| Criminal Defense |
At The Skinner Law Firm, we represent persons accused of all types of misdemeanors
and felonies. If you have been arrested or charged with a violation of law, the San
Antonio based law firm of Nelson Skinner will stand side by side with you until justice is
done. Below is a list of some questions that arise when a person is accused of a crime.
How do I get someone out of jail?
We suggest that you contact a lawyer. In many counties there is an established
personal bond system that may allow an accused to be released on his or her on
recognizance. (Without paying a substantial sum of money). It may be necessary for
the accused to have a lawyer to qualify for a personal recognizance bond. If release
on a personal recognizance bond is not an option, other options include posting cash
in the amount set by the court or hiring a bail bondsman to post a surety bond. The
bondsman will charge a fee for this service. It may also be possible for the accused or
a person acting on behalf of the accused to post property as collateral for the bond.
Will my case go to trial?
A person accused of a crime in Texas courts has a right to have the case tried to a
jury. That right cannot be taken away without the agreement of the Defendant, the
prosecutor and the judge. However, most criminal cases are not resolved by trial. The
vast majority is settled through negotiations with the prosecutor after each side has
had a chance to investigative the case and resolve legal disputes at a pre-trial hearing.
How can I have my record expunged?
If your misdemeanor case resulted in a dismissal or an acquittal or if your felony case
resulted in a dismissal prior to indictment or an acquittal, you may go through a
procedure in court to remove the record of the arrest and prosecution from your
record. There are some exceptions to this general statement. Also, if you received
deferred adjudication on some felony and misdemeanor offenses, a new law allows
you to have those records sealed from public access. Some misdemeanors require a
wait of five years from the end of the period of deferred adjudication. Felonies require
a ten-year wait. Again, there are some exceptions to these general rules. You should
contact a lawyer to determine if you are eligible for the above procedures.
There is a warrant out for my arrest. What should I do?
If a person learns that he has a warrant out for his arrest he should contact an
attorney immediately. Also, he shouldn’t take any steps to hide from the police or to
otherwise obstruct execution of the warrant. Such efforts may constitute additional
criminal offenses.
A warrant gives a police officer the right to take the named person into custody where
ever they are found. An arrest at an inopportune moment, such as in front of family,
State Attorneys or coworkers will undoubtedly add the anguish of being charged with
an offense. Depending, of course on what offense the warrant is for, it is often
possible for an attorney to arrange a “walk through” procedure to avoid an arrest.
Whether a “walk through” can be arranged depends on several factors including which
county is involved, the nature of the offense charged, and the appropriateness of the
client for bond.
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