Posted on October 26, 2026 in DUI/DWI

You've been arrested on suspicion of DWI in Houston. Now you have to prepare to defend yourself against criminal DWI charges. For many, this can be very overwhelming. You may even feel defeated before the case ever really gets off the ground. Try not to let your emotions get the best of you. In these situations, you need to approach your DWI defense with hope and the motivation to get the very best outcome.

It is important to acknowledge and accept that there will be obstacles along the way. However, knowing which obstacles exist and how you can overcome them can be a huge asset to your DWI defense. Here, we discuss the challenges you may face during your case and how those challenges can be addressed with the help of our Houston DWI defense attorneys.

What Are the Biggest Obstacles in a Houston DWI Case?

When you are charged with DWI in Houston, you will have the opportunity to defend yourself. Along the way, there will likely be a number of obstacles that stand between you and a successful outcome. Some of these obstacles are internal, or of your own making. Others are external or derived from the facts and circumstances of your specific DWI case.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 19, 2026 in Drug Crimes

If police find drugs while arresting you for another offense, they could file an additional drug charge. However, an arrest does not give officers the right to search everything around you. Texas and federal law limit what police can search. If officers break those rules, the drugs may be kept out of court. If you’re facing drug charges in 2026, our Houston drug crimes defense lawyers can review the arrest and search for possible defenses.

When Can Police Search You After an Arrest in Houston?

Police can search your clothing, pockets, and items on your person after a lawful arrest that places you in custody. They can also search the area within your immediate reach in certain situations. This helps protect officers and prevent the destruction of evidence. However, an arrest alone does not allow police to search your entire home or vehicle.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 11, 2026 in DUI/DWI

If you have been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas, your initial reaction may be to bury your head in the sand. The process can feel overwhelming, especially when you are worried about what could happen next. You may not want to face the charges, the prosecutor, or the court, but the reality is the criminal justice system will keep moving whether you are proactive or not.

There are legal deadlines that are set shortly after your release that you will need to be prepared for. Waiting too long can hurt your case. It's important to consult with an attorney today, not tomorrow, due to deadlines that no lawyer can revive once they expire.

If you were arrested for DWI in the Houston area or elsewhere throughout the region, Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. is ready to discuss your case with you. Contact our Houston DWI defense attorneys today to set up a consultation.

Why Should You Ask Questions at a DWI Consultation?

Press clippings and advertisements might be able to paint you a broad picture of an attorney and their approach to defending DWIs in the Houston, Texas area. But your best opportunity for gaining a meaningful understanding of how an attorney will approach your DWI case is by meeting face to face with an attorney and discussing the case and asking questions at your initial consultation.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 02, 2026 in Federal Crimes

A gun charge in Texas can become a federal offense. It usually depends on who you are, what the gun was used for, and whether the conduct violated a federal firearms law. Federal prosecutors do not take every firearm case. However, when they do, the case follows different laws and procedures and can carry serious penalties.

If you’re facing a firearm charge and have heard the word federal mentioned, our Houston federal weapons charge defense lawyers can tell you where your case is actually headed.

When Does a Gun Charge Become a Federal Case?

A gun charge becomes federal when the conduct violates a federal statute, not simply because a firearm was involved. The federal government prosecutes firearm offenses that touch its own areas of authority.

One common way a gun case becomes federal is when a person who is legally prohibited from possessing firearms is found with a gun or ammunition that moved across state lines. In practice, that interstate connection is often easy for prosecutors to establish when the firearm was manufactured outside Texas.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 30, 2026 in Criminal Defense

If your probation officer says you violated probation, you have time to take action. The period before a motion to revoke is filed is when the situation is still fixable. Do not admit anything, keep showing up for your appointments, start correcting whatever went wrong, and call a lawyer right away. A reported violation is not the same as a revocation, and plenty of these situations get resolved without anyone going to jail.

If you are in this position in 2026, our Houston criminal defense lawyers can get involved while there’s still time.

What Happens After a Probation Officer Reports a Violation?

When a probation officer reports a violation, the court or prosecutor can take action based on the alleged violation under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.751. This includes seeking revocation or modification of community supervision.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 25, 2026 in DUI/DWI

If you were pulled over for a traffic stop after running a red light and the encounter with the police ended up with an arrest and charged for DWI, you're probably frightened and overwhelmed right now. But thousands of people in Texas face DWI charges each year. A DWI charge isn't something you should try to handle alone. Our experienced Houston DWI defense attorneys can help you navigate the criminal justice system and develop the best possible defense to avoid the jail time, hefty fines, and suspended license that come with a DWI conviction.

What Happens During a DWI Stop and Arrest in Texas?

A DWI arrest usually follows a predictable pattern from the traffic stop to your interaction with the police, field sobriety tests, a request to take a blood alcohol concentration test, and then a possible arrest.

Reasonable Suspicion After Running a Red Light

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 20, 2026 in Sex Crimes

Defenses in sex trafficking cases focus on what the state has to prove. Texas must show you acted knowingly, and in adult cases, that force, fraud, or coercion was used. That leaves room to fight back in several ways.

Houston sees a high volume of these investigations, and charges often follow long operations built on phone data and cooperating witnesses. That means the evidence file deserves close review before anyone assumes the state's version is solid. If you have been charged or think you are under investigation in 2026, our Houston criminal defense lawyers can help you build a defense.

What Must Prosecutors Prove in a Texas Sex Trafficking Case?

Under Texas Penal Code § 20A.02, the state has to prove you acted knowingly. That would mean you were aware of what you were doing and what it involved. Being present, renting a room, giving someone a ride, or sharing a household is not enough on its own.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 14, 2026 in DUI/DWI

Being placed under arrest is a difficult experience for most people. The feeling of losing your freedom can be devastating, which is only topped for some people by the embarrassment of being put into the back of a police car. These emotions are only amplified when you are placed under arrest for a crime you did not commit.

Media attention for wrongful arrests and convictions typically centers around high profile cases like murder. However, the chances are good that the number of wrongful DWI arrests in Texas dwarfs the number of wrongful arrests on other charges.

One of the reasons DWI arrests are often wrongful is that so much of the evidence police rely on is subjective. From their initial observations to field sobriety tests, most of the evidence police use to form probable cause for a DWI arrest is based on their opinion. Because opinions can vary, police routinely get it wrong in DWI cases.

If you are placed under arrest for DWI despite not being intoxicated, it is important that you do everything you can to protect yourself. One misstep could weaken your case, making it difficult to prove that you were not intoxicated or had not been driving. Below, we discuss the most important steps to follow after a wrongful DWI arrest. If you are facing a wrongful DWI arrest in 2026, our Houston DWI defense lawyer can help you protect your rights from the very first step.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 03, 2026 in Criminal Defense

If you start a fight, Texas law generally doesn’t allow you to claim self-defense, at least not right away. However, there are exceptions. This is especially true if you tried to back out of the fight and the other person kept coming after you. If you're facing a charge in 2026, our Houston criminal defense lawyers can help you understand whether self-defense might still apply to your case.

What Does Texas Law Say About Self-Defense and Who Started the Fight?

Under Texas Penal Code Section 9.31, self-defense generally isn't available to someone who provoked the other person's use of force. This means if you start the confrontation, the law usually treats you as the aggressor, not the victim. This is true even if the other person hit back harder than expected.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 27, 2026 in Criminal Defense

You can fight a resisting arrest charge in Texas in several ways. You may question the officer's account of what happened or argue that your actions did not meet the legal definition of resisting arrest. The legality of the underlying arrest may raise other legal issues. But an unlawful arrest by itself is not a defense to resisting arrest under Texas law.

If you're facing a charge in 2026, our experienced Houston criminal defense lawyers can help you fight back.

What Does Texas Law Say About Resisting Arrest?

Under Texas Penal Code Section 38.03, a person commits resisting arrest if they intentionally prevent or obstruct someone they know is a peace officer from carrying out an arrest, search, or transportation by using force against the officer or another person. Simply arguing with police or refusing to cooperate verbally generally is not enough on its own. The law requires the use of force.

Continue Reading ››