___   CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, AUSTIN, TX In Texas, conviction for a criminal offense can bring substantial fines, possible imprisonment, and prevent you from getting a desired job or be certified in your profession. If you are charged with a crime, from a traffic ticket to a serious felony, you need an experienced and knowledgeable Austin, TX Criminal Defense Lawyer. CONTACT US Please Select Appellate Law Family Law Automotive Dealership Representation Matrimonial Law Bankruptcy Law Private Employment Business Law Military Congressional Investigations Security Clearance Criminal Law USERRA Employment Law Estate Planning & Elder Law If DWI/ DUI Criminal Appeal Family & Matrimonial Law Federal Employment Federal Employment Law Trust & Estate Estate Administration Immigration Law Insurance Coverage Real Estate Civil Law Intellectual Property Law Military Law Municipal Law Other Real Estate Law & Litigation Security Clearance Representation Special Education Law Union Legal Services Whistleblower Representation Industries More Resources Criminal Law DWI Experienced and Rigorous Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers to Help You Our Austin, TX Criminal Defense Attorneys have extentive experience representing clients accused of all types of crimes. We have successfully defended sexual offenses, violent crime, DWI, theft of property and white collar crime, among others. We represent clients in both federal and state courts and know the prosecutors and judges in each. We are experienced with both misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors in Texas Texas misdemeanors generally are crimes that do not involve violence or a substantial property loss. Examples are certain drug offenses with a small amount of controlled substances, a DWI first offense, or petty theft. The judge generally determines the punishment which will range from a several hundred dollar fine to a fine of thousands of dollars and, for more serious misdemeanors, possible jail time. In addition to helping with misdemeanor cases, we can also represent you in the face of probation violations, or military crimes if you are a member of the armed forces. Members of the armed forces may be eligible for special Veteran’s Treatment Courts which can result in no conviction or jail time. Removing a Misdemeanor from Your Records The process to vacate or expunge your criminal records is known as “expunction.” Not all misdemeanors can be expunged. A person seeking an expunction must wait a certain amount of time (six months to one year depending on the misdemeanor) for their record to be eligible for expunction. A person must petition the court for an expunction and may have to perform court-mandated programs such as community service. Felonies in Texas Felonies in Texas involve more substantial matters including physical assaults or negligent acts resulting in death or serious injury to another person, thefts of a large amount of money or property, or other intentional criminal acts such as white collar crime. Felonies have five classification levels. All felonies in Texas carry a potential penalty of more than one year in prison. Certain felonies can result in up to 25 years behind bars, or even life in prison or the death penalty for violent capital felonies. It is more difficult to get a felony criminal record expunged or, as an alternative, having the record sealed from public disclosure. For those who have had a criminal case dismissed or if a grand jury fails to indict, it is possible to seek expunction of the charges. Waiting periods to do so are longer than for misdemeanors. Felony limitations periods range between five and ten years. Once time has passed, the felony case can be expunged by petitioning the court. Some serious felonies such as murder can never be expunged. Our Austin, TX Criminal Defense Lawyers strive to either get the case dropped, arrange to plead it down to a lesser offense, or prevail at trial or on appeal. We work hard for clients to expunge their misdemeanor and felony charges as well as convictions when allowed by Texas law. Doing so will clean your record and remove the negative consequences of a criminal charge or conviction. We also file petitions to seal records when expungement is not possible. CONSULT AN AUSTIN, TX CRIMINAL LAWYER TODAY If you have been charged with a crime, or have previously been charged or convicted of a crime, you should consult one of our Austin, TX Criminal Lawyers to assess your situation and see if your record can be cleared. Our attorneys will work hard to evaluate your case, explain your options, and work to clear your record. Our offices are conveniently located just off the Mopac Expressway at 724 Executive Center Drive, Suite 205, in Austin. Contact us today and begin to get the weight of a criminal charge or conviction off your shoulders. CONTACT US FEATURED ATTORNEYS SEAN C. TIMMONS MANAGING PARTNER VIEW BIO STEPHEN M. JEWELL SENIOR ASSOCIATE VIEW BIO RELATED ARTICLES How to Defend Against Title IX Sexual Misconduct Charges: What Students and Parents Need to Know READ MORE THC you later: New York’s marijuana legislation may include plans to clear past convictions READ MORE You survived the trauma of sexual assault, but what do you do next? READ MORE WHY CHOOSE US TO REPRESENT YOU When you choose Tully Rinckey PLLC, you aren’t just assigned an attorney. Your legal matter will be cared for by our entire legal team and support staff. With offices throughout the United States and overseas, we make sure you receive legal counsel and representation you can trust. Commitment to Quality At Tully Rinckey PLLC, our commitment to quality never ends. We listen to your legal concerns, counsel you on your legal issues and represent you in legal proceedings. Our already knowledgeable attorneys are continually learning more, developing their resources and honing their skills. We make ourselves accessible to you at every turn, committing to be your long-term legal partner. Full Service Legal Firm Tully Rinckey is a full-service law firm. We handle legal issues relating to appellate law, litigation, bankruptcy, international and U.S.-based business law, family and matrimonial law, military and federal employment law, intellectual property law, and much more. We also offer a variety of services, including estate planning, security clearance representation, and congressional investigations. Regardless of your legal needs, we have the experienced counsel you need. Our Process Our client-centered process is all about communication. During consultations, we teach clients about legal challenges they face and explain options available from their current position. Our attorneys explain how we resolve legal issues for the best possible outcome. We define what the expectations are, create manageable deadlines, and discover evidence to support claims. OUR PERSONAL PROCESS CONTACT US Contact us to discuss your needs with a client representative and schedule a consultation with an attorney. PREPARE FOR CONSULTATION Your time with your attorney is important. Please use this guide to get the most out of your initial consultation. MEET YOUR ATTORNEY We discuss your specific legal goals and gain important information from you to help us understand your unique situation. VIEW CONSULTATION GUIDE FIND AN ATTORNEY OUR LOCATIONS IN THE NEWS CONTACT US TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION. GET STARTED (888) 968-9487 info@tullylegal.com Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube LOCATIONS Albany, NY Austin, TX Binghamton, NY Buffalo, NY Houston, TX Manhattan, NY Rochester, NY San Diego, CA Saratoga Springs, NY Syracuse, NY Washington, D.C. 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