Tarrant County Criminal Defense
Tarrant County Felony Defense Lawyer
A felony charge in Texas is a fight over years of your life, your civil rights, and your future ability to work, vote, and own a firearm. Before a felony can be prosecuted, it must be presented to a Grand Jury. What happens between arrest and indictment is where the best outcomes are built.
Tarrant County
Felonies defense in Tarrant County
Tarrant County covers Fort Worth, Arlington, and much of the western Metroplex. The Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center is one of the busiest courthouses in the state, and Tarrant County practice has its own local customs that experienced counsel navigates every day.
Where cases are heard
- Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center (401 W. Belknap St, Fort Worth) - felony and misdemeanor courts
- Municipal courts in Fort Worth, Arlington, Grapevine, and Southlake
Bond and booking
Bond is set at magistration at the Tarrant County Corrections Center. Bondsman offices sit adjacent to the jail on Belknap Street.
Local practice notes
- The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office is one of the largest DA offices in Texas, with specialized divisions for family violence, DWI, and narcotics.
- Tarrant County uses vertical prosecution in serious cases, meaning the same prosecutor handles the case from filing through trial.
- Diversion programs are available, including a Deferred Prosecution Program for qualifying first-time offenders.
- Bond conditions in Tarrant County can include GPS monitoring, SCRAM devices, and ignition interlock, depending on the charge.
01
What the charge really means
A Texas felony is any offense punishable by more than one year of confinement. Felonies are classified as state jail, third-degree, second-degree, first-degree, and capital.
Every felony must be presented to a Grand Jury for indictment. The Grand Jury decides whether there is probable cause to proceed, not whether the person is guilty.
Felony convictions carry collateral consequences that last a lifetime: loss of firearm rights, loss of the right to vote while on supervision, immigration consequences, and permanent exclusion from many professions.
02
Texas felony ranges
State jail felony
180 days to 2 years state jail, up to $10,000 fine
Served day for day. Some cases are eligible for reduction to misdemeanor.
Third-degree felony
2 to 10 years prison, up to $10,000 fine
Parole eligible.
Second-degree felony
2 to 20 years prison, up to $10,000 fine
Parole eligible.
First-degree felony
5 to 99 years or life, up to $10,000 fine
Parole eligibility varies by offense.
Capital felony
Life without parole or death
Reserved for the most serious offenses.
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How these cases are defended
- Constitutional challenges. Search and seizure, Miranda, and identification issues can eliminate the State's evidence.
- Examining trial. In Texas, before indictment, the defense can force the State to prove probable cause in open court. Not often used, but powerful in the right case.
- Grand Jury presentation. The Grand Jury can be shown mitigating evidence and legal defenses. Cases can be no-billed at this stage.
- Expert challenges. Forensic evidence, DNA, digital forensics, and eyewitness identification all have known weaknesses.
- Trial strategy. Not every felony belongs in a plea. When the case has real weaknesses, a jury is often the right answer.
04
What to expect, step by step
- 01
Arrest and magistration. Bond is set. Felony bonds are often significant, and pretrial services may be involved.
- 02
Investigation phase. Before indictment, this is the best time for defense investigation and negotiation.
- 03
Grand Jury. The case is presented, sometimes with defense input. The Grand Jury either returns a true bill (indictment) or a no bill (dismissal).
- 04
Arraignment and discovery. Under Texas Michael Morton Act, the State must produce broad discovery.
- 05
Pretrial motions and hearings. Motions to suppress, motions to quash, and hearings on evidence often decide the case.
- 06
Resolution. Dismissal, reduction, plea agreement, or trial. Sentencing in felony cases can be to the judge or to a jury.
05
Questions people ask
What is a Grand Jury and how does it work?+
A Texas Grand Jury is a panel of 12 citizens who decide whether there is probable cause to indict. Nine votes are needed for a true bill. The proceedings are secret, and the defendant does not have a right to appear, though the defense can submit materials and witnesses in some cases.
Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor in Texas?+
Yes, in specific situations. State jail felonies can be reduced under Penal Code 12.44. Other felonies can sometimes be re-filed as misdemeanors as part of a negotiated resolution. This is one of the most valuable things a defense lawyer can accomplish.
Will I lose my right to own a firearm?+
Federal law bars anyone with a felony conviction from possessing a firearm. Texas law allows possession only at your own residence, and only five years after release from confinement or supervision. Deferred adjudication is not a final conviction, but while a felony charge or deferred adjudication is pending, federal law restricts acquiring firearms. The details matter, so get advice specific to your case.
How long does a Texas felony case take?+
Simple felonies can resolve in six to nine months. Complex cases with lab work, digital forensics, or trial preparation can take one to two years or more. Time is often the defense's ally, but not always.
Can a felony be expunged in Texas?+
A felony conviction cannot be expunged. A felony dismissal or acquittal is eligible for expunction. Deferred adjudication on many felonies can be sealed by petition for nondisclosure after a waiting period.
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