Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer

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

No matter what crime you’ve been charged with by the police in Texas, being convicted of crimes will change your life. Even misdemeanor offenses have the potential to make your life much more difficult. 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 get justice and beat a criminal charge with professional legal representation from a dedicated Dallas criminal defense lawyer at our law firm.

Types of Crimes Your Defense Lawyer Handles

Your Dallas criminal lawyer from our law firm can handle all different types of criminal cases. Big or small, there’s no criminal case that our lawyers can’t take on and work to improve the practical outcome of when you’re facing a serious accusation. As an individual, trying to defend yourself in the Texas courts against a conviction for crimes 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 case practice areas our defense firm’s legal consultants handle and have helped previous defense clients with:

Criminal Penalties for Common Felony Crimes 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 Dallas 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 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 crimes such as 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 crimes such as credit or debit card abuse and theft of property between $1,500 and $20,000 in value.

Criminal Penalties for Common Misdemeanor Crimes in Texas

It’s unfortunate that a lot of people think, until it’s too late, that misdemeanors won’t have resulting negative impacts that 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 for one of these crimes in Dallas is a serious legal issue that can affect your job and career prospects.

Depending on the type of misdemeanor offense, the resulting consequences 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 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 for the crimes you’ve been accused of, you will also face practical nonlegal, lifelong consequences.

You could be fired from your job or have difficulty securing employment, no matter how personable you are or how much practical experience you might possess. In fact, many jobs in Dallas and elsewhere in Texas are barred to felons.
Your family will suffer because of your felony conviction, as well. They could suffer embarrassment and damage to their reputation, or they could 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 in Dallas or qualifying for certain government programs.
You could lose your license to drive or your rights to bear arms and vote.

Possible Defenses Against Conviction of a Crime in Dallas

Many people believe that they can’t fight their criminal charge, as they don’t believe the federal or Texas 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. This means that the prosecution will need to locate, identify, and present significant and convincing evidence against you.

The police and the prosecution 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 even if they formed a case to prosecute you with. 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 with good information and solid evidence, rather than giving in and accepting your fate.

The following is a list of some tried and true practical legal defenses available for crimes in Texas. Your Dallas defense lawyer will look into your case to find the defense to use 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 crimes at all.
There was a mistake of fact.
Someone worked 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.

Get in Contact with a Criminal Defense Lawyer

When it comes to being charged with a crime in Texas, it’s a long way from being a convicted criminal. At Chris Lewis & Associates P.C., our defense lawyers have the experience with criminal trials you need to help you secure the best possible outcome and find the evidence to constitute the best defense. Whether it’s a dismissal or a reduced sentence, our lawyers will work for your best interests.

Call our law office situated in Dallas at 214-984-3113 or fill out the form at the bottom of this website to schedule a consultation with one of our defense attorneys with experience. Make certain that the criminal justice system treats you fairly by securing the best legal representation in Dallas. Our lawyers are always here when they’re needed most and will use every resource at their disposal to defend their clients.

Our Dallas Law Office

Dallas Criminal Defense FAQ

The consequences of a criminal conviction in Dallas are damaging and lasting to both your life and your rights. If you’ve been arrested or under investigation by police 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 law firm as soon as possible gives the most time possible to prepare for your case. Until then, check out these frequently asked questions from our criminal defense clients to get started with the information you need.

What does a criminal defense lawyer do?

The job of a criminal defense lawyer is to provide sound legal advice, ensure that their client’s rights are protected, and that their clients' best interests are advanced in the context of a police arrest or criminal investigation. Criminal defense lawyers may also provide general counsel. Every arrested person possesses 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 and achieve justice. And unlike with public defenders, good defense attorneys only take on as many cases as they have capacity for, so you can rest assured that your case is getting all the attention it requires.

Is everything clients tell a lawyer confidential?

When you engage a criminal defense attorney, everything you communicate to them is protected by lawyer-client privilege. This means your attorney can’t be compelled to give away the secrets of their clients. 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 our lawyers ASAP, especially before you say anything to the police or prosecutors.

What are the different levels of criminal offenses in Texas?

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 United States government has jurisdiction, you need the assistance of a federal criminal defense lawyer with the proper experience to take on your case and the allegation against you. Federal crimes are often serious, and you’ll need a robust legal defense and practical knowledge if you’re going to take down the prosecution’s case in court while called in front of a judge and jury.

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.