JL Carpenter Law

Considered one of the most serious drug crimes in Texas, drug trafficking  can put you behind bars for a long time. Whether you’re caught manufacturing, delivering, or possessing an illegal drug with the intent to deliver, you will be arrested for drug trafficking. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the penalties for this crime. As you’ll notice, drug trafficking charges are directly proportional to the type of drug and the amount that’s involved. Hire a qualified and experienced criminal defense attorney who understands drug trafficking laws to build a strong case with the goal of protecting your future and freedom. Substances in Penalty Group 1 Under Texas law, the following drug trafficking charges are imposed if a person is caught trafficking Substances in Penalty Group 1: cocaine, oxycodone, heroin, opium, methadone, ketamine, GHB, methamphetamine, and GHB, among others: ·  Trafficking <1 g of drugs: State jail felony punishable by 180 days to 2 years in pris...

Wrongful arrests violate a person’s constitutional civil rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. These Amendments protect citizens like you from unreasonable seizures and the deprivation of your rights in the absence of due process. An estimated 2,800+ people  are wrongfully convicted in the US each year. But in actuality, experts say that the number could be much higher. A wrongful arrest/conviction  doesn’t just affect the trajectory of your life. It also affects your loved ones and fractures the foundation of the lives that depend on them. You may feel panicked if you were recently apprehended for a crime you didn’t commit. What will happen now? Will you end up in prison? Or will your innocence be proven in court? For starters, hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can provide you with the representation you need to increase your chances of getting the justice you deserve. Their expertise will ultimately determine the path of your case. In the meantime,...

In DWI cases , the officer will gather evidence in the form of video from the patrol vehicle dashcam and the officer’s bodycam, as well as chemical tests that measure blood alcohol content (BAC) levels in your breath and blood. Most people understand the flaws of roadside field sobriety tests and how they are “rigged” to make you look intoxicated when, in fact, you may be hindered from performing those physical tests by a medical condition or lack of physical coordination.   The chemical tests can be equally inaccurate considering the breath test (Intoxilyzer 9000) is not warranted for use as a breath testing device in DWI cases  and the blood test may be conducted with contaminated blood or a faulty sample. Lab errors occur all the time in DWI cases. Here are some issues you and your attorney should consider when it comes to BAC testing and lab results: 1. Breath-Testing Is Flawed Most DWI breath tests in Texas are conducted using the Intoxilyzer 9000, which has a number...

Bar fights on TV seem relatively harmless, but in reality, they can land you in jail—or worse. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how quickly words can escalate into arguments and then into a bar fight. Bar fights can involve various criminal charges, depending on the situation. How can they affect your future and freedom? And what should you do if you find yourself facing charges as a result of participating a bar fight? 1. Assault If you get into a bar fight, you can get charged with assault. Under Texas law, a person commits assault if he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person. 2. Aggravated Assault Under Texas law, aggravated assault occurs when a person causes serious physical harm to another intentionally or recklessly. If you brandish or use a deadly weapon—whether it’s a pool cue, beer stein, or chair—during a bar fight, your assault charges will be increased to aggravated assault.   Recommended Read: What’s the Difference B...

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrests are scary enough on their own, but if you have to spend the night in jail, you may feel even more nervous, anxious, and agitated. In some cases, things may take a turn for the worse when offenders have to share their jail cell with abusive inmates. Being assaulted in jail is common, making you feel you've been punished twice. The emotional and physical trauma takes a toll on offenders, especially if they've never been in jail before. In this article, we'll offer a closer look at what happens when a DWI offender is assaulted in jail following their arrest in Texas. Keep reading. 1. The Offender(s) Will Be Charged In late 2021, a man was arrested for DWI in Harris County. While in jail awaiting release, he was attacked by eight inmates with a broom head and handle, getting struck in his head multiple times. As he attempted to escape, the inmates poured boiling water on him. Each of the eight men was charged with aggravated assault. Jail...

A DWI charge  generally remains on your record forever, whether you are convicted or your case is dismissed. This can permanently affect your career, loan options, housing opportunities, insurance rates, etc. If your DWI charge was dismissed, you can have your record expunged, making it appear as though it never happened. However, in some cases, if you were convicted of DWI and completed probation, you can file a petition for an order of nondisclosure to get your DWI charge sealed . If the judge grants an order of nondisclosure, part of your criminal record is not removed, but it is sealed, preventing courts, court clerks, and law enforcement, and prosecutors’ offices from sharing any information about the sealed offense. The nondisclosure order allows you to omit the offense from most job applications. Here’s how to go about getting a nondisclosure order. 1. Contact a DWI Lawyer Many people make the mistake of filing a petition for an order of nondisclosure themselves. What’s wron...

According to research, there are a whopping 10 million arrests  every year. Some of these cases are dropped, but most of them are subject to standard criminal law procedures. If you’ve been arrested on any number of criminal charges including DWI , DUI, BWI , drug possession, domestic violence, or other crimes, you’ll be required to attend court hearings and post bail. However, some people who are facing criminal charges decide to “skip”—or “jump”—bail. Jumping bail is when you fail to appear in court to face charges after you post bail to get out of jail. The act in and of itself violates both state and federal laws and makes your legal situation so much worse. Here’s how. 1. You’ll Lose Your Bail Money When the court sets bail in certain cases, it gives offenders a “way out of jail” before trial. In essence, you’ll pay cash to keep yourself out of jail. If you skip bail, the judge will order that you forfeit your bond, which means monies posted for your jail release will be lost....