Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys

Charles Johnson Law Firm

1717 McKinney Avenue #700
Dallas, Texas 75202
USA

(214) 234-0111 or(877) 308-0100

(713) 490-5669

www.houstonlawyer.com

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Law Firm Overview FREE CONSULTATION

The Charles Johnson Law Firm is a Texas criminal defense law firm with offices in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin. We represent clients in all State and Federal Criminal Courts in the following matters: drug crimes, driving while intoxicated, assault offenses, theft, fraud and homicide. Attorney Charles Johnson travels as needed and on a rotating schedule, to serve clients in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso, Corpus Christi, and The Valley in Texas. These are the major metropolitan areas of Texas and, except for our Houston base, Mr. Johnson is called to serve these areas most and on a regular basis.

The criminal defense attorneys at the Charles Johnson Law Firm understand that your legal matter is the most important issue in your life, and while most other Houston Law Firms are only available on weekdays during normal business hours, when they are actually in the office, we know that you may need to reach us outside of those hours.

When you, or a loved one are facing criminal charges or a criminal investigation, you need someone you can rely on to help you. Here at The Charles Johnson Law Firm in Houston, TX we recognize that above all else, our clients are human beings with lives, families and futures that are in jeopardy. We invite you to come to our downtown Houston offices, meet our staff and become comfortable with the team with which you are entrusting your freedom. We will treat you and your legal matter with respect and go to war for you to protect your life, family and future.

Year this Office was Established: 2000

Areas of Law

Additional Areas of Law: Conspiracy; Misdemeanor; Drunk & Disorderly Conduct; Public Drunkenness; Inciting a Riot; Disturbance of the Peace; Loitering; Physical Altercations; Obstructing Traffic; Abusive Language; ; Tax Crimes; Internet Obscenity; Capital Murder; Aggravated Robbery; Hit & Run; Grand Theft; Forgery; Check Forgery; Kidnapping; Abduction; Unlawful Restraint; Official Oppression; Vehicular Manslaughter; Vandalism; Receiving Stolen Property; Auto Theft; Employee Theft; Armed Robbery; Public Lewdness; Indecent Exposure; Improper Relationship; Criminal Solicitation of a Minor; Statutory Rape; Racketeering; Reckless Endangerment; Reckless Driving; Gifting Strategies; Second-Generation Planning; Charitable Planning; Estate Freezing Techniques; Dynasty Trusts; Irrevocable Trusts; Healthcare Directives; Ancillary Documents; Powers of Attorney; Living Wills.

Areas of Law Description

Our practice includes:

- Criminal Defense

Being charged with a crime in Houston is a very scary moment in your life. The government has the power to take away your freedom for the rest of your life. A very complex process starts to operate the minute you are arrested by the police. It is frightening and bewildering.

- Assault & Battery

Assault may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances of the case and the law of the jurisdiction. If you have been accused of assault, contact our firm to schedule a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

- Sexual Assault

Many states have undertaken a revision of their rape and sexual assault laws, creating a broad set of sexually related crimes. These crimes are often referred to collectively as sexual assault, criminal sexual conduct or sexual abuse. The chief characteristic of these laws is that they prohibit doing any type of sexual act with another person against that person's will. Generally, it is not necessary to show physical resistance on the part of the victim, only that the victim did not consent to the act. If you have been accused of sexual assault, seek the advice of an attorney.

- Domestic Assault

If you have been accused of domestic violence, you may be facing an uphill battle. Many states have strengthened their laws on domestic violence, making arrest and prosecution mandatory regardless of what the alleged victim wishes to do. No matter how your state or county handles allegations of domestic violence, it is important to mount a vigorous defense. Speak with an attorney to discuss your case and develop a strategy for fighting the charges.

- Child Pornography

Federal and state laws make it a crime to produce, possess, distribute, or sell pornographic materials that exploit or portray a minor. Increasingly, child pornography laws are being utilized to punish use of computer technology and the Internet to obtain, share, and distribute pornographic material involving children, including images and films.

- Conspiracy

Conspiracy crimes can include conspiracy to engage in criminal activity such as money laundering, conspiracy to violate federal laws, or conspiracy to manufacture drugs or weapons. The federal maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison; however, this may be compounded by other state and federal violations. Depending on the nature of the conspiracy, it may be prosecuted by different entities including the FBI, Department of Justice, or state and local law agencies.

- Domestic Violence

If you have been accused of domestic violence, you may be facing an uphill battle. Texas has strengthened their laws on domestic violence, making arrest and prosecution mandatory regardless of what the alleged victim wishes to do. No matter how your state or county handles allegations of domestic violence, it is important to mount a vigorous defense. Speak with an attorney from the Charles Johnson Law Firm in Houston, Texas to discuss your case and develop a strategy for fighting the charges.

- Drugs & Narcotics Offenses

If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug-related offense, it is important to get legal representation from an experienced drug defense lawyer immediately. An effective criminal lawyer will make prompt efforts on their clients' behalf to steer law enforcement and prosecutors away from considering serious felony charges, or even any charges, in their client's cases.

- Drunk & Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct laws exist in every state, and are often used as a “catch-all” charge for minor offenses. It is important to note that disorderly conduct is a prosecutable offense, which can lead to fines, jail time, and other punishments upon conviction.

- DWI

Once a person is arrested for DWI, he/she may be charged with either a misdemeanor or felony DWI offense. If it is the person’s first time being arrested for driving under the influence, or if the person did not cause any third party or property damage, he/she will usually be charged with a misdemeanor. However, if the person has prior DWI convictions or if the person caused bodily harm to a third party or extensive property damage, it is very likely that he person will be charged with a felony offense.

- White Collar Crimes

White Collar crimes, such as Federal Mortgage Fraud, Mail & Wire fraud, Money Laundering, & Bank Fraud, are Federal Crimes which often involve lengthy investigations by Federal agencies such as the FBI, Secret Service, and U.S. Postal Inspectors. Many times a Federal Grand Jury investigates these crimes under the direction of a United States Attorney , and early contact with a Criminal Defense attorney is essential to effective defense of these charges. A great deal of my practice over the years has involved these type of cases. Federal Mortgage Fraud cases sometimes take years to develop and investigate; therefore, anyone considered a target of such investigations should involve an experienced Federal Criminal Defense Attorney as early in the process as possible.

Computer Crimes and Internet Obscenity

Computer crimes and internet obscenity and child abuse charges have begun to take up the time and interest of Federal agencies and prosecutors. Many U.S. Attorneys' offices throughout the country have prosecutors assigned to these areas, and serious issues regarding privacy and constitutional guarantees against illegal search and seizure have arisen as a result of these type investigations. It has been my experience that innocent people can be charged with Federal crimes resulting from subpoenas to internet search engines.

Federal Income Tax Crimes

If you have been charged with a crime related to federal income tax such as tax evasion, tax fraud, failure to file a tax return, or money laundering, you may believe that you have no options. This is not the case—securing legal counsel that is both tenacious in its representation and creative in its problem-solving may make that critical difference in your case.

- Homicide

Homicide is not necessarily murder, although it is defined as the "killing of one human being by another human being". Homicide has a broader definition than murder, as it could have been done though negligence or through a reckless or dangerous act, such as cases of vehicular homicide. There was no intention to kill another human being, but the accident resulted in a fatality.

- Felony

Felony offenses in Texas include murder, manslaughter, hit & run, sex crimes, assault & battery and grand theft, to name a few. A felony is defined by the possible sentence it carries, which is could be start at up to 5 years in state prison. This is differentiated from the lesser crime of a misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of no more than 11 months and 29 days in the county jail. A felony conviction will not only affect your freedom, it will affect your reputation and your personal and business relationships. It may prevent you from obtaining a job or even hamper your ability to find housing.

- Forgery and Fraud

Forgery and Fraud are similar offenses, both of which are carried out to deceive another and seek some gain at their expense. Fraud, however, is a crime that typically involves general intent, while forgery involves a specific purpose and a specific mental state. For forgery to be a criminal act, the person must have committed forgery with the intent to deceive or defraud another.

- Check Forgery

Stealing an unsigned check from someone else for the purpose of passing it as yours, even without actually passing it. Or filling in, signing and passing a check that does not belong to you, without the owner’s permission. You don’t have to be the one who stole the check to be charged. Accepting a check you know was stolen is also fraud under Texas law.

- Credit Card Fraud

Using a credit card or debit card that you know has been canceled or expired, or using a card that belongs to someone else without the person’s permission. Merely possessing a card that doesn’t belong to you with the intent to use it is enough for a fraud charge. So is buying, selling or accepting cards that you know to be stolen. And, so is convincing someone else to buy something with a card when you know the person doesn’t have the means to pay for it.

- Credit Fraud

Lying in any way on a written application for a loan, goods or property, or a credit card. This could include giving a fake or stolen Social Security number, giving a fake name and address, or misrepresenting your income, financial obligations and ability to pay.

- Identity Theft

Obtaining, possessing, or using the personal identification information, such as name, Social Security number and date of birth, of another person with the intent to commit fraud. This includes information that belongs to a child under 18, a deceased person, or a person who was stillborn. Texas criminal law automatically presumes your intent was to commit fraud if you have information for three or more people.

- Hit and Run

Hit and run is a serious criminal charge used in Texas when a person is accused of not stopping after a car crash involving death, injury, or property damage. It is also known as failure to stop and render aid (FSRA) or failure to stop and give information (FSGI). The offense can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the degree of damage or injury.

- Intoxication Manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter is a Third Degree felony which holds people liable for any death which occurs because of criminal negligence, or a violation of traffic safety laws. A common use of the vehicular manslaughter laws involves prosecution for a death caused by driving under the influence (determined by excessive blood alcohol content levels set by individual U.S. states), although an independent infraction (such as driving with a suspended driver's license), or negligence, is usually also required.

- Juvenile Offenders

When a juvenile enters the justice system, special rules govern their case. Offenders typically enter the juvenile justice system if they have not yet reached 18 years of age, but this can vary based on the crime and its severity. Below you will find information on the juvenile justice system, and tips on specific issues in juvenile criminal cases.

- Kidnapping, Abduction, & Unlawful Restraint

Kidnapping means taking and conveying away a person against his or her will or confining a person to a controlled space for an illegal purpose. The purpose or motive behind kidnapping includes gaining a ransom or reward; facilitating the commission of a felony or terrorizing the victim or a third person. Even unlawful restraint of a person amounts to kidnapping if such restraint is substantial enough to interfere with the victim’s liberty. Essential elements of kidnapping include “transportation in interstate commerce of an unconsenting person who is held for ransom, reward, or otherwise, with such acts being done knowingly and willfully.

- Misdemeanor

A misdemeanor, a criminal offense that is less serious than a felony and more serious than an infraction, is generally punishable by a fine or incarceration in a local jail, or both. Many jurisdictions separate misdemeanors into three classes: high or gross misdemeanors, ordinary misdemeanors, and petty misdemeanors. Petty misdemeanors usually contemplate a jail sentence of less than six months and a fine of $500 or less. The punishment prescribed for gross misdemeanors is greater than that prescribed for ordinary misdemeanors and less than that prescribed for felonies.

- Official Oppression

Every day across Texas, suits are filed against local public servants (elected or appointed) by dissatisfied vendors, citizens or employees. In addition to the civil remedies sought, these suits may result from political motivation and may have serious political or employment implications for the public servant. These suits may be brought against the public servants in their official capacities, their individual capacities, or both – and will generally seek liability findings, monetary damages, and special relief in order to void prior governmental action because of alleged misconduct.

- Weapons Offenses

Weapon charges are typically based upon law enforcement locating a weapon either in a person’s immediate possession or on his or her property. In some of these situations, law enforcement may not have had probable cause to search a defendant, may have surpassed the grounds of a search warrant or may have otherwise conducted an unlawful search and seizure. A skilled Houston weapon charges attorney may be able to use this as grounds for a motion to suppress evidence, and this can directly affect the outcome of a case.

- Vehicular Manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter can be charged as a misdemeanor (minor crime with a maximum punishment of a year in county jail or only a fine) or a felony punishable by a term in state prison, depending on the circumstances. Gross negligence or driving a few miles over the speed limit might be charged as misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, but drunk driving resulting in a fatality is most likely treated as felony vehicular manslaughter. Death of a passenger, including a loved one or friend, can be vehicular manslaughter if caused by illegal driving.

- Vandalism

Vandalism is a broad category crime that is used to describe a variety of behaviors. Generally, vandalism includes any willful behavior aimed at destroying, altering, or defacing property belonging to another.

- Theft, Burglary & Robbery

There are few crimes that look worse on an employment application than theft. In addition to seeking an acquittal or dismissal of charges on your behalf, an experienced criminal defense attorney can pursue a number of additional remedies including a continuance for dismissal or plea to a lesser offense to avoid that result.

- Sex Crimes

Crimes falling into the "sex crimes" category generally involve illegal or coerced sexual conduct by one person towards another. There are laws against unlawful sexual conduct in every state, and each state has its own time limit to bring a sexual-related lawsuit. People convicted of sex crimes are considered "sex offenders" by the state and face having their names added to state and federal sex offender registries. Below is a collection of crimes that are sexual in nature, and that carry severe consequences and penalties.

- Criminal Solicitation of a Minor (Under 17)

On-line solicitation of a minor for a sexual purpose, that is, with intent to commit a sexual activity with that minor, is one of the most investigated and targeted activities by both federal and state law enforcement in this day and age.

- Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student

Although the relationships are typically consensual, the teacher is prosecuted under a specific provision of the penal code prohibiting an Improper Relationship Between Educator & Student. It is important to note that the offense is neither limited to teachers nor limited to sexual contact; risqué text messages are enough

- Indecent Exposure

Indecent exposure laws in most states make it a crime to purposefully display one's genitals in public, causing others to be alarmed or offended. Indecent exposure is often committed for the sexual gratification of the offender, and may reach the level of a sexual assault if any physical contact is made.

- Public Lewdness

It is generally defined to be the intentional exposure of the genitals, buttocks or female breasts or committing or attempting to engage in a sexual act in public where there is reason to believe you will and can be observed.

- Prostitution

Generally, prostitution is the act of engaging in sexual activity by a person for a fee or a thing of economic value. But the scope of the crime of prostitution has been widened to include all prostitution related offenses. Thus a person is considered to commit an offense of prostitution if s/he engages in an act of prostitution willfully, solicits prostitution, or agrees to engage in an act of prostitution.

- Rape

Sexual assault generally refers to any crime in which the offender subjects the victim to sexual touching that is unwanted and offensive. These crimes can range from sexual groping or assault/battery, to attempted rape.

- Statutory Rape

Statutory rape refers to sexual relations involving someone below the "age of consent." People below the age of consent cannot legally consent to having sex. This means that sex with them, by definition, violates the law.

- Solicitation

It's illegal to entice someone else to commit a crime (such as prostitution). This article explains the elements to prove solicitation, as well as defenses and penalties.

- Expungement

Expungement (also called "expunction") is a court-ordered process in which the legal record of an arrest or a criminal conviction is "sealed," or erased in the eyes of the law. When a conviction is expunged, the process may also be referred to as "setting aside a criminal conviction." The availability of expungement, and the procedure for getting an arrest or conviction expunged, will vary according to the state or county in which the arrest or conviction occurred.

- Reckless Endangerment

If you have been accused of reckless endangerment in Houston, Texas or surrounding areas, you are facing a charge that can affect you for the rest of your life. Whether you have been charged with a state or federal offense, the legal choices you make now can be the most important, especially your choice of an attorney. With so much at stake, do not settle for an inexperienced defense lawyer.

- Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is actually a very serious charge. If you are convicted, you may lose your driver's license and pay steep fines. If there was an accident involved, the penalty is increased. If there was an injury, once again you face a higher penalty. If a fatality occurred and it is determined that your reckless driving caused the accident, you can face a long sentence in state prison. If you have been arrested and charged with this offense, it is important to fight by enlisting the assistance of a Houston reckless driving defense lawyer. At the Charles Johnson Law Firm, a criminal defense lawyer who is extremely familiar with defending such charges will immediately review your case and advise you of the best options for your defense.

- Racketeering

The Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is a federal law allowing the federal government to place in trusteeship organizations which are convicted of being dominated by racketeers or organized crime.

- Business Law

Attorney Charles Johnson brings a strong background in business to the practice of business law. He understands not only the legal issues, but the nuts and bolts of accounting and corporate finance, and knowledge of the internal and external relationships necessary to thrive in the marketplace.

- Business Formation

Beyond simply filing papers with the state, we counsel clients on the appropriate entity for future success, and assist with the agreements, contracts, transactions and financing to get your venture off the ground.

- Contract Review and Breach of Contract

We advise on ownership and investor agreements, employee contracts and the day-to-day contracts for operations, and negotiate or litigate contract disputes with customers, vendors, insurers or co-owners.

- Partnership Dissolution and Shareholder Disputes

Mr. Johnson is adept at sorting out the tangled finances of closely held businesses when one party wants out, a minority owner is squeezed out or the business is folding its tent.

- Estate Planning & Administration of Wills & Trusts

Estate planning is something everyone needs to think about. It is in your best interests and that of your loved ones to have an effective plan in place for administering your assets. At the Charles Johnson Law Firm in Houston, Texas, we can help you create an estate plan that will give what you have, to whom you want, the way you want, when you want, and minimize the taxes, fees, and expenses.

- Asset Protection

Not only do you need to protect business assets from creditors and judgments, you also need to protect your own, should your business fail or be sued.

- Real Estate

At the Charles Johnson Law Firm, we provide clients with experienced representation in real estate matters. We represent both buyers and sellers of residential and commercial property, as Attorney Johnson is the Owner of American Title Company in Downtown Houston, Texas.

- Personal Injury

Houston Personal Injury Lawyer Charles Johnson is a Houston, Texas accident and personal injury attorney emphasizing the advocacy of victims’ rights against those who do harm, and who by negligence, recklessness or intention cause significant damage to innocent victims and their families.