Year: 2019
The recent execution of a 49-year-old man in Texas drew a line under a grisly crime that provided a template for hate crime laws in Texas and across the nation. John William King, an avowed racist, was executed by lethal injection in Texas on April 24. The execution was carried out 21 years after King…
In an internet age, it’s startlingly easy for someone to use another person’s picture, name, or other identifying information to commit an internet crime. The term “catfishing,” which is sometimes spelled “catphishing” typically involves using someone else’s photo, name, or personal information for the purpose of luring another individual into a romantic or personal relationship….
White-collar crime investigations are often complex and defendants routinely receive tough sentences. Earlier this month, the former aide to ex-U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for helping the former Congressman carry out a campaign finance scam which prosecutors described as a “white-collar crime spree.” Jason Posey was also ordered to…
Do you know your rights if you get stopped by the police? What if a police officer knocks on your door? For most people, the idea of being questioned by a cop is intimidating and even a little scary. If you don’t know what to say, along with what not to say, you could end…
Voter fraud has been a major issue in Texas in recent years amid high-profile prosecutions of people who voted when they were ineligible. However, claims that as many as 95,000 Texans were committing voter fraud unraveled in February. David Whitley, the Acting Secretary of State of Texas, came under fire for a report that questioned…
If a judgment is ordered against you in a criminal trial, an appeal is likely your last chance to avoid a permanent conviction. Here’s what to expect after you win a criminal appeal. The criminal trial process can be emotionally and financially draining for a defendant. In many cases, the time from indictment until a…
What is the role of the Texas Court of Appeals and can an appeal change the verdict or sentencing in your criminal case? Find out what you need to know about here. In the United States, our judicial system operates on both a state and federal level. States have the ability to make their own…
Texas prisons are dangerous places for a host of reasons. Despite being in areas where summer temperatures soar, many of them lack air conditioning. The cost of installing air conditioning in uncooled prisons was raised in the Texas legislature last month. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice put a $1 billion price tag on cooling…
Dallas experienced criminal defense lawyer discusses how domestic nuisance ordinances can unfairly punish victims of domestic violence. It may come as a surprise to many, but a number of cities across the United States have local ordinances on their books that make it a “nuisance” under the law to file a certain number of domestic…
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to grant a temporary reprieve to a Texas inmate facing the death penalty because his spiritual adviser was not present has sparked a feud among the justices. Patrick Murphy was among a group of inmates who escaped from a Texas prison in 2000. He committed a series of…