Contact Us If You Have Been Charged With A Crime Of Violence

Individuals charged with a violent crime can face very serious penalties if convicted of the offense. Some of these repercussions can include an ineligibility to apply for certain jobs or educational opportunities, an inability to receive some types of government assistance, a permanent criminal record, jail, or prison time and fines.

Like any other criminal offense, allegations of violent crime must be proven by the state beyond all reasonable doubt. If the prosecution is unable to meet this burden, the charges may be reduced or even dismissed. It is important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who will challenge the prosecution’s evidence and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your particular situation. Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC, is available to offer advice and direction immediately.

Were You Charged With One Of These Violent Crimes?

As a former prosecutor, defense lawyer Alejandro Martinez is well-prepared to evaluate your situation and collaborate with you on building a strong defense if you have been accused of an offense like any listed here.

• Assault — In Texas, the criminal charge of assault can mean many different things, ranging from a threatening violence against another person to inflicting serious bodily injury. Further, the elements for a case against a defendant for assault and battery are the same, although there are different classifications for different degrees of the offense.
• Domestic violence — There are varying types of domestic violence crimes in Texas, including domestic assault, aggravated domestic assault and continuous violence against the family. Domestic violence is defined as an assault against a family member, household member, or a current or past dating partner that causes bodily injury, threatens imminent bodily injury, or causes physical contact that the family member finds provocative or offensive.
• Kidnapping — An individual can be charged with this offense if they intentionally and knowingly abduct another person. This offense is punishable as a felony of the third degree.
• Unlawful restraint — An individual can be charged with this offense if they intentionally or knowingly restrain another person. This offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. If the victim was younger than 17, it is a state jail felony. It is a third-degree felony if the victim was recklessly exposed to substantial risk of serious bodily injury.
• Deadly conduct — An individual can be charged with this offense if they recklessly committed an act that put other people in imminent danger of serious bodily injury. This offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor unless a gun was fired, at which point it becomes a third-degree felony.
• Terroristic threats — An individual can be charged with this offense if they threaten to commit an offense against a person or property and the threat was intended to place a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, cause a reaction from an emergency services agency, disrupt a public place or place the public in fear of serious bodily injury. This offense is generally punishable as a Class B misdemeanor unless committed against a family member, a person with whom the accused is in a dating relationship or public servant, in which case it is a Class A misdemeanor. Threats that ultimately cause more than $1,500 in losses are a state jail felony, and threats against the public are a third-degree felony.
• Robbery — An individual can be charged with this offense if they commit theft and, in the act, intentionally cause bodily injury or threaten to cause bodily injury. This offense is punishable as a second-degree felony. Aggravated robbery, which is robbery involving a deadly weapon, serious bodily injury of an elderly or disabled victim is a first-degree felony.
• Manslaughter — An individual can be charged with this offense if they recklessly cause the death of another person. This offense is punishable as a felony of the second degree.
• Homicide — An individual can be charged with this offense if they intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence cause the death of another person. This includes other offenses, including murder, capital murder, manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide.
• Murder — An individual can be charged with this offense if they intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another person; intend to cause serious bodily injury to another person and commits an act that causes the other person’s death; or during the commission of a felony offense or attempting to commit a felony causes the death of another person. This offense is punishable as a felony of the second or first degree.

Penalties can vary depending on a number of factors, including whether a weapon was used in the commission of the offense, whether bodily injury or death occurred as a result of the offense, whether the victim was elderly or disabled and whether the alleged offender has a previous criminal history. Learn about criminal matter and which of these statutory penalties may apply in your case. With a skillful defense lawyer on your case from the start, you can fight to limit negative consequences like these and more.

Understanding the criminal charges you’re facing is a first step toward getting your defense underway.

Will One Of These Violent Crime Defense Apply In Your Case?

Defense attorney Alejandro Martinez will customize your defense, which may include one or more of the following arguments.

• Justification — This defense applies when an individual commits an act that would otherwise be criminal but does so in order to protect the public or private in an emergency situation.
• Self-defense — This defense applies when an individual reasonably believed an individual was going to cause them death or serious bodily injury or to protect themselves from an attack by another person.
• Lack of intent — This defense applies when an individual does not have the required means to satisfy the intent element for the offense.
• Defense of others — This defense applies when an individual reasonably believed another person was about to be harmed by death or serious bodily injury by an attack from another person.
• Defense of property — This defense applies when an individual used force against another person who was damaging or about to damage their property or to prevent an intruder from entering their home, vehicle or residence.

Contact Law Office of Alejandro Martinez, PLLC

Contact us today if you have been charged with a violent crime in Travis, Williamson or Hays County. You may have been arrested after an incident in Austin, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, San Marcos or another nearby community.

Alejandro Martinez is an experienced Austin criminal defense lawyer who will make every effort to help you avoid the most serious penalties and repercussions to the allegations against you. Call 512-523-5720 or send an email today.