. There are three levels of misdemeanors: Class A, Class B, and Class C. As with felonies, the penalty range differs at each level. You may face a term of incarceration in jail, probation, or deferred adjudication for a misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors are the most serious misdemeanor charges, and you can face up to a year in jail and $4,000 in fines. It may be possible to get deferred adjudication or a non-disclosure or expunction, but it is vital to retain a knowledgeable lawyer to help you navigate the criminal justice system.

Even if you are found not guilty or if your charges are dismissed, the charge and case disposition will appear in your Texas and national criminal history reports and in the computerized databases of the county and district clerk. Employers and landlords may notice the criminal information on your record when you apply for a job or apartment. You can be eligible for an expunction if your case is not prosecuted or if it winds up with a dismissal, a not guilty verdict, a no bill by the grand jury, or a class C deferred disposition. You will need to file a petition, and if the expunction is granted, you can deny the arrest and the existence of the expunction order. In some cases, you may want to retain a criminal lawyer in the Plano area to help you obtain an order of non-disclosure, which stops certain public entities from disclosing certain criminal records.

If you have been charged with a crime in Texas, it is important to retain a tough, aggressive criminal defense attorney to build the strongest possible defense strategy. Casey Davis represents people throughout Collin and Dallas Counties, including in Dallas, Garland, Irving, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Richardson, McKinney, Carrollton, Frisco, and Allen. Call us at 972-715-1929 or complete our online form.