Dallas-Fort Worth Violent Crimes Lawyer

The dangers of violent crime to our society mean that defendants who face these types of charges have their own risk. There may be pressure on prosecutors to get a conviction, and it’s far too common for the public to confuse the awful nature of the allegation itself with the guilt of the specific person being charged with it. Defendants, faced with the possibility of long jail sentences, need to know that their attorney is firmly in their corner, believes in them, and understands how to advocate within the system for real justice. 

At T. Baker Law, our Dallas-Fort Worth violent crimes lawyer has over 14 years of experience offering clients sensible legal strategies combined with passionate representation. We serve people throughout the Metroplex area. 

Call today at (214) 777-5346 or contact us online to set up a consultation. Payment plans are available.

The Definition of Violent Crimes in Texas

The law, at both the state and federal level, has specific criteria that must be met for a crime to be classified as violent. 

According to federal law, a violent crime must be one that, by its nature, involves at least the substantial risk of violence. The involvement of guns, knives, or other objects of force can be enough to consider an act inherently violent. Furthermore, it is not necessary for there to be actual violence involved. The mere threat or reasonable possibility of violence is enough under U.S. law. The criminal code in the state of Texas then adds any action that results in personal injury to the victim. 

The consequences of violent crime will depend on the nature of each specific action. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a 2nd-degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Rape is a 1st-degree felony, with the possibility of a life prison sentence (or 99 years, which effectively amounts to the same thing). Other violent crimes might be classified as 3rd degree, which will still result in prison stretches of 2 to 10 years. 

Get good legal counsel from the Dallas-Fort Worth violent crimes attorney at T. Baker Law by calling the office at (214) 777-5346 or by filling out our online contact form today.

Violent Crime Legal Defense Strategies

The very broad range of violent crimes, combined with the unique individual circumstances of every single case, mean that there is no one-size-fits-all defense strategy. 

But some common places to begin are:

• Self-defense: The state of Texas allows people the right to defend themselves, and sometimes that defense will necessitate the use of violence. The defense attorney will need to show the jury that the threat was real, and the force applied reasonable and proportionate to the threat. 
• Misunderstandings: Keeping in mind that the mere threat of violence is enough for a District Attorney to bring criminal charges, it’s possible that what one person interpreted as a threat, was in fact something quite different—or at least, not as serious. Witness testimony in cases like these, including character witnesses for the defendant, can be a key part of a defense strategy. 
• The defendant is not guilty: The most basic defense of all is simply that the prosecutors are charging the wrong person. The basic premise of criminal law is that every defendant is to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The proof the prosecution presents must be so compelling as to be beyond a reasonable doubt. And that verdict must be a unanimous one among 12 jurors. Good defense strategies involve poking holes in the prosecution’s case every step of the way and presenting alternative possibilities to the jury, so as to raise that reasonable doubt.