
Being charged with a violent crime in Texas is one of the most serious situations anyone can face. These offenses typically involve allegations of injury or threats of injury to another person. Depending on the circumstances, a violent crime may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony—especially if weapons are involved or if the accused has a prior record.
If you’ve been arrested or suspect you’re under investigation for a violent crime in Southeast Texas, do not speak to law enforcement until you’ve contacted an experienced criminal defense lawyer. At Salinas Defense, we stand ready to protect your rights and your future. Contact us at 832 202-8409 for immediate legal help.
Many violent crimes are defined under Title 5 of the Texas Penal Code, titled “Offenses Against the Person.” These include both physical assault and actions that put others in harm’s way, intentionally or recklessly.
Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or a first-degree felony, we provide aggressive legal representation for all types of violent crime allegations.
The Texas Penal Code outlines how intent, knowledge, and recklessness factor into criminal charges. Chapter 6 classifies mental states from highest to lowest as: Intentional, Knowing, Reckless, and Criminal Negligence.
This can make a major difference in your defense. For example, if the prosecution must prove you intended to cause harm, your attorney may argue that your actions were reckless or accidental.
Additionally, Chapter 9 of the Penal Code allows for specific justifications that may apply to your case, such as:
At Salinas Defense, we use every legal tool available to challenge the charges against you and work toward the most favorable outcome possible.
Rights of Crime Victims | City of Houston
This Houston Police Department brochure outlines the legal rights of crime victims in Texas. Learn about available services, financial compensation, and victim advocacy. More resources can be found at the HPD Victim Services Unit website.
Victims Assistance Unit | Harris County Sheriff’s Office
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office provides access to numerous state and local support services. These include:
Note: While these resources support victims, understanding their existence can be important to building a strong defense strategy.
If you’ve been accused of a violent crime in Harris County or surrounding areas, take immediate action. A conviction could change the course of your life. At Salinas Defense, we are committed to protecting your freedom and your future. We serve clients throughout Houston, Pearland, Pasadena, Baytown, League City, Friendswood, Deer Park, and beyond.
Call 832 202-8409 now or fill out our online contact form to request a free and confidential consultation.
Aggravated assault requires either serious bodily injury or the use or display of a deadly weapon during an assault. It is a second-degree felony with two to 20 years in prison, and a first-degree felony when committed against a family member, a public servant, or in retaliation against a witness. Simple assault causing bodily injury is a Class A misdemeanor. Whether an injury is serious, and whether an object was a deadly weapon in the way it was used, are the two questions that decide which charge applies.
A deadly weapon finding in the judgment changes parole eligibility. A person convicted of an offense with a deadly weapon finding, or of one of the listed serious offenses, has to serve half the sentence, or 30 years, whichever is less, before becoming eligible for parole, and cannot receive judge-ordered probation. A deadly weapon means anything capable of causing death or serious injury in the way it was used, so a vehicle, a bottle or a tool can qualify alongside a firearm. Fighting the finding is sometimes more important than fighting the underlying charge.
Texas law lets you use force when you reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to protect yourself from someone else's unlawful force, and deadly force when necessary to protect against deadly force or certain violent felonies. In your own home, vehicle or workplace there is no duty to retreat, and the law presumes your belief was reasonable if the other person was unlawfully entering. Once self-defense is raised, the State has to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Robbery is theft plus force: causing bodily injury or threatening or placing someone in fear of injury during the theft or while fleeing. It is a second-degree felony. Aggravated robbery adds serious bodily injury, a deadly weapon, or an elderly or disabled victim, and is a first-degree felony carrying five to 99 years or life. A shoplifting that ends in a shove at the door can be charged as robbery, which is why the details of how the encounter ended matter so much.
Murder is knowingly or intentionally causing a death, or causing a death during a felony, and is a first-degree felony. Capital murder adds circumstances such as a victim under ten, a police officer, multiple victims, or murder during a robbery or sexual assault, and can carry life without parole or death. Manslaughter is recklessly causing a death and criminally negligent homicide is a lesser degree. The difference between murder and manslaughter is your state of mind, which is exactly where the defense focuses.
Usually yes, but the amount will be high and the conditions strict. Bail on aggravated assault, robbery and murder charges in Harris County is commonly set in six figures, with GPS monitoring, curfews and no-contact orders. Capital murder can be held without bond. An attorney can request a bond reduction hearing and present ties to the community, employment and family support. Getting the conditions right early matters because a bond violation lands you back in jail for the duration of the case.
Violent crime cases are built on witness testimony more than most, and witness accounts of fast, frightening events are notoriously inconsistent. Prior statements to police, 911 recordings, body camera footage, surveillance video, phone records and physical evidence are used to test each account. Where the State's witnesses disagree with each other, or with the physical evidence, that inconsistency is reasonable doubt, and identifying it early shapes whether the case goes to trial or gets resolved.
Not if it results in a conviction, and most violent felony convictions cannot be sealed either. A dismissal or acquittal can be expunged. A deferred adjudication for a violent offense generally does not qualify for an order of nondisclosure. In practice this means the record consequences of a violent crime charge are decided by the outcome of the case itself, and there is little that can be done afterward, which is why the defense has to be right the first time.
At Salinas Defense, your consultation request is confidential, and our team is here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.

If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need a skilled and aggressive legal team on your side. Salinas Defense is ready to fight for your rights and protect your future.

Don’t let your past dictate your future. Whether you need to expunge a prior arrest or clear your record for employment, Salinas Defense provides the straightforward guidance needed to navigate the Texas legal system. We fight to ensure a single mistake doesn’t define the rest of your life.
