DALLAS CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW OFFICE

Many people who are accused of a federal crime have heard of a "PSR." In talking to my clients and their family members, I have noticed that there is a lot of confusion about what it is and what it does. This post will explain it, says Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms.  PSR stands for Pre-Sentence Report. It is a report that is prepared by a United States Probation Officer for use at a d...

A Maryland man was recently indicted by a Texas grand jury for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon because of a tweet he sent over Twitter. The indictment alleges that the tweet was a "deadly weapon." Most people think of a gun or a knife as a deadly weapon. So, how could a tweet be one, asks John Helms Dallas defense attorney?   In this case, the Maryland man tweeted a GIF file, whic...

Could you be convicted of a felony in Texas if you create a website called “DumpDonaldTrump.com,” use an unflattering photo of President Trump, and post unfavorable, but true, articles about President Trump, asks John Helms, Dallas criminal defense attorney? What if, as a prank, you create a Facebook page about someone named Bob Smith, called “Bob Smith Is An A@#hole,” you include a photo o...

When I was a federal prosecutor, one of my best friends specialized in prosecuting federal firearms offenses. I handled some of those cases, too, both at trial and on appeal, but we had a specific program dedicated to going after gun crime. That program had a slogan:  “Gun Crime Means Hard Time,” offers Helms, Dallas criminal defense lawyer. The term “gun crime” applies to a lot of differen...

I have prepared literally hundreds of witnesses to testify in civil depositions and trials and in criminal cases for both the prosecution and, as a Dallas criminal lawyer, for the defense. I have also cross-examined a lot of criminal defendants in trial as a prosecutor. From these experiences, I know that preparing a criminal defendant to testify at trial involves some unique challenges. Th...

The sexual abuse of any child is horrible and can cause deep emotional scars that can last for a lifetime. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that there are also false allegations of child sexual abuse.  False allegations of child sexual abuse are also horrible. They create a risk that the accused will go to prison for a crime they did not commit, and the mere allegation of child sexual abuse c...

In Bill Cosby's criminal sexual assault case, a Pennsylvania state court judge recently ruled that one accuser, in addition to the alleged victim in the case, can testify that Mr. Cosby once drugged and sexually assaulted her. The judge made this ruling despite the fact that Mr. Cosby has never been convicted of sexually assaulting this woman. The judge also ruled, however, that twelve othe...

The Trump Administration has announced that it wants to increase security at our borders. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may therefore become more aggressive in searching people and things that cross the border. So what are the limits on what ICE agents can do, and what can you do if your rights are violated? asks John Helms Dallas criminal defense lawyer. The main limit...

I am a criminal defense attorney. I am not an immigration lawyer, but I often handle criminal immigration cases. Confusing? It is for many people who contact me. This paper explains the differences.   A criminal defense lawyer like me defends people who are accused of a crime.  A crime is usually something that can result in jail time, or at least a fine. In order to prove someone guilty ...

Many people who are accused of a crime wonder how their criminal record, or lack of it, will affect their case. Normally, your criminal history does not affect whether you are guilty or not guilty of a crime with which you have been charged. Contrary to some people’s belief, you do not generally get one free crime before you can be found guilty, adds John Helms Dallas criminal defense lawye...