Some of the most serious crimes you can be charged with are sex crimes. In recent years, issues such as sexual assault, rape, and other types of relationship and interpersonal violence have been brought into the public spotlight, notably, through social media like the #MeToo movement, which encourages participants to share their stories. As a result, laws surrounding sex crimes have changed across the country. In Texas, sexual assault is a serious crime that can follow you for the rest of your life, affecting you even after your sentence has long passed. A skilled Texas sexual assault defense lawyer can help you understand the crime you have been charged with and the penalties that come with a conviction.

Defining Sexual Assault

If you have been arrested for sexual assault, you should understand what actually constitutes a charge for the crime you have allegedly committed. According to Texas law, a person commits sexual assault if they knowingly or intentionally:

In today’s world, most people realize that it is extremely irresponsible and reckless to operate a vehicle while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For decades, state and federal agencies have pushed campaign after campaign to attempt to decrease the number of drunk driving arrests that occur each year. While the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities has decreased in past years, the number of DWI arrests still remains high. Penalties for DWI can be severe in Texas, but they can become even more serious when a child is in the vehicle when you are arrested. 

DWI Charges for Driving With a Child

In the state of Texas, driving a vehicle with a child in it while under the influence, can bring upon a charge separate from that of a regular DWI charge. To be charged with DWI with a child passenger, the prosecution must prove that you were:

The criminal justice system is a network of government and private agencies that manages  accused and convicted criminals. The system consists of different areas, including academia, law enforcement, forensic services, the judiciary, and corrections. The goal of the system is to rehabilitate offenders, prevent other crimes, and provide support for victims. Like many other states, Texas takes criminal activity seriously and alleged offenders can face severe punishments if convicted. Even though juvenile crimes are those committed by minors, they may still face stiff consequences. That is why it is imperative that juveniles who are facing criminal charges seek the counsel of an experienced criminal defense lawyer to learn about their rights in the juvenile justice system.

Common Offenses Committed by Minors

It is not uncommon for young people to act without thinking about the consequences. Unfortunately, this can lead them to making mistakes and doing something illegal. In some cases, these crimes are similar to adult offenses; however, the penalties are based more on their age or other factors. 

If you have heard the word “stalking” before, you may have envisioned a person following someone down a dark alley or hiding in bushes outside their house. In recent years, stalking has been used in casual references to searching social media pages of a love interest or former romantic partner. Whether it is done in person or online, stalking is a real crime that can incur serious punishments under Texas law. If you find yourself charged with this offense, a criminal defense attorney can build a strong defense on your behalf to help you avoid a conviction or a stain on your record. 

Actions That Constitute Stalking

Stalking is defined as the unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by a person or group toward another individual. Similar to harassment and intimidation, stalking can include following the alleged victim in person or monitoring them electronically through mobile devices or online. While stalking is most commonly associated with repeatedly pursuing someone, it may also involve different actions or behaviors, such as continuously contacting the alleged victim through the mail, telephone, or Internet. Stalking can also occur when unwanted gifts or messages are sent to a person over and over again. 

In addition, a person can be charged with stalking if they cause another person to fear bodily injury or death. In addition, the charge can result if the alleged victim believes their family or household member, or a dating partner fears for their safety. Stalking can also take the form of threats to a person's property, such as a house or vehicle, or actions that cause a person to “feel harassed, alarmed, annoyed, offended, tormented, embarrassed, or abused.” 

Drunk driving can be very dangerous. Alcohol or drug use affects drivers in many ways, and it can lead to impairment of a person’s vision, coordination, and reaction time. Drivers need to be able to respond quickly to conditions on the road around them and take the appropriate action to avoid collisions. Drug or alcohol impairment can make it impossible to operate a vehicle safely, and because of this, driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious criminal offense. While most people understand that they can face consequences if they drive while drunk, those who have not previously been arrested for DWI will likely be uncertain about the charges they may face or the procedures followed after they are arrested, and they will want to work with an attorney to determine their options for defending against first-time DWI charges.

First DWI Charges in Texas

In Texas and most other states, the legal limit for a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent. If a police officer suspects that a driver is impaired, they may pull the driver over and ask them to take a portable breathalyzer test or submit to field sobriety tests. If the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver is impaired, they may perform an arrest. After an arrest, a person will be taken to a police station, and they will usually be asked to take chemical BAC tests of their breath or blood. If these tests show that a driver is above the legal BAC limit, they may be charged with DWI.