Criminal Defense

How the Police Get People to Incriminate Themselves

Published: Aug 30, 2019 in Criminal Defense

The use of torture and coercion to obtain confessions from suspects is unlawful. But the police may use every other possible means to get people to incriminate themselves. Law enforcement is allowed to lie to and intimidate suspects, which yields results similar to physical torture. As such, suspects often self-incriminate themselves and confess to crimes that they did not commit. The high rate of false confessions from some American interrogation techniques such as the Reid method has even led to their abolition in several European countries – including Germany. This…

DWI Blood Test Recall in Houston Affecting 1,700 Cases

Published: Aug 23, 2019 in Criminal Defense, DWI

Thousands of drunk and drugged driving cases may get dismissed over a DWI blood test recall affecting a lab that analyzes samples for the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. According to the lab, the nationwide recall concerns 240,000 blood vials, out of which 3,400 are being used in the prosecution of 1,700 Houston DWI (driving while intoxicated) cases. This means that 1,700 drunk or drugged driving defendants may now be in a much better position to win their cases. A Houston DWI attorney may…

Texas Sex Crimes and Securing Bail

Published: Aug 16, 2019 in Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes

If you have been arrested for a sex crime, you don’t always have to await your trial behind bars. Instead, you may be eligible for bail. Bail is a deposit of money with the court that is returned to you if you attend all of your legal proceedings. It’s basically a guarantee that you will go to court instead of fleeing. A judge will determine your bail amount based on the severity of the offense, your criminal past, the likelihood that you will flee, and the danger you allegedly represent…

When Do State Offenses Become Federal Sex Crimes?

Published: Aug 09, 2019 in Criminal Defense, Federal Crimes, Sex Crimes

On July 6, 2019, international celebrity R. Kelly was arrested for federal sex crimes. Kelly has been at the center of controversy for almost two decades and has faced criminal charges in both state and federal courts. For example, in 2002 he was indicted in Chicago by the Cook County court on 21 counts of child pornography. After a lengthy and well-publicized trial, he was acquitted in 2008 after the main witness against him refused to take the stand. Now, years later, he will again face criminal charges, but this…

Operation “Broken Heart” and Online Child Sex Crime Stings

Published: Aug 02, 2019 in Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes Involving Children

A nationwide child sex crime sting has resulted in 51 arrests in the Houston area. Operation Broken Heart reached into Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Harris counties, and targeted people who allegedly engage in sex trafficking, child pornography, and child grooming. The operation is coordinated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, whose officers pose as children online to trick potential offenders. This tactic is effective. Last year, the Department of Justice recorded more than 2,300 arrests between March and May alone. Child sex crime charges can ruin your…