Criminal Defense

Backpage Shuts Down Adult Ads After Removing Evidence of Child Sex Trafficking

Published: Feb 17, 2017 in Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes

Backpage.com, a website that hosts classified ads, which has been the center of controversy for some time, announced in January it would remove its “adult” section of its American website. The decision came after months of scrutiny and a negative report by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which found the website knowingly facilitated sex trafficking of minors through ads in the section in question. Backpage’s legal problems stem from a lawsuit by a group of underage victims of sex trafficking, collectively known as Jane Doe, in addition to…

Why Experience in Local Houston Courts Matters in Criminal Defense

Published: Jan 31, 2017 in Criminal Defense

When something as precious as your freedom is at stake, you cannot turn to just any legal professional. Whoever represents you in a court of law will likely be solely responsible for whether or not you see a favorable resolution or even convicted of a crime. Someone entrusted with that much power should have qualifications that go above and beyond the base requirements of a criminal defense lawyer. They need experience in local Houston courts, defending against the type of crime you are being charged with, and the resources necessary…

Roadside Drug Test Kits are Prone to Error

Published: Jan 27, 2017 in Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes

A widely recognized organization known as the Innocence Project claims that anywhere between 40,000 and 100,000 innocent people are incarcerated in the United States. While the types of convictions for these prisoners vary, a significant number have been wrongfully accused of drug crimes. This is in large part due to the war on drugs, which has the goal of incarcerating as many people as possible. Aiding in this effort are faulty roadside drug test kits, which show false positives for a number of substances. Houston drug lawyer Ned Barnett knows…

Head Injuries May Affect a Field Sobriety Tests

Published: Jan 18, 2017 in Criminal Defense, DUI

When a police officer suspects that a driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may attempt to administer a number of field sobriety tests. These tests assess a driver’s motor skills; whether they can walk properly, speak properly, etc. While these tests are often good indicators of whether or not a driver is intoxicated, their results can be misleading. If a driver has suffered a serious head injury, for example, it may be difficult for them to complete the tests. This might lead to an officer…

Can My Texas Criminal Record by Sealed or Expunged?

Published: Jan 13, 2017 in Criminal Defense

A Texas criminal record can have life-long effects. From lost employment opportunities to altered relationships with loved ones, there is no area left unaffected. Education is another realm that can be dramatically affected by a conviction history. Many schools vet applicants before admitting them, and scholarships are off-limits to anyone who has committed a crime. If you have recently been burdened with a mark on your Texas criminal record, you may be worried about how your life will be affected. After all, the societal stigma that comes with a record…