Being charged with a crime in Texas represents a critical moment in your life. You may have no idea what your options are or what to do, but you need to act fast. Fortunately, there is some basic advice that applies across the board. And the most important piece of advice anyone can give you is that consulting with an experienced Nolanville criminal defense attorney at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard can help. 

Common Criminal Charges throughout the State of Texas

Texas has a wide range of criminal charges on the books, but some are far more common than others. 

DWI

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) applies when a motorist drives with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. You can also be charged with DWI if the officer has probable cause to believe your driving was negatively impacted by alcohol, even if you were not over the limit. 

Every DWI charge is serious. The charge, however, is far more so if you have a prior offense, you had a child in the car with you, your BAC was especially high, or you caused an accident that left someone injured or worse.

Assault

Assault refers to intentionally, recklessly, or knowingly causing someone else to suffer bodily harm, to credibly fear suffering bodily harm, or to experience physical touch that they find offensive or provocative. Aggravated assault is an enhanced form of the crime that includes an aggravating factor, such as being in possession of a weapon. 

Drug Charges 

Drug charges run the gamut from being in possession of, distributing, manufacturing, or trafficking a controlled substance. The related penalties reflect the charge, the drug’s classification, and the amount of the drug involved. While possession carries less harsh penalties than the other charges do, it remains a very serious crime. 

While many states have legalized recreational marijuana, including states that neighbor Texas, this has no bearing on the laws in Texas. Recreational marijuana remains illegal in the Longhorn State.

Putting Your Rights to Work for You

If you have been charged with a crime, the most important points to keep in mind from the outset include that you have the right to an attorney and you have the right to remain silent. And now is the time to put these rights to work for you.

Upon arrest or detention for a crime, you will be required to answer some basic questions that provide the police with basic identifying information about yourself. From this point on, however, you are well advised to refrain from answering questions or from talking at all until you have a seasoned criminal defense lawyer backing you up. In fact, your final statement to your arresting officers should be that you want an attorney and that you will not be doing any more talking. 

Your Savvy Criminal Defense Attorney Will Play a Key Role in Your Case

You will look to your practiced criminal defense lawyer to ably handle each of the following critical tasks on the path forward toward an advantageous case outcome:

• Helping you avoid the kinds of errors that could inadvertently damage your defense
• Gathering the available evidence, which includes obtaining what the police and the state have
• Strategizing an effective defense that incorporates the evidence supportive of your position and casts doubt on the evidence not supportive of your position
• Attempting to convince the state that the charge against you should be dropped altogether
• Barring the charge being dropped, engaging in skilled negotiations with the prosecution in pursuit of a plea deal that serves your best interests, if this applies to your case
• Preparing to take your case to trial and fiercely advocating for a not guilty on your behalf when doing so is deemed advantageous 

Most criminal charges lead to plea deals, and yours may do the same. There are instances, however, when a plea deal is not much of a deal at all. This is why you are well advised not to accept a plea deal before you have discussed the matter with a reputable Nolanville criminal defense lawyer who is up to speed regarding the circumstances of your case. 

Call an Experienced Nolanville Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

When facing criminal charges in Nolanville, contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately to protect your rights and build a strong legal defense strategy.. Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard is a resourceful Nolanville criminal defense attorney who is well-equipped to help guide your case toward its best possible resolution. The outcome of your case is important to your future, and acting quickly is vital. Please do not wait to reach out by completing our online form or by calling us at (254) 220-4225 for more information about what we can do to help you today.