JL Carpenter Law

The act of stealing has many facets under Texas law, and those who do so can be on the receiving end of felony charges, depending on how the property in question was taken from another person. Theft, robbery, and aggravated robbery are all property crimes in Texas, and simply taking something that doesn’t belong to you is unlawful. However, if the item has a value over a certain dollar amount or you threatened or physically harmed someone in order to take it away from them, you could be looking at prison time if you’re convicted. In this article, we’ll look at the differences between these charges and what to do if you’ve been arrested. What Is Theft in Texas? In order to be charged with theft, your crime must meet three conditions : 1.  You took the property without the owner’s permission. 2.  You removed it from its proper location. 3.  You took it and intended to take possession of it in perpetuity. The property could be personal property like a car, electronics, or mo...

Harassment is defined as any act that’s intended to annoy, embarrass, torment, alarm, abuse, or harass another person. Under Texas law (Texas Penal Code 42.07), harassment is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 180 days in prison and up to $2,000 in fines. Offenders are also prohibited from carrying weapons for five years. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at harassment when it’s perpetrated by police officers. If you were recently harassed by a member of law enforcement, what should you do? How can you protect your rights and feel safe when dealing with police officers again? Here are the three key steps you should take if it happens to you. 1. Report Misconduct Police misconduct should always be reported, no matter what the surrounding circumstances may be. If an officer recently harassed you, report their action  to your local police’s oversight board. In Houston, that office is called the Internal Affairs/Central Intake Office . Most police departments have...