State Cases

The criminal justice system often casts a very wide net.  Police and prosecutors want to get the "bad guys," but unfortunately the definition of "bad guy" often changes from officer to officer.  Sometimes the "bad guy" is merely the guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or wearing the "wrong" clothes, or being from the "wrong" ethnic group or neighborhood.

Sometimes the "bad guy" is the working man who has one drink after a long shift and then drives home.  He feels just fine, and he is.  But maybe he drives a little bit over the speed limit, or maybe changes a lane without signaling.  And gets pulled over.  And the officer smells the remains of that beer on his breath.  And orders him to step out of his vehicle.

The law says we are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  But on the side of the road during that traffic stop, or in the police interrogation room, that officer is not looking for reasons to let you go.  He's looking for reasons to arrest you, charge you, and convict you.  Often, an officer's decision to arrest you, or a prosecutor's decision to charge you, is based on evidence that may later turn out to be shaky or even blatantly false.  A decision to arrest or charge may be based entirely on someone else's lie.

There are smart, caring, and ethical police officers and prosecutors out there who take the time and make the effort to identify bad evidence and witnesses, and who have the moral courage to dismiss a weak case.  But too often, a citizen can end up at the mercy of government officials who may be too overworked, lazy, or foul-tempered to care much about what the truth really is, or about what happens to you.  It's much easier to just label you as one of the "bad guys." 

That's why, regardless of what you are accused of, or even what you feel you may have done, you have both a legal and a moral right to plead "not guilty," and require the government to prove its case against you by proper evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt.  Going to trial may or may not be a good idea in your particular case.  That's why it's critical to have a lawyer you can rely on to tear into the evidence and see what the State can or cannot prove.  And it is every bit as critical to have a lawyer who can present your case in the best possible light either in front of a jury, or behind the scenes while negotiating on your behalf with the prosecutor.

Brian Bouffard is qualified to defend men and women accused of any crime, from a simple drug possession all the way to premeditated murder.  Contact Brian now if you have been accused of a crime in a Texas state court, such as:

Sex Crimes:  Rape, Sexual Assault, Crimes Against Minors, Prostitution, Pornography Crimes, Prostitution, Indecent Exposure.

Violent Crimes: Homicide, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Domestic Violence, Arson.

Property Crimes:  Burglary, Theft, Fraud.
 
Drug Crimes: Possession, Delivery, Manufacture, Driving While Intoxicated, Criminal Conspiracy, Computer Crimes, Financial Crimes.

All other felonies and misdemeanors.

Make an appointment to come in, sit down, and talk about what happened in your case.  Since you are seeking legal advice, everything you say to Brian will remain completely confidential.  You may be facing some hard decisions ahead, and you can't afford not to have all the information and advice possible at your disposal, so you can meet that challenge head-on.
 
Contact my office.