ASSAULT & VIOLENT OFFENSES
MURDER & MANSLAUGHTER
Experienced Assault and Violent Crime Defense Attorneys – Ft. Worth, Texas
At Barnett Howard & Williams PLLC, we defend against all violent crime charges. While the law in Texas states that you are innocent until proven guilty, prosecutors will put forth every effort to see that you are convicted. Depending on the charge, a conviction could result in penalties that are life-changing or even life-ending, if you face capital murder charges. You need a dedicated Fort Worth criminal defense attorney to help you maintain your innocence.
Aggravated Assault Charges Defense Attorneys
Assault charges come in many forms. People can face charges of simple assault for merely making threats of bodily injury. Aggravated assault is a more serious offense, typically charged when the alleged victim suffered severe injuries or there was a weapon involved in the altercation. When an alleged assault involves individuals in a romantic relationship, family members or members of the same household, it is usually charged as domestic violence. Our lawyers defend against all assault charges, including all 3G offenses.
At Barnett Howard & Williams PLLC, we defend against all violent crime charges. While the law in Texas states that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, prosecutors will put forth every effort to see that you are convicted. Depending on the charge, a conviction could result in penalties that are life-changing or even life-ending, if you face capital murder charges. You need a dedicated Fort Worth criminal defense attorney to help you maintain your innocence.
Aggravated Assault Charges Defense Attorneys
Assault charges come in many forms. People can face charges of simple assault for merely making threats of bodily injury. Aggravated assault is a more serious offense, typically charged when the alleged victim suffered severe injuries or there was a weapon involved in the altercation. When an alleged assault involves individuals in a romantic relationship, family members or members of the same household, it is usually charged as domestic violence. Our lawyers defend against all assault charges, including all 3G offenses.
Violent Crime Defense Lawyers
As former prosecutors, we are skilled in the courtroom and prepared to defend against any violent crime charge. In addition to assault charges, we can defend against charges of homicide, sexual assault, and other violent sex crimes, armed robbery, and more.
Murder and Manslaughter Defense Attorneys
In our legal system, the loss of a life is considered one of, if not, the most heinous criminal acts that exist. In Texas, the penalties for murder and manslaughter reflect the obvious seriousness of the offense.
Murder
In general, murder is a first-degree felony. A person charged with the first-degree felony of murder faces anywhere from 5 to 99 years in the penitentiary and up to a $10,000 fine. If it can be shown during trial for murder that a person committed the murder under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause, the classification for murder can drop to a second-degree felony. For a second-degree felony, a person faces anywhere from 2 to 10 years in the penitentiary and up to a $10,000 fine.
Capital Murder
Under some circumstances, the offense of murder can be enhanced to a capital felony. If convicted of a capital felony a person faces only two options: life without parole or the death penalty.
There are 9 circumstances that can enhance the offense of murder to capital murder. These are:
- the person murders a peace officer or fireman who is acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty and who the person knows is a peace officer or fireman;
- the person intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or retaliation, or terroristic threat under Section 22.07(a)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6);
- the person commits the murder for remuneration or the promise of remuneration or employs another to commit the murder for remuneration or the promise of remuneration;
- the person commits the murder while escaping or attempting to escape from a penal institution;
- the person, while incarcerated in a penal institution, murders another:
- the person: a) who is employed in the operation of the penal institution; or b) with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination; a) while incarcerated for an offense under this section or Section 19.02, murders another; or b) while serving a sentence of life imprisonment or a term of 99 years for an offense under Section 20.04, 22.021, or 29.03, murders another;
- the person murders more than one person: a) during the same criminal transaction; or b) during different criminal transactions but the murders are committed pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct;
- the person murders an individual under 10 years of age; or
- the person murders another person in retaliation for or on account of the service or status of the other person as a judge or justice of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, a district court, a criminal district court, a constitutional county court, a statutory county court, a justice court, or a municipal court.
Manslaughter
If a person causes the death of another by recklessness, that person can face the offense of manslaughter. Manslaughter is a second-degree felony. A person convicted of manslaughter faces anywhere from 2-10 years in the penitentiary and up to a $10,000 fine.
The Death Penalty in Texas
In cases where an individual is charged and convicted of a capital offense in which the State seeks the death penalty, a separate sentencing proceeding is conducted by the court to determine whether that individual will be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole. This hearing is conducted in the trial court and before the trial jury. At this hearing, the State and the Defense are allowed to present evidence of an matter that the court deems relevant to the sentence. This evidence can include any evidence of the individual’s character or other evidence that would suggest that the death penalty is not the appropriate sentence.
In order for the death penalty to be imposed, the State must prove to the jury that a person is a future danger to society and that there is a probability that he or she will commit criminal acts of violence in the future.
A judgment of conviction and sentence of death is automatically reviewed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Violent Crime Defense Strategies
We know how to attack the weaknesses in the case against you. Were you acting in self-defense? Is this a case of mistaken identity? Perhaps a confession was coerced or the police officers involved used improper procedure. We will investigate, leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice. We will work with an investigator as necessary to help uncover critical facts as we look past the allegations and focus on the truth.
Free Consultation With An Experienced Assault And Violent Crime Attorney
Call 817-993-9249 or send an email to learn how we can help you fight violent crime charges.