Search Results for: sexual assault
More Cops Arrested for Breaking the Law: Two in Dallas, More in El Paso
In Dallas, two police officers have been arrested within the past week for doing bad things. Neither one was on duty at the time. Dallas Police Officer Ralph McAfee was arrested on Sunday evening at his home after he and his girlfriend had a fight that apparently escalated into something that resulted in Officer McAfee…
Judge Watch: 2460 Year Prison Sentence Upheld by Texas Appeals Court, More Great Publicity for Texas Criminal Justice System
Once again, Texas courts are making international headlines and not in a good way. This week, the Texas Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit over in Fort Worth issued its decision in the case of James Kevin Pope. Seems Mr. Pope was tried and convicted of sexual assault of a child — an unfortunate crime,…
Cop Watch: Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez Has Been Sued
There’s a new Sheriff in town, but does she hold a grudge? Mebbe. Four Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputies have sued their boss, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, along with the Executive Chief Deputy Jesse Flores, alleging that the Sheriff transferred them to yucky jobs after she got elected because they had supported her opponent in…
No Case Filed/Case Closed
Haltom City Police Declined to File Charges for Aggravated or 2nd Degree Sexual Assault
The Top Federal Felony Charges That Come With Mandatory Minimum Sentences: New USSC Report
The United States Sentencing Commission (“USSC”) recently published new information regarding mandatory minimum sentences in federal felony charges. Read, United States Sentencing Commission Quick Facts Mandatory Minimum Penalties (FY 2024). What does this mean for criminal defense lawyers as well as federal prosecutors? And, importantly, how does this impact those who are being investigated, charged, convicted,…
Categorical Approach: Longer Federal Sentences With Past Convictions
Things can get darker for those with past criminal convictions and a new federal arrest. There are times when new convictions will result in enhanced (greater, longer) punishments based upon prior criminal offenses. How? Federal law will require the defendant’s sentence be boosted in time to be served behind bars because of something in the…
Thirteen Significant New Texas Criminal Laws Effective in 2023
Arrests in Texas can be based upon actions or investigations by either state or federal authorities or by a combination of the two in joint operations. From a criminal defense standpoint, the choice of law upon which the arrest is made is key. This is because criminal cases move through two entirely independent justice systems…
Texas Domestic Violence Charges: the New 2022 Federal Gun Ban
The tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, claimed the lives of nineteen children and two adults. For details, read the coverage series provided online by the Texas Tribune. Understandably this had a tremendous and shattering impact not only for the local community who suffered personal losses, but for…
Elder Crimes: Federal Prosecutions and the Elder Justice Initiative
According to federal and state statute, anyone age 60 years or older is legally considered to be elderly. See, 42 U.S.C. § 1397j(5) and Texas Human Resources Code §102.001(5). In some Texas criminal laws, elderly is defined as anyone who is age 65 or older. It is easy to imagine an elder as a grey-haired…
Parental Kidnapping in Texas: When Taking Your Child is a Felony
Back in 1996, our Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex was the first place in the country to use a widespread broadcasting alert to help find missing children in a system that has come to be known around the world as the “AMBER Alert System.” Today, phone notifications, flashing highway signs, and breaking news stories share information about…
