Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer

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Types of criminal cases.

There are various different types of criminal charges that a person may be faced with. Some may have repercussions that are more severe than others. Whether you are an adult or juvenile facing a possible criminal case, our Houston criminal attorneys are here to guide you through the process.

Dependent upon the crime, there are three different types of criminal cases with different possible punishment outcomes.

Violations – Violations are the least severe form of criminal activity. Violations are not considered a crime, but more like disorderly behavior. If an officer pulls you over for marijuana possession in a nonlegal state, you will be given a violation. Jail time is often very minimal for violations (often a few days), but you will face minor punishment for this type of activity.

Misdemeanors – Misdemeanors are considered a crime, but not as severe as that of a felony charge. Dependent upon the severity of the crime, a person can face up to as many as three years in jail for a misdemeanor offense. Some of these types of crimes may include prostitution or the defacing of public property.

Felonies – Felonies are the most serious type of crime. Committing this type of crime puts the criminal at risk for the most jail time. Most felonies are divided into different class groups dependent upon the severity of the crime. Examples of felony crimes might be that of rape, murder, or violent crimes.

Description of criminal offenses.

There are many different cases that constitute a criminal offense. Each type of criminal offense can be categorized with regard to personal, financial, property crimes, etc.

Here are a few examples of the various types of criminal offenses:

Assault/battery – Assault and battery-related crimes are considered violent personal crimes. An individual or individuals are deliberately harming another person. Dependent upon the state, the person who commits an assault and battery offense runs the risk of being charged for assault and battery separately. There is a distinct difference between assault and battery crimes. An assault crime, as opposed to a battery-related crime is focused upon the threat of harm being done to the individual as opposed to the harm inflicted or threatened to be inflicted. In order to be charged with assault, it is required that the act of violence was taken further than just verbal threats. This could be anything from threatening someone with a weapon, shoving someone, or attempting to hit someone. Battery is considered to be much more serious. Battery is the actual harming of an individual/individuals. This can be anything from punching someone at a bar, or forcefully touching someone without his or her consent. Dependent upon the severity of the crime and if a weapon was involved, someone who is charged with an assault/battery offense can be charged with murder.

Rape – Rape offenses are sadly one of the most common criminal offenses. A rape offense can be defined as forced sexual intercourse. There are usually two categories when it comes to rape crimes. There is rape committed by force or rape committed when the victim is incoherent. Forcible rape would be when someone physically forces a person to have intercourse through violence or physical force. In the context of when a victim is incoherent, this could be due to date rape drugs, or the use of alcohol to render the victim unable to make a decision of consent. If the victim is under the age of consent, this is considered to be statutory rape.

Kidnapping – Kidnapping is a serious offense with serious repercussions. Similar to that of a rape crime, kidnapping involves an act against someone against their will; using physical force to take someone away from their environment. There are two elements that constitute kidnapping. One is when the kidnapper takes the victim to another location like a house or apartment against their will and will not let them leave. The second is when a victim is confined to a space against their will such as a bedroom or a closet. Kidnapping of any form is considered a felony and someone accused of kidnapping can face many years in jail.

Abuse of a minor – Of any crimes that are committed, if a minor is involved, the offense is taken especially seriously. Child abuse is the physical, psychological, and/or emotional abuse of a child. Examples of physical abuse of a minor might be that of beating as a form of punishment or even in some cases sexual abuse. Psychological or emotional abuse usually takes the form of words; this can be demeaning the child in any form and making the child feel worthless. These types of crimes can be committed by any adult i.e. a parent, teacher, family friend, relative, etc. Another form of abuse may be when a parent fails to adequately care for a child. If parents are suspected of the abuse of a child, they not only run the risk of having their child taken away but facing serious jail time. If you are facing allegations of possible child neglect or abuse, it is important to contact your local Houston criminal attorney to discuss your case and to help you navigate your rights.

Domestic abuse – Domestic abuse not only applies to spouses but also any familial abuse. This type of crime usually occurs in a space of living. It can be quite hard to prove domestic abuse allegations as true, due to the fact that it does often take place in a private space and it can be difficult to prove those allegations as true. Usually, in regard to domestic abuse cases, the abuse has to take place between two individuals that are directly related in order for it to constitute being in the category of a domestic abuse offense. In facing domestic abuse allegations, it is important to ensure that you are not the victim of false allegations; in some cases, you may be able to plead self-defense if you were falsely accused.

Arson crimes – Arson crimes fall into not only physical crimes but also property. The person committing the crime is knowingly committing harm upon another individual or group of individuals. In the case of arson-related burnings, these can be categorized as more severe – i.e. the intentional burning of a house full of people, or less severe – i.e. the burning of an empty property. There are serious prison times associated with anyone who commits an arson-related crime. Arson falls into the felony category and anyone convicted is eligible to face a lifetime jail sentence.