DALLAS CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW OFFICE

One of the biggest differences between drug trafficking trials in state and federal courts in Texas is that, in federal court, all defendants are usually tried together in one trial, whereas in state court, each defendant is usually tried separately. Why is this, and what does it mean for those charged with drug trafficking, asks federal drug defense attorney John Helms. Federal law favor...

Most people probably think of kidnapping as involving holding someone for ransom or taking someone to a secret place to assault them sexually says Dallas defense lawyer John Helms. Kidnapping in Texas is much broader than that, and many criminal defendants are shocked that what seems like a domestic violence incident can sometimes be charged as a kidnapping.  A lot of domestic violence st...

For those accused of theft in Texas, the value of the property taken is a very important issue, says Dallas defense lawyer John Helms. Texas has a “consolidated” theft statute that combines a number of crimes into the general category of “theft,” such as swindling, embezzlement, larceny, extortion, conversion by a bailee, shoplifting, receiving stolen property, and others. See Texas Penal C...

According to Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms many criminal cases begin with a police stop, which is any time when an officer pulls over a car or asks a person on foot to stop and answer questions. During a stop, the police can gather evidence for criminal charges, such as signs that a driver is intoxicated for a DWI case, or the smell of marijuana for a drug case. After a stop, the police...

In one of the more unusual cases in Dallas County in recent memory, former Judge Lena Levario dismissed the mortgage fraud indictments against a wealthy heir named Al Hill III because former Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins refused to testify at a hearing about whether he and his office had selectively or vindictively prosecuted Mr. Hill in order to benefit a lawyer and benefac...

People ask Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms all the time if they need a lawyer if the police are investigating them, but no charges have been filed. Sometimes, people think that they can just go talk to a detective themselves and convince the detective that they are innocent.   The answer is that you should ALWAYS consult with a lawyer if you are being investigated, and you should NEVER ...

Every summer, we hear about tragedies involving the deaths of young children who are left in hot cars, says John Helms a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas. Texas is one of 19 states with laws specifically aimed at leaving children unattended in cars. Texas' law applies regardless of whether the child is harmed and regardless of whether the car or the weather is hot.   Section 22.10 of the...

This week, in a federal court in New Jersey, two former assistants to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are on trial on federal criminal charges for causing a traffic jam that shut down parts of the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey to New York City, reports John Helms a criminal defense attorney in Dallas.  The shutdown caused massive problems in Fort Lee, New Jersey, incl...

Some have suggested that this shows that the President does not value law and order. I disagree. I applaud what he has done, and I believe his commutations promote fairness, justice, and respect for our criminal justice system, adds Dallas federal drug defense attorney John Helms.   First, it is important to understand what commuting a sentence means. Commuting a sentence is different fro...

Last week, in a federal court in Detroit, James Robert Liang pleaded guilty to wire fraud and criminal violation of U.S. environmental laws in connection with the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, reports John Helms a wire fraud attorney in Dallas. Mr. Liang worked at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. He admitted that he and others installed software in VW diesel models, called a ...