Police in Houston, Texas, and throughout Texas, are aggressive. They pursue arrests through intimidation and force. They have a reputation for mishandling suspects, mishandling evidence, and even planting evidence. If you have been arrested in Houston, Texas, or anywhere in the Houston metropolitan area and beyond, you should know you have a right to defend yourself. In fact, it is your constitutional right to defend yourself when you have been accused of a crime.
So, you should remember: never plead guilty without having your case thoroughly investigated and evaluated by a board certified criminal defense lawyer. No matter how high you think the evidence is stacked against you. At your arraignment, plead not guilty. By doing anything else, you give up your right to defend yourself. Pleading not guilty gives you a fighting chance. Once you have pleaded not guilty, contact Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C.
Doug Murphy, a criminal law specialist, is also a veteran trial attorney and one of only two attorneys in all of Texas to be Board Certified in criminal law through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and Board Certified in DWI defense through the College of DUI Defense. He will review your case and advise you of your options. At that time, when you are able to make an informed decision, you can determine how you wish to proceed.
Who We Represent
Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C. represents people from all backgrounds who are at different places in their lives. First and foremost, we take clients who want to fight the criminal allegations against them, who want to prove their innocence, and/or who want a chance at getting their lives back to normal with no criminal record attached to their names or no new criminal charge linked to a criminal record.
Innocent Persons / Wrongfully Accused
Texas has a reputation. And it is not a good one. It is much worse than a reputation of wrongfully accusing persons of crimes. Texas takes it one step further. It has an unfortunate reputation of being the “gold standard” for wrongfully convicting persons of crimes they never committed.
How did this happen? It is a two-pronged problem: (1) aggressive police and prosecutors who want another “win” attached to their names regardless the facts; and (2) criminal attorneys who have gotten lazy and encourage plea deals rather than fighting and working diligently to uncover evidence that would prove your innocence. The latter say: “This is the best you are going to get. Take it now or leave it.” And as a hard-working individual, you fear the consequences. You fear consequences worse than what's on the table, so you take the deal. Your lawyer is telling you to do so, and you believe him or her to know what's best; you rely on his or her legal advice.
If you are innocent of the charges against you, never plead guilty to them, but contact Doug Murphy. He is a fighter. He knows the system. And he will commit his experience, knowledge, and resources to get your good name back without a criminal record attached to it. He has a proven record of investigating and trying cases and uncovering evidence that evidence was obtained illegally and using that evidence to win many cases at trial.
Professionals
Like anybody else, professionals can make a mistake that leads to criminal charges, like a DWI or white-collar crime. You may be a lawyer yourself or a doctor and go out and have a few drinks with colleagues and on the way home, you fail to turn your turn signal on and are subsequently pulled over. The traffic stop leads to a DWI investigation, which leads to your arrest. First, you are an honest person, so you disclose to the police officer you had a drink but you are not legally intoxicated. You think honesty is the best policy, but silence -- in this situation when speaking with the police -- is the best policy. They do not care who you are. They do not care what you may stand to lose. They care only about quotas and getting another arrest. The mere mentioning of an alcoholic drink seals the deal.
Now you are faced with pleading guilty or not guilty. Too many professionals think they were arrested so there must be evidence. They fear the long process of trial. They want to get back to work and do what they love to do. So, they mistakenly believe pleading guilty at the arraignment will lessen the consequences and be a more direct route to returning to life as usual.
But know this: there is no life as usual for a professional after pleading guilty (or after being found guilty). Your criminal record stays with you, forever. And your criminal record has collateral consequences attached to it that can impact your daily life, from the professional to the personal. Contact Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C. for a real chance of clearing your name and moving on with life without the consequences of a criminal record.
Hard Working Americans
Everybody makes mistakes. Maybe you were in a hurry and drove recklessly. Maybe you had a joint to relax. Maybe you got upset and got into a fight. Maybe you and your spouse argued and she/he retaliated by calling the police. Whatever it is, mistakes were made.
But because everyone makes mistakes, everyone deserves a second chance. And that's true for hard-working Americans who get caught up in something maybe he or she should not have and now will face life-changing consequences -- but for experienced legal representation. Doug Murphy understands how hard you work and how one small thing can change all of that. He wants you to have the second chance we all deserve, so he will defend with this goal in mind.
Students
Your future is ahead of you. Your education. Your career. Your family. Your enjoyment. But one small thing can disrupt all of that: a criminal charge.
Maybe it's your freshman year at Rice University or Baylor College of Medicine and you had a drink underage at a friend's house and then got into a vehicle and drove to your dorm, but on the way, you were stopped by the police and ended up in jail for the night. This arrest can have consequences both criminally and at school. And if convicted, those consequences multiply. You could lose funding, like grants or scholarships. You could lose housing on campus. And you could face penalties from your school, even suspension, depending on which school you attend.
The only way to counter these potential consequences is to fight the charge, and your future is literally dependent on it. Doug Murphy understands this, too. He understands how one night can change everything. He understands the fear you may be feeling. And he understands what a criminal record can do. He is committed to your defense and will take the case to trial because he knows that if the charges are not dismissed prior to trial, then trial is key to an acquittal and subsequent clearing of your name.
Why We Serve You
We serve you because we care. We have a passion for DWI and criminal defense. We have a passion for our community. We have a passion to do what's right and not also a corrupt police system abuse its power and get away with it.
We also believe in innocence and second chances. We believe in the U.S. Constitution and the rights it upholds, which include:
- Your right to defend yourself;
- Your right to privacy; and
- Your right to freedom from unlawful searches and seizures.
We serve you because it's the right thing to do.
What Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C. Offers
The police are aggressive. The prosecutors are aggressive. So you need an attorney who fights fire with fire: Doug Murphy, too, is aggressive. But he does not represent you by throwing his fists around without aiming; he attacks with intention and with strategy. He thinks out your defense logically and persuasively. So, with Doug Murphy, you get a solid defense, and though the outcome cannot always be predicted, you get the best chance at getting the best outcome according to your unique circumstances.
By retaining Doug Murphy, you get:
- Commitment
- Experience
- Resources
- Honesty
- Knowledge.
Doug Murphy's clients can attest to what he offers. Plus, his record acts as a testimony to his skills and commitment. Further, due to his expertise, he is invited to speaking engagements in Texas and throughout the United States to provide insight to other criminal defense attorneys so that they, too, can help their clients the way Doug Murphy helps his. By retaining Doug Murphy, you can have your day in court, and you will have a comprehensive, strategic legal defense when that day comes. Contact Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C. today.
