Criminal Law Blog
US Marshal Hold
US Marshal Hold Inmate Search A loved one is arrested, and you find them in the county jail. You check the county jail website or call the Sheriff and find out that there is a US Marshal Hold. There may or may not be a bond set on the case. You call a local bonding…
ICE Hold to Immigration Bond: Can the ICE Detainer Be Lifted?
Understanding Your Legal Strategy When Facing Both Criminal Charges and Immigration Detention in Texas By Michael Lowe, Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist Criminal Charges and Immigration Bond In Texas, when a state trooper or local police officer arrests someone and takes them into custody, that person is fingerprinted as part of the arrest process….
Grand Jury vs Jury: Indictment and Defense
Grand Jury vs Jury: An overview of Grand Jury Proceedings from a criminal defense lawyer’s standpoint. There are two kinds of juries in Texas: “petit juries” and “grand juries.” In criminal cases, a “petit jury” is selected to serve in a particular trial to decide on the defendant’s guilt or innocence. A “grand jury” never…
Federal Investigations: Target Letter
Target Letter and Invitations to Testify before a Grand Jury Can be a Red Flag You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer Federal agencies along with the prosecutors at the Office of the Attorney General for the United States (“AUSAs”) undertake criminal investigations throughout the State of Texas that are independent of any state or local…
How to Get Released from Jail on an Out-of-State Arrest for a Texas Warrant
When you go on vacation or on an overseas business trip, it’s almost always a relief to be back in the United States. And the last thing you are expecting to happen when you go through a U.S. port of entry as a U.S. citizen is that you are going to get arrested and taken…
The Importance of a Probable Cause Affidavit in Texas Criminal Defense
If you asked most criminal defense attorneys to rank the most important documents in a drug possession or sexual assault case, you’d probably hear about the indictment, offense report, lab results, body camera footage, or witness statements. While all of these matter, I believe one document stands above the rest: the probable cause affidavit. As…
Top 10 Things to Know If You Are Being Investigated by Federal Agents: Lawyer’s Recommendations
No arrest, no contact by law enforcement? Think you’re being watched? From a criminal defense perspective, it’s not about paranoia; it’s being prepared. The following article dovetails with my 13 minute YouTube video, “Federal Investigations: Top 10 Do’s and Don’t List,” where I discuss the following, going into more detail on things like how detention…
Five Things To Know About a Texas Search Warrant Before You’re Served
Key takeaways: In any law enforcement investigation, the officers, deputies, or agents must build a case and this usually requires search warrants to seize evidence for use by the prosecution. The search warrant must be supported by a sworn affidavit signed by law enforcement that explains there is probable cause to invade your privacy and…
How to Check for an Active Warrant in Dallas County
If you’re concerned that you might have an active warrant in Dallas County, you’re not alone. Many people find themselves in this uncertain position, and knowing how to check is the first step toward resolving the situation. Unfortunately, there’s no reliable online database for checking active Dallas County warrants, but there is a straightforward process…
Major Victory: 74% Sentence Reduction in Federal Drug Importation Case
How Safety Valve Made the Difference in a High-Stakes Methamphetamine Case When my client was arrested at the Lincoln International Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo, Texas, the situation looked grim. CBP had discovered 35.58 kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine and 8.88 kilograms of black tar heroin hidden in welded metal containers inside his truck’s…
