Texas Criminal Defense Attorney

Were you recently arrested or charged with a criminal offense in Texas?  Do you need to seal or expunge your criminal record to avoid damaging background checks?

If you or your family member is facing a criminal charge, it’s critical to hire an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney to protect your freedom.

At the Westbrook Law Firm, our dedicated team can guide you through the Texas criminal justice system and aggressively defend you against the State’s allegations.

The Westbrook Law Firm defends individuals charged with a range of misdemeanor and felony crimes.  We know that good people sometimes find themselves in bad situations and understand you’re going through a very stressful time in your life.  You don’t have to carry this burden by yourself.   We are here to help and represent you.  We have defended hundreds of clients in similar situations.

If you want a Houston DWI and Criminal Defense Attorney who will fight for your legal rights at every stage of your case, please contact attorney Nicholas Westbrook today.  The initial consultation is completely privileged and confidential.

Do You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Have you been charged with a misdemeanor or felony in Texas?  If so, you must take the matter seriously – even for minor or first-time offenses.  A conviction could have devastating and long-lasting effects on your current employment and future.  CDL drivers may lose their license, impacting their job and career.  There are also devastating and life-altering immigration consequences for non-citizens, including deportation and bans from returning to the U.S.  Depending on the offense, a conviction could also cost you thousands of dollars and lead to jail or prison time.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Houston or the surrounding areas, you need a knowledgeable and experienced Criminal Defense Attorney to properly investigate the charges and defend you.

The Westbrook Law Firm represents individuals charged with all Texas misdemeanors and felonies, including

• DWI offenses
• Drug Offenses
• Theft Offenses
• Family Violence Offenses
• Sex Crimes Including Prostitution
• Assault and Other Violent Offenses, Including Aggravated Offenses
• Probation Violations

A criminal offense is considered a wrong against the state of Texas, and the prosecutor represents the state of Texas.  The prosecutor is prohibited from offering any legal advice or weighing your legal options, even for minor offenses or first-time offenses.  In fact, their goal is to obtain a conviction, if they have enough evidence to prove your guilt.  If you try to represent yourself, you’ll be facing experienced prosecutors who know the law and court procedures.  You need a dedicated and experienced Criminal Defense Attorney who also knows the law and court procedures and can defend you to the fullest extent of the law.

What You Should Do if You Are Arrested

If you’re detained by police, you should ask if you’re under arrest or if you’re free to leave.  If you’re under arrest, the police office should inform you of the charge or charges against you and further advise you of your right to remain silent.  The right not to incriminate yourself is an important right of any individual facing a criminal charge and you should take advantage of it.  Do not agree to answer police questions without an attorney present.

You should always be polite when being detained or arrested, but you should remain silent and ask for an attorney.  Do not attempt to explain what happened.  Remember that anything you say can and will be used against you.

If you are a suspect or have been charged with a criminal offense, the police are not on your side.  They won’t drop the charges, regardless of what you say.  It’s far more likely they will use any well-intended statements to build their case against you.  If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense, you are caught up in the Texas criminal justice system, and it’s crucial to hire an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and freedom.

Once arrested, the police will take you before a magistrate who will set a bond for your appearance in court.  If you post a bond, you will be released and be free until the date of the arraignment before a judge.  As soon as possible, you should contact a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney and obtain experienced representation.  The sooner you act, the sooner you can resolve the case in the best way possible.

The Process of Expunging and Sealing Criminal Records in Texas

There are several reasons to expunge and seal criminal records, if you are eligible.

The Westbrook Law Firm has a detailed knowledge of the laws governing nondisclosures (sealing criminal records) and expunctions (erasing criminal records) in Texas.

If you have a criminal record, please contact our firm, and we will run a background search to determine your eligibility.

If you were charged with an offense and successfully completed deferred adjudication probation, you may have the right to seal the record through a nondisclosure petition.  In most cases, if you were convicted of the offense, you cannot seal the record (although the laws recently changed for some first-time offenses, including DWI, that may be sealed even with a conviction).

Texas law also permits arrests and charges to be expunged from your criminal record in certain circumstances, but obtaining an expunction is a complicated process.  You can seek an expunction if you were acquitted of a criminal offense, if the court dismissed the charge or quashed the indictment against you, and/or if you were arrested but never formally charged.

Each case has specific factors that affect eligibility, so it’s important to have a knowledgeable and experienced Criminal Defense Attorney review your record and explain your options.

How The Westbrook Law Firm Can Help You

Choosing the right Criminal Defense Attorney to guide you through the criminal justice system can make all the difference in resolving your case.

Attorney Nicholas Westbrook and the Westbrook Law Firm provide aggressive legal representation to citizens charged with criminal offenses in Texas.  With over 20 years of legal experience, we can help you during this difficult time.

We will analyze the criminal charges against you, gather the State’s evidence, conduct a thorough investigation, interview witnesses, and develop a sound defense strategy to rebut and defeat the State’s charges.  We will explain the legal process in understandable terms and keep you informed during every stage of the case.  We place a premium on being accessible to clients throughout this process.  We are available to meet with you before or after work and on Saturday.

Our firm represents every client in all court proceedings and effectively negotiates with prosecutors to resolve the charges with the least possible disruption to your life.  In some cases, we can waive your numerous court appearances, preventing inconvenient conflicts with work, school, etc.  We can also recommend treatment and counseling programs and other alternative sentencing arrangements to avoid imprisonment and convictions.

We will explain the pros and cons of a negotiated plea and whether a trial makes sense, based on our 20 years of experience with similar cases.  If the State is unwilling to do the right thing, we will proceed with a jury trial and defend you to fullest extent of the law.

Speak with our Legal Team Today

If you or a loved one has been charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in Texas, please call our dedicated legal team today at 281-888-5581 or use our online contact form. We will investigate the charges against you, answer your questions and explain your options.  We look forward to helping you through this difficult and overwhelming time.