Houston Criminal Defense Blog
Posted on Mar 21, 2014
Last night, Houston police had to use spike strips to put an end to a motor vehicle chase. Police say that the suspect refused to stop their vehicle after police attempted to pull the driver over for ...
Continue reading "Evading Police. How Serious Is It?" »
Posted on Mar 13, 2014
Everyone has the right to be free from unlawful searches and seizures, but what privacy rights do college students have when it comes to their dorm rooms? Dormitories are owned by colleges and ...
Continue reading "Do Police Have the Right to Search College Dorms?" »
Posted on Feb 28, 2014
To understand your rights during a traffic stop, specifically as they relate to drug dog searches, you have to go back to Illinois v. Caballes. In this 2004 Supreme Court case, the state of Illinois ...
Continue reading "When Is It Legal for Police to Use Drug Dogs?" »
Posted on Feb 20, 2014
Everyone is entitled to certain rights after being arrested, what is not as clear is what those rights are. Miranda v. Arizona, a Supreme Court case from 1966, ended in a landmark decision that ...
Continue reading "What Are My Rights After Being Arrested?" »
Posted on Feb 12, 2014
Probable cause – that elusive term that many, if not all, criminal cases hinge on. Criminal charges begin with an arrest, and a lawful arrest cannot take place unless there was probable cause to ...
Continue reading "Probable Cause and Why It Matters" »
Posted on Feb 7, 2014
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a criminal offense that does carry with it the possibility of jail time. Penalties range in type and degree depending on the nature of the alleged drunk driving ...
Continue reading "Will I Have to Go to Jail for a DWI?" »
Posted on Jan 28, 2014
" Indecency with a child " is a sex crime listed in the Texas Penal Code, but there are actually two distinct types. One is indecency with a child by way of exposure and the other is ...
Continue reading "Indecency with a Child: Exposure vs. Contact" »
Posted on Jan 21, 2014
DWI stands for driving while intoxicated, also commonly referred to as drunk driving. DWI is both a criminal offense and an administrative matter. This means that not only are you at risk for criminal ...
Continue reading "An Overview of Texas DWI Penalties" »
Posted on Jan 13, 2014
Motorists who are suspected of driving while intoxicated ( DWI ) or driving under the influence (DUI) are subjected to the implied consent law – the consent all drivers give to provide a breath ...
Continue reading "No Refusal Initiative & Houston DWIs" »
Posted on Jan 7, 2014
Houston Criminal Defense Attorney Betsy Stukes – an associate at Billy Skinner & Associates – recently joined the Houston Bar Association (HBA). Founded in 1870, the Houston Bar ...
Continue reading "Attorney Betsy Stukes Joins Houston Bar Assocaition" »
Posted on Dec 23, 2013
Healthcare fraud is a crime that costs America approximately $80 million per year, per FBI statistics. Currently, national healthcare spending tops $2.7 trillion per year and expenses continue to ...
Continue reading "All About Healthcare Fraud in Houston" »
Posted on Dec 18, 2013
The holiday season has long been a troubling time for law enforcement officers throughout the country. Each year during the holidays, drunk driving causes thousands of preventable accidents, injuries, ...
Continue reading "Texas DPS Ramps Up DWI Patrols for Holiday Season" »
Posted on Dec 12, 2013
People make mistakes, and almost anyone is susceptible to being arrested for a DUI. Often DWI drivers are not intentionally committing a crime when they get in the car and start driving. In fact, many ...
Continue reading "First Time DWI Crimes" »
Posted on Dec 10, 2013
In the state of Texas, there are mandates defining which sentencing options are permissible for first-time felony offenders. These are in connection with the Texas First Time Offender Felony Charge ...
Continue reading "About Texas' First-Time Offender Felony Charge Act" »
Posted on Dec 9, 2013
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Earlier last month, Billy Skinner & Associates announced the addition of Houston criminal defense attorney Betsy Stukes to our firm's legal team – you can view the original blog here. ...
Continue reading "Billy Skinner & Associates' Houston Criminal Attorney Betsy Stukes Sworn In" »
Posted on Dec 5, 2013
When convicted of a DWI, one of the penalties you may face can include probation. This means that you are required to be monitored by a probation officer, and oftentimes must face additional ...
Continue reading "DWI Probation Violation: What to Expect in your Case" »
Posted on Dec 3, 2013
Cyberbullying can be a serious offense in the state of Texas and could result in a criminal conviction. The Internet is very useful for connecting with people, but many people abuse the system and use ...
Continue reading "Laws About Cyberbullying in Texas" »
Posted on Nov 28, 2013
If you live in Houston and are charged with a drug crime, you may be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the nature of the substance that you were carrying. Being charged with a felony ...
Continue reading "Felony Grade Substances in Houston" »
Posted on Nov 26, 2013
In the state of Texas, most sex offenders are required to undergo psychological tests to determine their state of mind when they are charged with a sex crime. These tests have direct implications on ...
Continue reading "Psychological Tests in Sex Offender Cases" »
Posted on Nov 20, 2013
By: Betsy Stukes In order to be convicted of some crimes, the State must prove that the person committed the act "intentionally or knowingly." Some examples of crimes that fall under this ...
Continue reading "Acting Intentionally and Knowingly During a Mental Health Blackout" »
Posted on Nov 18, 2013
Statistics show that more than 65 million Americans have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense. This equates to roughly 1 out of every 4 Americans having an arrest or criminal record ...
Continue reading "Texas Debates on Criminal Records & Job Applications" »
Posted on Nov 15, 2013
When you are arrested for any crime, the police typically record the incident in their own confidential files. While police reports are typically accessible, other confidential police records may have ...
Continue reading "Securing Access to Confidential Police Files for Your Case" »
Posted on Nov 8, 2013
On October 30, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals struck down a 2005 state law regarding online communication with minors. Under the law, adults who engaged in sexually explicit communication with ...
Continue reading "Controversial Online Solicitation Law in Texas Overturned" »
Posted on Nov 1, 2013
Billy Skinner & Associates is happy to announce the arrival of Houston criminal defense lawyer Betsy Stukes. Attorney Stukes brings a wealth of educational and legal experience to the firm, and ...
Continue reading "Houston Criminal Attorney Betsy Stukes Joins Billy Skinner & Associates" »
Posted on Oct 29, 2013
Houston criminal defense attorneys Billy Skinner and Jim Mount are able to skillfully negotiate an offer of deferred adjudication in lieu of a felony conviction for many of our clients who are charged ...
Continue reading "Give Back My Gun Rights: Convicted Felons & Firearms in Texas" »
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