In this article, you will discover: Whether an alleged victim can drop family violence charges in Tarrant County, Texas. What happens when an alleged victim tells the prosecutor that they no longer want to pursue the case. Whether prosecutors can subpoena the alleged victim and require them to testify. Can An Alleged Victim Actually “Drop” Family Violence Charges In Tarrant County, Texas? The State of Texas brings the charges, so the alleged victim does not have the legal authority to demand the charges be dropped. However, the real question is whether the prosecutor can prove the case without the victim. Your alleged victim can sign an affidavit of non-prosecution, or they can tell the prosecutor that they don't want to proceed. The prosecutor will then…Read More
In this article, you can discover… What an emergency protective order is, and what it entails. Whether protective orders can be extended beyond their initial timeframe. How a defense attorney can help you respond to and navigate a protective order. What Is An Emergency Protective Order Under Texas Law? An Emergency Protective Order (EPO) is an order handed down by the court that requires you to have no contact with the alleged complainant. The EPO may also require you to have no contact with the complainant's children or family, and this may include your own children. An EPO could restrict you from coming within 500 feet of the complainant's home and workplace, and could also restrict you from their children’s school or daycare. You could…Read More
In this article, you can discover… What happens when you miss a court date in a Texas criminal case. How missing a court date can impact your plea negotiations. What to do once you’ve realized you missed a court date, and how an attorney can help. What Happens Immediately After I Miss A Scheduled Court Date In A Texas Criminal Case? When you miss a court date in Texas, 99 times out of 100, a warrant will be issued for your arrest either immediately or within a few days. Missing a court date is not a separate criminal charge, but it will lead to a warrant and will negate your bond, meaning the police will now be searching for you to arrest you. Once you’re…Read More
In this article, you can discover… What to say (and not to say) if you’re arrested at a holiday party. Whether the police have the legal right to search your belongings. Who to call after an arrest during a holiday event in Texas. What Should I Say To Police Officers At The Scene Of A Holiday Arrest? If you’re at a holiday party and the police arrive (perhaps because there has been an argument or the party has gotten loud), remain calm. The police will likely separate witnesses to obtain their descriptions of what happened and determine whether anyone should be arrested. If you choose to speak to the police, remain calm and ensure your statements are corroborated by evidence. In general, however, it is…Read More
In this article, you can discover… What qualifies as a “deadly weapon” under Texas laws. How a deadly weapon charge may impact the penalties you face. How an attorney can help protect your rights after a deadly weapon charge. What Qualifies As A Deadly Weapon Under Texas Criminal Assault Laws? In the Texas Penal Code, a deadly weapon is defined as a firearm, or anything manifestly designed, made or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury, or anything that, in the manner of its use or intended use, is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Everybody understands what a “firearm” is; it’s basically a gun. But what about a BB gun? Could a BB gun cause serious bodily injury…Read More
In this article, you can discover… If social media posts can be used against you in a family violence case. Whether messages that have been deleted can still be recovered and used as evidence. How to navigate social media activity when facing family violence charges. Can Prosecutors Use My Social Media Posts As Evidence In A Family Violence Case? Yes, they absolutely can. But to use social media posts as evidence against you in court, the post needs to have been made from your account, and evidence of that post (such as a screenshot) needs to be produced. Next, it must be determined that it was you who made that post, as opposed to someone who logged into or accessed your account without your knowledge.…Read More
Few legal issues raise more questions and confusion than the impact of family violence cases on firearm ownership. Many people assume gun restrictions only apply after a conviction, but in reality, judges can limit firearm rights immediately after an arrest. This article unpacks… How gun rights are impacted after a family violence arrest in Texas. The differences between state and federal law in considering gun ownership. Options you may have to protect your long-term legal access to firearms. Can I Legally Own Or Purchase A Firearm After A Family Violence Charge In Texas? No. Even though you are presumed innocent, judges can impose strict conditions. Bond Conditions After posting bail, most judges require defendants to surrender or have no contact with firearms, ammunition, and body…Read More
When most people think about DWI arrests, they picture the driver being the only one in trouble. But passengers aren’t always in the clear. Depending on the circumstances, passengers can face citations, possession charges, or even be arrested themselves. In this article, we’ll explore… What rights passengers have during a DWI stop. Possible consequences for a passenger when drugs or alcohol are found in a vehicle. Common scenarios that lead to passenger DWI arrests in Texas. What Legal Rights Do Passengers Have During A DWI Stop In Texas? Passengers do have some legal protections, but they’re fairly limited. Challenging The Stop Passengers can challenge whether the traffic stop itself was lawful. For example, if the police should never have pulled the car over, both the…Read More
When it comes to assault charges in Tarrant County, TX, few things are more important than the police report. From the moment officers arrive on scene, their observations, questions, and notes play a central role in shaping whether someone is arrested and how the case moves forward. In this article, we’ll break down… The role police reports play in building family violence cases. What happens if a police report is inaccurate or incomplete. How an experienced defense attorney can help you challenge any errors. What Role Does A Police Report Play In Building A Family Violence Case? If police believe they have probable cause that family violence occurred, they will almost always make an arrest. Officers often feel pressure to act because if they leave…Read More
What Sets The Lowe Law Office, PLLC, Apart I’ve spent my career on both sides of the courtroom. I’m a Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a former felony prosecutor here in Tarrant County, and I’ve tried over 90 jury trials to verdict, including family violence, aggravated assault, robbery, murder, and sexual assault cases. Prosecutors and judges in Tarrant County know me. They know I don’t bluff when I say I’m ready for trial. That reputation matters, not just in the courtroom but at the negotiating table, too. I fight for dismissals. I fight for reduced charges. And even in tough cases where the facts aren’t in our favor, I’ve been able to convince prosecutors to offer probation instead of prison because I understand the system and…Read More
