Posted on April 09, 2026 in Violent Crimes

Fighting a false allegation of family violence in Texas starts with getting a defense attorney involved as fast as possible. False allegations are relatively common, especially during divorces, custody disputes, and breakups. Being accused does not automatically render you guilty in the eyes of the law, and there are real ways to fight back. If you are facing a false family violence allegation in 2026, the Houston family violence defense lawyers at Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. can offer experience and aggressive representation.

What Is Family Violence Under Texas Law?

Under Texas Family Code § 71.004, family violence is an act by one family or household member against another that is meant to cause physical harm, bodily injury, or assault. It also includes threats that make someone reasonably fear they are about to be hurt.

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 Posted on April 02, 2026 in Sex Crimes

An arrest for solicitation of prostitution sets off a legal process that moves quickly and can have serious consequences for your life, your reputation, and your future. However, you have rights, and there are real defenses available depending on the facts of your case. If you are facing charges related to the solicitation of prostitution in 2026, Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. can help. Our Houston sex crimes defense attorney has the experience and reputation you need to help you build a strong defense.

What Is Solicitation of Prostitution According to Texas Law?

Under Texas Penal Code § 43.021, a person commits an offense if they offer or agree to pay another person for sexual conduct knowingly. It does not matter whether the sexual act actually took place. Simply offering or agreeing to pay is enough for a charge to be filed.

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 Posted on March 30, 2026 in DUI/DWI

The problem with DWIs is that they happen to good, hard-working Americans. They happen to you, your neighbor, and even law enforcement agents. They happen to any of us who drink alcohol and then drive. They happen because we think we are sober enough to drive. Sometimes we may be, sometimes we may not be. In either circumstance, you could potentially find yourself arrested and charged. It's usually a poorly maintained portable breathalyzer or an unscientific field sobriety test that becomes the deciding factor that gets you arrested. And it's because of these things, alongside a breath or blood test taken at the station, you think the verdict is already in, so why fight it? If you are facing DWI charges in Harris County, our Houston DUI defense lawyer can help you understand your options.

Fighting a DWI has its pros and cons, and experienced, Board Certified DWI and criminal defense lawyer Doug Murphy shares some of these pros and cons with you. Full disclosure, though: Doug Murphy is the kind of attorney who routinely fights DWI cases and does not give up or settle. That means he isn't interested in plea deals if they are not in your best interest. That means he goes all the way to trial – in fact, preparing for trial from day one – because it is in your best interests almost always to do so unless he gets the case dismissed before trial. But those kinds of dismissals usually materialize because you are preparing and negotiating with a trial in mind. With that said, here are some of the most common pros and cons of fighting your DWI in Harris County.

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 Posted on March 24, 2026 in DUI/DWI

Breath tests are administered when a police officer suspects you are operating a vehicle, including a watercraft, under the influence of alcohol. Generally, these tests are given after a failed sobriety test or after the officer finds probable cause to believe that you are under the influence of alcohol illegally.

Sometimes, people in this situation refuse to take a breath test, and this is your right. However, it can carry certain consequences. If you have been charged with a DWI or related offense, seek legal assistance right away. The Houston DWI defense attorneys at Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. can help you understand your rights and build a strong defense.

What Are Texas Implied Consent Laws?

When you obtain a license in Texas, you commit to obey the rules of the road. Part of this responsibility is your implied consent (Texas Transportation Code § 724.011) to submit to a breath test if a law enforcement agent believes there is probable cause to detain you for driving while intoxicated. You are not required to provide information or evidence that can be used against you later in court. Thus, you have every right to refuse to take a breath test.

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 Posted on March 16, 2026 in Drug Crimes

A drug possession arrest doesn't have the same outcome for every minor in Texas. How the case is handled depends on the drug involved, the amount, the child's history, and how quickly a family acts to get legal help. Understanding the process is the first step toward protecting your child's future. A Houston drug possession defense lawyer can help you understand what your child is facing and work to protect their future.

How Does the Texas Juvenile Court System Handle Drug Possession?

In Texas, most minors arrested for drug possession go through the juvenile justice system, not adult criminal court. Under Texas Family Code § 51.03(a), a minor can be treated as a juvenile delinquent if they do something that would be a crime if an adult did it. Drug possession falls into that category.

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 Posted on March 14, 2026 in Theft

Theft and robbery might sound like variations of the same thing, but under Texas law, they are entirely different charges with very different consequences. The distinction comes down to one factor: the presence of a person and what happened during the encounter.

If you've been charged with robbery in 2026, you're facing something far more serious than a property crime. However, you do not have to face it alone. Our Houston, TX robbery defense lawyers can help you understand exactly what you're up against and how to fight it.

How Does Texas Law Define the Difference Between Theft and Robbery?

Theft, under Texas Penal Code § 31.03, is taking someone's property without their consent and with the intent to deprive them of it. It's a property crime. The severity depends on the value of what was taken.

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 Posted on March 03, 2026 in Criminal Defense

A resisting arrest charge can happen quickly and make an already difficult situation much worse. In Texas, this charge can be added on top of whatever else you were arrested for, which means the consequences can pile up quickly.

One thing that surprises many people is that under Texas Penal Code § 38.03, saying the arrest was unlawful is not a legal defense. Even if the officer had no right to arrest you, resisting can still result in a separate charge.

If you're facing resisting arrest charges in 2026, our Houston criminal defense lawyers can help you understand your options and start building your defense.

What Does Texas Law Say About Resisting Arrest?

Under Texas Penal Code § 38.03, a person resists arrest when they intentionally prevent or obstruct a peace officer from making an arrest, conducting a search, or transporting a person by using force against the officer or another person.

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 Posted on February 28, 2026 in DUI/DWI

Texas felony DWI defense is a complex skill involving sophisticated possibilities. Texas DWI Specialist attorney Doug Murphy has devoted his career and passion to Texas DWI defense because of the special opportunity to help good people in bad situations, using peculiar scientific, legal, and procedural knowledge.

Attorney Murphy's substantial experience not only defending Texas felony DWI cases but also teaching other lawyers felony DWI defense has enabled him to develop a large toolbox of sophisticated tactics and strategies for felony DWI defense. Attorney Murphy also speaks to DWI judges and lawyers nationwide on felony DWI defense.

Texas felony DWI defense isn't easy. But your successful defense may well be possible when your Texas DWI Specialist has strong skills honed from substantial experience. Contact our Houston DWI defense attorney today to get started on the best strategy for your case.

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 Posted on February 22, 2026 in DUI/DWI

A felony DWI charge and conviction can seriously affect your professional license. In some cases, you could lose your license or suffer other restrictions that hamper or destroy your professional practice, employment, income, and career.

A first-offense Texas DWI crime is ordinarily a Class B misdemeanor, typically punished with little or no jail time, moderate fine, and license and other restrictions. But Texas elevates the misdemeanor DWI crime to a much more serious felony DWI charge for things like a third or subsequent offense, an offense with a child passenger, or an offense causing serious injury to or death of another person.

Elevated felony DWI charges can turn a misdemeanor into a first, second, or third-degree felony punishable with many years in prison, carrying large fines, and imposing severe collateral consequences, especially for a professional with a thriving and valuable professional practice.

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 Posted on February 17, 2026 in DUI/DWI

Tesla's Autopilot is what the industry calls a Level Two semi-autonomous system. That means it can steer, accelerate, and brake with limited input, but it does not drive the car. The driver is still legally responsible for everything that happens, but what exactly the car will do – and won’t do – leaves drivers with great uncertainty.

The intersection of autopilot driving systems and Houston DWIs is exactly the kind of complex, high-profile DWI defense work our team at Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. handles. We stand with our clients at the frontier of emerging law and technology to answer difficult questions and fight for their rights.

If you are facing DWI charges in 2026, our Houston Board Certified DWI defense attorney can explain what you need to know about current Texas law and autopilot systems.

What Happens if You Get a First-Time DWI in Texas?

Under Texas Penal Code § 49.04, a first-offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor if your blood alcohol content is between .08 and .14.

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