Edinburg Criminal Defense Blog
What is the difference between assault and battery?
People who enjoy crime dramas have likely heard the phrase, “You are being arrested for assault and battery” at least once before. Television cops and lawyers mention these crimes in the same breath so often that many people believe that they are the exact same thing....
Can college students lose financial aid after drug convictions?
A Texas drug conviction may lead to jail stints, hefty fines, community service obligations and other penalties, but if your college student gets one while receiving financial aid, it may lead to additional hardships. Currently, any college student who uses financial...
Missing work documents may raise suspicions of labor trafficking
Migrant workers who appear to lose or misplace their visa documents may raise suspicions that a business is engaging in labor trafficking. As noted by the Texas Attorney General, an employer or third-party individual who holds or controls a worker's identification...
What are the DWI penalties in Texas?
Driving while under the influence (DWI) is taken very seriously in the state of Texas. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, even first offenses are met with strict penalties. Additionally, penalties become more severe with each subsequent offense. Few...
What is hearsay in criminal trials?
Hearsay is a term that people often attach a non-legal definition to. In general, people tend to think of hearsay as an unsubstantiated rumor. In a criminal trial, hearsay refers to witness testimony containing an unsworn statement made by someone other than the...
How is eyewitness testimony fallible?
Facing criminal charges is serious and if there are eyewitnesses that claim you committed the crime, you may be worried. The reality is that an eyewitness statement does not necessarily mean that a person committed the crime. According to the Association for...
What constitutes illegal re-entry?
There are several situations in which the court could determine that you re-entered the country illegally. It usually depends on the circumstances under which you left the country. According to Cornell Law School, most reasons for illegal re-entry are for criminal...
Human trafficking definitions in international and federal law
Trafficking is a worldwide problem. Anyone facing these charges could be in a complex situation. In fact, the number of laws and jurisdictions makes it nearly impossible to apply general information about this crime to any specific case. This article looks at two main...
Do I have to submit to field sobriety tests?
If you’ve never been pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving, you may be unfamiliar with the process and procedures associated with it. For many of us, our only knowledge of DWI stops comes from movies and television shows. These almost always show drivers pulled...
What do you know about the real cost of a DUI?
You received your first DUI recently at the hands of Texas law enforcement, and you want to wrap your head around the financial cost of the charge. Where should you start? AddictionCenter.com investigates the full cost of drunk driving. Get a foundational...