Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer

A criminal conviction has the potential to destroy every area of your life. Fight for your life happiness by partnering with a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas from Chris Lewis & Associates, P.C.

No matter what crime you’ve been charged with, being convicted of it will change your life. Even misdemeanor offenses have the same potential to make your life much more difficult for you. You could struggle to secure employment, cause your family embarrassment, and destroy your financial prospects forever.

Many people don’t think about all the negative effects of a conviction in Texas. Now you have the chance to change the outcome of your case, and thus your life. You won’t be able to change the outcome later, after you’ve already pled guilty or been convicted of the crime you’re facing.

It is more than possible to beat a charge with help from a Dallas criminal defense lawyer at our firm.

Types of Crimes Your Dallas Defense Lawyer Handles

Your Dallas criminal lawyer from our firm can handle all different types of criminal cases. Big or small, there’s no case that we can’t take on and work to improve the outcome of. Trying to defend yourself against a conviction is not a good idea. It takes years of education and experience to successfully defend against criminal conviction.

The following is a list of some common types of criminal cases our firm handles:

Criminal Penalties for Common Felonies in Texas

If you’ve been charged with a felony offense, don’t make the mistake of taking the crime lightly. Felonies can shatter your life in many ways, from lengthy jail or prison terms to hefty fines. Once a felony is on your record, it’s there for life. It will change the way the world views you, and being a felon isn’t something you can easily hide.

The following are some of the legal penalties of a felony conviction in Texas, which your Dallas criminal lawyer wants to help you avoid.

First-Degree Felony – Punished by between five and ninety-nine years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Examples of crimes in this category are aggravated sexual assault and theft of property valued over $200,000.
Second-Degree Felony – Punished by between two and twenty years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Examples of second-degree felonies are reckless injury to a child and aggravated assault.
Third-Degree Felony – Punished by between two and ten years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Examples of crimes in this category are theft of property valued between $20,000 and $100,000 and drive-by shootings with no injuries.
State Jail Felony – Punished by between 180 days and two years in state jail and up to a $10,000 fine. Examples of state jail felonies are credit or debit card abuse and theft of property between $1,500 and $20,000 in value.

Criminal Penalties for Common Misdemeanors in Texas

It’s unfortunate that a lot of people think, until it’s too late, that misdemeanors won’t affect their lives. They often believe that a misdemeanor offense isn’t something employers care about, but they’re wrong. Many employers do care about misdemeanor offenses, and being convicted of one in Dallas can affect your job prospects.

Depending on the type of misdemeanor offense, it could actually affect your life in the same negative ways a felony conviction can. For instance, if you’re convicted of a violent offense in Dallas, your employer won’t care whether the offense was a misdemeanor or felony. They may still believe you are violent and they may not want to take a risk in hiring you.

Misdemeanor convictions have many negative consequences, in addition to the legal penalties you will surely face if convicted. Listed below are some of the penalties for misdemeanor offenses in Texas, which your Dallas criminal lawyer will seek to help you avoid.

Class A Misdemeanor – Punished by up to one year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine. Examples of class A misdemeanors are stalking without bodily injury, theft of a cable service, and theft of property valued between $500 and $1,500.
Class B Misdemeanor – Punished by up to 180 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Examples of class B misdemeanors are first-offense DWIs, making terrorist threats, and property theft with a value between $20 and $500.
Class C Misdemeanor – Punished by a fine of up to $500. Examples of class C misdemeanors are theft of property with a value below $20, attending a dog fight, and traffic violations.

Nonlegal Consequences of a Criminal Conviction in Texas

In addition to the legal penalties you will suffer if convicted, you will also face nonlegal, lifelong consequences.

You could be fired from your job or have difficulty securing employment. In fact, many jobs are barred to felons.
Your family will suffer because of your felony conviction, as well. They could suffer embarrassment or struggle financially and emotionally while you’re in jail or prison.
Your finances will be affected because of the heavy fines associated with your crime and your inability to secure decent employment.
Depending on the offense you’re convicted of, you could be barred from living in certain neighborhoods or qualifying for certain government programs.

Possible Defenses Against Conviction of a Crime in Dallas

Many people believe that they can’t fight their charge, as they don’t believe the criminal justice system favors the defendant; however, the opposite is true. You can’t be convicted of a crime unless the prosecutor proves beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty of the offense.

They can’t just suspect you of the crime. Even if you’ve been caught red-handed, if they can’t prove that you committed the crime, you can beat your charge. That being said, you can’t beat a crime that you admit to or one that you plead guilty to. You will have to battle the criminal charge, rather than giving in and accepting your fate.

The following is a list of some defenses available for crimes in Texas. Your Dallas defense lawyer will look into your case to find the defense that will give you the best chance of evading conviction.

You were acting in self-defense or defense of others.
You didn’t commit the crime at all.
There was a mistake of fact.
Someone was trying to frame you.
Someone used your identity.
The police broke the law during the investigation or the arrest.
The laboratory made errors.
There’s not enough evidence to convict.
Your rights were violated.

Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer FAQ

The consequences of a criminal conviction are damaging and lasting. If you’ve been arrested or under investigation for a crime, you need a robust legal defense strategy if you’re going to have a shot at clearing your name.

Reaching out to a criminal defense lawyer at our Dallas firm as soon as possible gives the most time possible to prepare for your case. Until then, check out these frequently asked questions to get started.

What does a criminal defense lawyer do?

The job of a criminal defense lawyer is to ensure that their client’s best interests are advanced in the context of an arrest or criminal investigation. Criminal defense lawyers may also provide general counsel. All arrested people have the right to a fair trial and the right to obtain legal counsel. Criminal defense lawyers help uphold this right while working to cast doubt in the prosecution’s case in order to clear their client’s name.

Is everything you tell a lawyer confidential?

When you engage a criminal defense attorney, everything you tell them is protected by lawyer-client privilege. This means your attorney can’t be compelled to give away your secrets. However, this is only the case when you’ve actually retained a lawyer in a professional capacity. If you need legal counsel, you should contact a lawyer ASAP.

What are the different levels of offenses?

Depending on the nature of the crimes of which you’re accused, you could be facing either misdemeanor or felony charges. Felonies represent the strictest punishments, which can range from prison time to fines and other civil punishments.

What if I’ve been charged with federal crimes?

In cases where the federal government has jurisdiction, you need the assistance of a federal criminal defense lawyer with the proper experience to take on your case. Federal crimes are often serious, and you’ll need a robust legal defense if you’re going to take down the prosecution’s case.

Get in Contact with a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Texas

When it comes to being charged with a crime, it’s a long way from being a convicted criminal. At Chris Lewis & Associates P.C., we have the trial experience you need to help you secure the best possible outcome.

Call us at 214-984-3113 or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation.

Our Dallas Office

Chris is intelligent, incredibly hard-working, zealous, and, sometimes, downright scary. He commands the respect of all of his peers (defense attorneys and prosecutors alike) and of the judges. Whenever my husband saw Chris at court, my husband would light up and feel encouraged because he “felt safe.” He knew Chris would protect him and had his best interest in mind. If you want to be impressed and to witness the definition of a top advocate, you must watch Chris perform in the courtroom.

A.D.