Posted on February 11, 2026 in DUI/DWI

You finish dinner at your favorite Houston restaurant, have a couple of drinks with friends, and head to your car. As you pull out of the parking lot, you notice a police car following you. A few blocks later, the officer turns on their lights and pulls you over. You wonder if you did anything wrong, or if the officer targeted you simply because you left a bar.

This scenario plays out across Texas every night. Police officers often patrol near bars, nightclubs, and restaurants that serve alcohol. When it comes to investigating a charge of driving while intoxicated, the power of the police is not unlimited. They cannot simply pull over a car on a hunch that the driver is intoxicated. As a result, many people arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in 2026 wonder if the police tactics used against them were legal. 

If you are arrested in Houston for a DWI in 2026, get NCDD Board-Certified DWI defense attorney Douglas Murphy on your side right away. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., we represent doctors, lawyers, CEOs, professional athletes, and other high-profile professionals who have been charged with DWIs. Call us at 713-229-8333 now. 

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 Posted on February 02, 2026 in Violent Crimes

Texas law treats assault charges involving children, elderly individuals, and disabled persons more seriously than standard assault cases. These vulnerable populations receive special protection under the Texas Penal Code, and the consequences for a conviction are extremely serious. If you have been charged with this crime in 2026, the smartest thing you can do is work with a Houston criminal defense attorney who is Board Certified in Criminal Law.

The penalties for assaulting a child, elderly, or disabled person depend on several factors. Who is the victim? What injury are you accused of causing? What were the circumstances of the incident? Prosecutors will be sure to bring charges in a way that maximizes the consequences. Even a first-time offense can result in years behind bars and a criminal record that sticks with you forever.

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 Posted on January 30, 2026 in DUI/DWI

Anyone arrested for a DWI with a child passenger in the vehicle faces a serious criminal charge. Even if the child suffers no harm whatsoever, Texas law elevates the basic DWI charge, typically a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, into a more-serious state jail felony charge.

But if the driver's intoxication causes an accident that seriously injures the child, the driver can face a separate intoxication assault charge, typically a third-degree felony. In short, , in the unusual case of a DWI with a child passenger who suffers a serious injury, you can face two serious felony criminal charges rather than a single misdemeanor charge.

Other charges and complications can also arise. Work with premier Houston DWI Specialist defense attorney Doug Murphy with Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. in the very unfortunate event that you face any such charges in 2026.

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 Posted on January 26, 2026 in DUI/DWI

An ordinary first-offense DWI in Texas is typically a Class B misdemeanor. But any number of circumstances can enhance the misdemeanor DWI charge into a felony DWI charge. Those circumstances include things like seriously injuring or even killing another person due to intoxication, injuring police, medical, or firefighter officials, or committing a DWI while transporting a child under age fifteen.

Texas charges DWI felonies first as progressively more-serious state jail felonies, third-degree felonies, second-degree felonies, or even first-degree felonies. The procedures for a felony DWI can differ in some respects from the procedures for a misdemeanor DWI. Texas felony DWI cases generally unfold in three major stages, along an approximate timeline.

If you are charged with a DWI felony in 2026, our outstanding team of Houston felony DWI defense attorneys are here to help give you the best defense possible.

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 Posted on January 22, 2026 in Gun Crimes

Understanding state and federal laws about carrying a gun can be tricky. Gun laws vary from state to state, and while Texas has gun-owner-friendly legislation, knowing where you can carry a gun and whether and when you need a license can be challenging.

That's why we're answering some of the most common questions we hear from our clients about Texas gun laws. If you have already been charged with a gun crime in 2026, our Houston board-certified criminal defense attorneys can help.

Who Can Carry a Gun in Houston?

In recent years, Texas enacted new legislation making it easier to carry a gun. If you qualify, you can carry a gun in a public place without a license to carry it, as long as you carry it in a holster. You may qualify to carry a gun under Texas state law if:

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 Posted on January 13, 2026 in Criminal Defense

When you are sentenced to community supervision in Texas, commonly called probation, you can avoid or reduce your jail time and remain at home. While you are on probation, you have much more freedom than you would in jail, but there will be conditions you must follow.

It is easier than you might think to make a simple mistake that could get you re-arrested for a probation violation. According to the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, as many as 50 percent of probation cases are revoked in some years. Many of these are for simple technical violations.

Simply being around the wrong people can lead to a violation. You should be represented by an experienced Houston, TX probation violations attorney while you are under court supervision.

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 Posted on January 06, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Anyone who is involved in a car accident is required to stop and give their information or help if someone is injured under Texas law Section 550.023. It does not matter how minor the accident appears to be. You cannot keep driving, even if you feel certain that no one is injured and there is little or no damage to the cars.

Every year, around 700,000 hit and run crashes happen in the U.S according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Texas law takes these cases very seriously. If you are caught after leaving the scene of an accident without stopping to give your information or render aid, you can be criminally charged. Depending on the severity of the accident, you might also be charged with the lesser crime of failure to stop and give information. You may even face the more serious offense of failure to stop and render aid. 

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 Posted on December 30, 2025 in DUI/DWI

If you have watched a televised crime drama or paid attention to any of the high-profile criminal cases over the years, you are no doubt aware that you have the right to defend yourself in court. But having the right to do so doesn't make acting as your own attorney a good idea.

A DWI conviction can cost you your money and your freedom. Even after your sentence is over, a DWI can make it difficult to find a job. Felony DWI convictions can even make it harder to find a place to live.

With the stakes so high, hiring the best Houston DWI defense attorney is your best chance of winning your DWI case. Don’t take the risk of trying to beat your case on your own. To discuss your case, contact Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today.

Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a DWI in Harris County?

Abraham Lincoln has been attributed with the quote, "A man who represents himself has a fool for a client." And while that sentiment may seem harsh, the reality is that there are serious risks involved with taking on the legal system without any formal training.

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 Posted on December 27, 2025 in Drug Crimes

The state of Texas is well known for its harsh drug possession laws. But does that mean that all drug possession laws in Texas result in felonies? While many possession cases are charged as a felony, what happens in your case depends on the type and quantity of controlled substance you are alleged to be in possession of.

It's important to understand that no matter what, being charged with possession of a controlled substance in Texas can have an enormous impact on your life. That's why your first call should be to a Houston drug possession lawyer. A Houston drug possession attorney may be able to help you have your charges reduced or even dismissed entirely.

When it comes to legal counsel you can trust, Attorney Doug Murphy is the best Houston has to offer. An experienced trial attorney, Doug Murphy has a long track record of obtaining favorable results for his clients in and around the Houston area. To discuss your case with an experienced Houston defense attorney, contact Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today.

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 Posted on December 17, 2025 in Drug Crimes

It can be shocking to be arrested and charged with a drug offense even when no usable drugs are recovered. These cases often rely more on lab reports and assumptions than on real evidence of possession or intent. Texas prosecutors often file charges when residue is detected on packaging, pipes, or personal items, even without a measurable amount of drug presence.

Under Texas law (Texas Health and Safety Code Section 481.115), trace or residue amounts (that may even be invisible to the naked eye) can still lead to criminal charges, felony enhancements, and life-altering consequences. Cases where drug charges are based on trace amounts are highly defensible when the correct legal issues are identified early on in the process. An experienced Houston, TX drug crimes attorney from Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. can help you do just that, building a strong case on your behalf and fighting for your rights.

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