It all began in 1988. It all ends, for this particular family, now. For 21 years, over two dozen people recently arrested operated a complex drug ring right under the noses of their coworkers, neighbors, and friends. [Read more…]
Drugs Offenses in Dallas TX Apartments Targeted
The city of Dallas, TX has put 31 apartment complexes on notice. They must clean up their act or pay a fine. This comes after the Police Department along with the city decided these 31 complexes were hot spots of crime that needed to cool off.
According to WFAA, things like better lighting, visibility, security fences, and community watch meetings can all improve the safety of a neighborhood. In addition, community managers are being asked to tighten up their background checks and rental policies, being more cautious of who they are renting to. [Read more…]
Austin TX Criminal Gang Activity on the Rise
Gangs don’t typically victimize average citizens. Gang members usually prey on other gang members or people associated with them. Does this mean Austinites shouldn’t be concerned about the rise in gangs around the city? Absolutely not.
Gang-connected crimes are most often linked to drugs. The more gangs we have battling it out for drug territory, the more overall violence our city will experience and the more expenses we will all carry as the local criminal justice system is overloaded.
This article from the American Statesmen points out that Austin experienced a 65% increase in gang related crimes. It also states there are more and more gang members within the city. The reasons are unclear but the results remain the same.
Being involved in a gang is not something easily walked away from. Like many law breakers, gang members find it difficult to live a clean life. Unlike most other criminals, however, for some gang members, leaving the lifestyle is impossible. [Read more…]
Anxiety in Texas as Drug Cartel Violence Rises North From Mexico
South Texas is already reporting increased in violence spreading north from Mexican drug cartels. This report from the Dallas Morning News looks at whether or not North Texas should also be preparing for the worst.
Drug cartels out of Mexico are major operations ran by violent people with one main interest, making money through large scale drug operations. If this interest ends in the death, kidnappings, or injuries of many, they don’t seem to care. If someone stands between the cartels and their money they may suffer dire consequences.
Although the Gulf cartel is said to control the supply of cocaine into Dallas, they have remained somewhat quiet over the last several years. This, apparently, is to avoid attracting attention to their large scale operations. [Read more…]
Dallas Officers Being Sued for Lying In Texas Drug Case
Thomas Hannon, a Dallas man, is suing the 6 police officers accused of lying on police reports that landed him some serious criminal charges. According to Dallas CBS 11 News, Hannon was originally charged with possession of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. In total, he faced 20 years in prison if convicted. However the charges were dropped when the prosecution presented evidence that the arresting officer’s lied.
In August of 2007 Hannon was arrested outside of a Dallas hotel. According to court documents he ran into a friend at the hotel. Upon leaving the hotel, the men went in opposite directions. Hannon’s friend, who was carrying a black bag, went one way while Hannon was arrested on a felony warrant upon leaving. The police stated that Hannon had, in his possession, the black bag that actually belonged to his acquaintance.
This black bag ended up containing methamphetamines and a firearm. The changing point in the case came when the defense presented a security video from the hotel which showed the other man, and not Hannon, in possession of the black bag in question. Just as Hannon had claimed from the beginning, he never had control over the bag.
Thanks to good representation, the criminal case was dismissed and now Hannon seeks civil damages in Federal Court.
Who knows why the officers lied. Perhaps they were concerned with building a reputation of cracking big cases and sending dangerous men to prison. Maybe they had personal interest in the case or had encountered Hannon before.
Whatever the case, it is a perversion of the justice system. There is no doubt that people are wrongly accused of criminal acts. Even if the accusations aren’t intentionally false, it is not uncommon for innocent people to end up facing a judge on drug charges, weapons offenses, or property damage cases.
When facing criminal charges it may feel like the state of Texas and everyone in the court system has already assumed your guilt rather than presumed your innocence. Although this wasn’t Hannon’s first run in with the law he still deserved fair treatment in the justice system and until the dismissal of his charges he was denied this by the very people tasked with representing the integrity of the legal system.
A qualified and experienced Texas defense attorney can be critical to anyone facing prison time or a mark on their record. You attorney is there in order to ensure the system works how it was designed, to apply the laws in a fair and consistent manner.
More Red Flags to Get You Pulled Over
Texas police and law enforcement officers now have instant access to data on what vehicles and drivers are driving without required auto liability insurance coverage. A pilot program from the DPS is being rolled out statewide to provide this data to all local Texas police departments.
According the the report, 20% of all drivers in Texas are on the roads without the required car insurance.
Currently, the data is only accessible to an officer who manually enters a license plate or VIN number in his or her computer. But it can only be a matter of time before this data is linked with Automatic License Plate Scanners. When that starts to happen, police officers with that technology in their cruisers could be constantly pulling over cars.
And if you are stopped for driving your car without insurance, other arrests can result from that stop. If you have had anything to drink, you could end up being arrested on a DWI charge. If your license is suspended, or you have outstanding criminal warrant for failure to appear, you will also be arrested.
And if in the course of the police stopping you, you are searched and found to have any drugs, you will be arrested for drug possession.
With all the new monitoring tools the police have at their disposal, it is critically important to make sure your license, insurance, and paperwork is in order when you hit the road.
A charge of driving without liability insurance carries a maximum fine of $350. A second offense can result in a 2 year license suspension.
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If you are charged with a crime in Texas, please contact our criminal defense attorneys for a free legal consultation and case evaluation. We can go over your specific situation, and make recommendations and suggestions for what you can do to get out of a legal criminal jam.
Texas Drug Paraphernalia Laws Prevent Needle Exchange
In a clear blow against logic, rational public policy, disease prevention and costs to the public, a needle exchange program in Bexar county (San Antonio) was declared to violate Texas’ drug paraphernalia laws.
Texas legislators who support the program hope to fix the law to allow these programs. Studies have show that needle exchanges clearly help reduce disease transmission in at risk populations of addicted drug users.
Drug Trafficking and Violence
Here is a fascinating article on one of the Mexican drug cartels that operate in Texas. Federal and local enforcement of drug distribution empires is a dangerous and endless effort. It really is being run like a war.