Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney

A first-time DWI is generally charged as a misdemeanor in Texas, but the level depends on the specific facts — for example, a high blood-alcohol result, an accident, or a child passenger can change the charge. The best way to understand your specific situation is to review the details of your case directly.

When you're arrested for DWI in Texas, you typically have only 15 days to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to contest a license suspension. If no request is made in time, a suspension can take effect automatically. Because the window is short, it's worth acting quickly.

Texas has an implied-consent law, and refusing a test can carry its own license consequences. Officers may also seek a warrant for a blood draw. Whether a test was lawfully requested and properly handled is something an attorney can review as part of your defense.

It depends, and it's important to understand that your license can be suspended through two separate routes. The first is the civil Administrative License Revocation (ALR) case, which has its own short deadline and hearing. The second is the criminal DWI case itself — even if you win or clear the ALR hurdle, a Texas criminal court can still order a license suspension as part of the criminal case, with its own separate consequences. Because a suspension can come from either the civil ALR or the criminal court, the answer really is: it depends on the facts and how both matters are handled. Frank can walk you through both tracks and the deadlines that apply.

This is one of the most common concerns for working professionals, and it's a fair one. A DWI can show up on background checks, and depending on your field, an arrest or conviction may trigger reporting duties or review by a licensing board (for example, nurses, teachers, CDL holders, healthcare workers, financial professionals, and others). Outcomes vary by profession and by how the case is resolved, which is one reason the resolution matters so much. If you hold a professional license or a job with a background-check or reporting requirement, tell Frank early so it can be factored into the strategy from the start.

Outcomes depend entirely on the facts and the evidence, and no honest attorney can promise a result. Depending on the case, options can include challenging the stop or testing, negotiating with the prosecutor, or taking the case to trial. The first step is reviewing what the State actually has.

Not necessarily. In Texas, the State — not the alleged victim — decides whether to pursue a case, and prosecutors can move forward even when the complaining witness wants to stop. That's one reason it helps to have an attorney communicating with the prosecutor.

A protective order is a civil court order that can limit contact and access, and it runs alongside the separate criminal case. Violating a protective order is its own offense. Understanding both tracks early helps you avoid steps that could make things worse.

A family violence conviction or finding can carry firearm restrictions under state and federal law. Because the consequences can be long-lasting, this is an important issue to review carefully with an attorney before making any decisions.

Sealing or expunging these cases can be difficult, and eligibility depends on the outcome and the specific facts. How the case is resolved matters so much. Frank can review your situation and explain what may be possible in your case.

For working professionals, this is often the biggest worry — and rightly so. A family violence allegation can appear on background checks, and a conviction or a 'family violence' finding can carry consequences that reach licensing boards and certain jobs, sometimes alongside firearm restrictions that affect specific careers. The impact depends on your profession and on how the case is resolved. If you hold a professional license or a job with reporting or background-check requirements, tell Frank up front so it can be part of the strategy from day one.

Follow it exactly, even if you believe it's unfair, and do not contact the protected person. Then speak with an attorney as soon as possible so you understand the hearing process and your options.

It depends on the substance and amount. Texas uses "penalty groups," and possession can be charged as anything from a misdemeanor to a serious felony. Identifying the exact charge is the first thing to pin down in any possession case.

Possibly. If a stop, search, or warrant violated your rights, it may be possible to challenge how the evidence was obtained. Whether that applies depends on the specific facts, which is why a careful review of the stop and search matters.

Some defendants may qualify for diversion, probation, or treatment-focused options, depending on the charge, history, and the prosecutor. Eligibility varies, so this is something to evaluate based on your specific case. Frank can review whether any of these options may apply to you.

For professionals and people with good jobs and little or no record, this is frequently the most pressing question. A drug charge can surface on background checks, and in some fields an arrest or conviction may trigger reporting requirements or review by a licensing board — and certain drug convictions can carry a driver's license suspension that affects your commute and your work. How much it affects you depends on your profession and on how the case is resolved. If you hold a professional license or your job runs background checks, let Frank know early so it can shape the defense from the start.

An allegation of intent to deliver is more serious than simple possession and can sharply increase the potential penalties. Prosecutors may point to amount, packaging, or other circumstances. How the State supports that claim is something a defense can test.

Not always — eligibility for sealing or expunction depends on the outcome and the facts, which is one more reason the resolution of the case matters. An attorney can explain what may be possible in your situation.