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September 30, 2020

Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer John Helms Explains Breathalyzer Test

Dallas, TX / Getting stopped for a suspicion of drunk driving can be a frightening experience, especially if the police officer asks you to take a Breathalyzer test. Many people wonder if they should consent or refuse, or if they even have that option. They also wonder if they will face any negative consequences if they decline a breath test.  While you have an option to refuse a Breathalyzer...
Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer John Helms Explains Breathalyzer Test
July 03, 2020

Texas computer crime lawyer Explains Identity Theft Crimes

Online shopping has become so prevalent that Americans spend about $7 billion on Cyber Monday alone. As more and more people turn to online commerce, it seems that the so-called retail apocalypse will continue. The internet has changed just about every area of life, including shopping. However you feel about the social shift to online shopping, there’s no denying that internet retailers conti...
Texas computer crime lawyer Explains Identity Theft Crimes
May 18, 2020

Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer John Helms Explains - Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Fraud

Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney John Helms is an experienced federal criminal defense attorney. https://johnhelms.attorney/john-m-helms/ The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”).  It is designed to help small businesses continue to pay employees despite the massive economic disruption from the novel Coronavirus that c...
Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer John Helms Explains - Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Fraud
March 31, 2020

How Do Mitigating Circumstances Affect Sentencing?

When judges or juries sentence a defendant in a criminal case, they typically consider any specific facts that could justify modifying the sentence in some way. In some cases, the facts in the case mean the judge or jury will hand down a harsher sentence if there are aggravating circumstances that make the crime more serious. In other cases, however, specific facts cause the judge or jury to ...
How Do Mitigating Circumstances Affect Sentencing?
March 30, 2020

Can You Serve a Sentence on House Arrest during the COVID-19 crisis?

Dallas, TX — Even under regular circumstances, many people wonder if it’s possible to serve a criminal sentence under house arrest rather than going to jail. Incarceration affects every aspect of your life, including keeping your job and taking care of your children. During the COVID-19 crisis, certain areas, including Dallas county, are ordering shelter-in-place orders, a house arrest senten...
Can You Serve a Sentence on House Arrest during the COVID-19 crisis?
March 12, 2020

Facts About the Prison Population in the U.S. and Texas

For a long time now, the United States has had the distinction of leading the world in the highest rate of incarceration. More than any other nation on earth, including those with much larger populations, the U.S. imprisons its own citizens at an extraordinarily high rate.  In fact, if the U.S. prison population was a city, it would be larger than many of the biggest cities in the country, be...
Facts About the Prison Population in the U.S. and Texas
March 09, 2020

Neighbors Behaving Badly: How Disputes Can Lead to Criminal Mischief Charges

If you’re like most people, you probably see your neighbors on a regular basis. If you’re unfortunate, you might even hear them or their music a lot more often than you like.  Just about everyone has had to deal with an irritating neighbor at one point or another. Maybe you shared a dorm room with a roommate who wasn’t overly fond of personal hygiene. Or perhaps you rented an apartment with p...
Neighbors Behaving Badly: How Disputes Can Lead to Criminal Mischief Charges
December 24, 2019

Dallas criminal defense criminal attorney explains drug quantity in distribution case

Dallas, TX — John Helms, Dallas criminal defense criminal attorney with over twenty five years of experience, shares the facts on how drug quantity can affect distribution charges.  The indictment drug cases, such as the distribution or conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, or other similar drugs, must specify a quantity of drugs. For example, a defendant might be charged...
Dallas criminal defense criminal attorney  explains  drug quantity in distribution case
October 31, 2019

Can the Police Search My Car If I’m Pulled Over for DWI?

When you are stopped by the police for suspected drunk driving, it’s normal to feel nervous. For many people, this kind of stop is the first time interacting with police in any scenario, except for maybe a routine speeding ticket.  Nerves and fear may lead people to inadvertently give up their legal rights. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the fact that police officers are not obliga...
Can the Police Search My Car If I’m Pulled Over for DWI?
October 29, 2019

How Long Can the Police Detain Me? Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney Explains.

Dallas, TX -- Under the Fourth Amendment, which protects an individual’s right to privacy, police cannot stop or search anyone without a reason to do so, nor can they hold an individual indefinitely without cause.  Police have the right to make an arrest when they have a warrant, or in situations where the warrant rule isn’t applicable, such as evidence of a crime in plain view.  While there ...
How Long Can the Police Detain Me? Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney Explains.