If you are facing a felony charge, it is a very big deal, and you need to bring your strongest defense from the outset. A felony conviction can irrevocably alter the course of your life, and you should not move forward without the professional legal counsel of an experienced criminal defense lawyer in your corner.
Common Felony Charges in the State of Texas
Felony charges obviously include the most serious charges, and there is a long list of them, but the felony charges that criminal defense lawyers see most often include the following:
Drug charges (which are the top felony offense in the State of Texas)
Theft charges (the second most common offense in the State of Texas) (Read more about theft in this article: The Charge of Theft in the State of Texas)
Aggravated assault (wondering what to do if you have been charged with aggravated assault? read this article: What to Do if You Are Arrested for Aggravated Assault)
Burglary charges
Robbery charges
Whatever kind of felony charge you face, your first step forward should be consulting with an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
How Your Felony Prosecution Will Begin
Felony prosecutions begin with either an arrest by warrant or via an indictment that is issued by the grand jury. If you are arrested, the arresting agency will prepare an arrest report that includes all of the following information:
The specific details that led to your arrest, including the date, time, and location of the alleged crime
All physical evidence
Any eyewitness statements
This report will proceed to the district attorney’s office, which will move through a grand jury in determining whether to bring a criminal charge against you or to indict you. If you are charged, the court will set your bond (unless the charge is exceptionally serious and/or your criminal record is so long that the bond is denied). It’s important to note that several days to several weeks can pass between the time that you are arrested and the grand jury’s convening. As such, if you have retained a criminal defense lawyer with considerable experience in the state’s criminal procedures, he or she can spend this time presenting your side of the matter in a skilled attempt to have the charges against you dropped or lessened. (Can Anyone See My Arrest Record?)
Moving Forward
If your case proceeds to the grand jury, it will issue either a true bill (what amounts to a felony indictment) or a no bill, which means the prosecution will not be pursuing criminal charges against you. In rare instances, the felony charge is dropped to a misdemeanor. If your case is true-billed, it will be assigned to a court and will continue moving forward toward a jury trial. (Read more about misdemeanors in this article: Texas Criminal Procedure: Misdemeanors)
An Experienced Killeen Criminal Defense Lawyer Is on Your Side
Facing a felony charge means facing a very serious charge that you should take extremely seriously from the outset. If this is the situation you find yourself in, Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is well-positioned and well prepared to help guide your case towards its best possible outcome. Your rights matter, and your case is important, so please do not wait to reach out and contact us online or call us at 254-501-4040 to learn more about how we can help you today.
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