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Experienced Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorneys

If you have been arrested for any alleged crime in Texas, you must take action to protect your future right away. Criminal charges have the potential to result in jail or prison time, and you should never assume prosecutors will go easy on you, even if you lack a previous criminal record. Remember: Every person in the United States has the right to a fair trial. Just because you’ve been arrested, doesn’t mean you’ll be convicted. 

To protect your rights, you need a trusted criminal defense attorney on your side. That’s where the team at Gebhardt and Eppes, PPLC comes in. With more than 30 years of legal experience, we are proud to serve the individuals of Fort Worth, Texas, and the surrounding areas. Learn more about our criminal defense attorney services. 

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What Is a Criminal Defense Attorney?

A criminal defense attorney is a lawyer who specializes in defending individuals, an organization, or an entity charged with crimes. Many criminal defense lawyers only handle criminal cases, but they may practice other fields as well. Criminal defense attorneys perform tasks such as the following:

  • Interview clients and witnesses to gather facts about the case.
  • Perform legal research to set up a defense and case theory.
  • Gather evidence in support of their case.
  • Analyze evidence presented against their client.
  • Draft, file, and argue motions on behalf of their client.
  • Gather expert witnesses to testify in court.
  • Discuss and negotiate potential plea bargains with the prosecution.
  • Prepare and represent those in a jury trial.

How Does A Criminal Defense Attorney Get Assigned to a Case?

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Usually, a criminal defense attorney is contacted directly by the defendant. But because all United States citizens have the right to an attorney, they may get assigned a case by the court. 

Some criminal defense attorneys are public defenders paid by the public defender’s office. They can be appointed by the local, state, or federal court depending on the crime and the case. 

Other criminal defense lawyers work under private firms or have an independent legal office that they operate themselves. In some counties like Tarrant County, a private practicing attorney can be appointed by the courts to take on an appointed case.

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What Types of Criminal Cases Does Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC Handle?

The team at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC, handles a wide range of criminal defense cases, including:

DWIs (Driving While Intoxicated or Impaired) and DUIs (Driving Under the Influence) 

In 2021, Texas experienced 25,261 drunk driving accidents. 1,029 people died as a result of those accidents, which is equivalent to one person dying every 8.5 hours. Because it presents a threat to public safety, driving while intoxicated is a very serious crime in the state of Texas. If you or a loved one has been charged with a DWI accident, you need an experienced DWI lawyer on your side. The prosecution will often seek out the most severe penalty possible in order to make your case a warning for others.

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Drug Crimes

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The State of Texas handles drug crimes very strictly. Local and state courts take a hard stance against the possession and usage of drugs, which can lead police departments and prosecutors to seek the highest possible penalty for a convicted drug charge. The team at Gebhardt and Eppes, LLC will work to ensure that anyone charged with a drug crime is treated fairly and given a full investigation to protect the right to a fair trial. 

White-Collar Crime

White-collar offenses are typically nonviolent, financially motivated crimes. They often include the following criminal activities/behavior:

Penalties for committing a white collar crime vary depending on the type of crime and how much it affected the victim, whether that was a business, governmental institution, or individual. Fines can easily climb into the thousands, and prison time ranging from 180 days to 99 years may be given as well. Due to the personal nature of these crimes, law enforcement and prosecutors are merciless in their pursuit of individuals they believe have committed white collar crimes. If you have been charged with one, you need a strong defense attorney to fight by your side and ensure your voice is heard. 

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Property Crime

Theft or damage to another person’s property falls under property crime law. These criminal offenses are often considered misdemeanors, but even they can carry long-term consequences that will follow an individual charged with them. Protect your future and your rights by partnering with a reliable property crime defense attorney in Fort Worth, Texas.

Gun Crime

Man Carrying a Toy Gun to Rob the Money.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 23 of Article 1 of the Texas Constitution protects a citizen’s right to keep and bear firearms. While it is legal to have firearms, laws restrict what kind of firearms are available to the public and where you can carry them. 

Being charged and convicted of a firearm or weapon offense has serious consequences in Fort Worth, Texas, such as jail time and hefty fines. The gun crime attorneys at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC can help defend your rights to a fair trial and help you understand your legal options.

Domestic Violence

Family or domestic violence is defined by the Texas Family Code as “any act by a family member or member of the household against another family member or person of the household that is intended to result in physical harm, such as bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault. It also accounts for threats that reasonably place a member in fear of imminent physical harm. It does not, however, include defensive measures used to protect oneself.” 

Sometimes, those accused of domestic violence feel all they need to do is tell the judge their side of the story to be exonerated. However, in our legal team’s experience, this is rarely the case. In most instances, going to trial or proceeding without an attorney lands individuals accused of domestic violence in more trouble, as they are unable to handle the prosecution’s ruthless questioning. For experienced legal counsel, it is best to call the domestic violence attorneys at Gebhardt and Eppes. We fight hard to ensure that your trial is fair, your side is heard, and that your case ends in the best outcome possible.

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Violent Crime

Criminal offenses involving bodily harm or the threat of bodily harm are considered serious in the State of Texas. Alleged offenders can expect to face an aggressive and relentless prosecution seeking the highest possible punishment. If you or a loved one was charged with any violent crime in the State of Texas, you need to seek legal counsel right away. The team at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC takes a firm stand to defend our client’s rights and honor. We believe strongly in innocence until proven guilty and will work hard to ensure that your voice is heard. Contact us today for more information on our violent crime attorney services.

Juvenile Defense

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Gebhardt and Eppes PLLC is dedicated to helping the parents, guardians, and minor defendants navigate through the confusion and stress of court after their child has charges placed against them. Our Juvenile Defense Attorneys do not rest until we find the best possible outcome for your child, avoiding harsh punishment or permanent damage to their psyche and their future. Children make mistakes, but these mistakes shouldn’t be allowed to follow them into their adult years and result in their potential for a great life being stinted. Contact our team today for more information.

First-Time Offenders in Fort Worth, Texas

Individuals facing arrest for the first time in their lives often have little to no understanding of how the criminal justice system works. They are scared, pushed to their limits, and may feel that their only option is to accept the guilty plea and hope for the best. It doesn’t have to be this way. 

In reality, even if someone is arrested for a crime, it does not mean that they are guilty. Even law-abiding citizens may find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and be blamed for a crime they didn’t commit. Whatever the case, it is important to have an experienced defense attorney on your side to help you navigate the justice system and find the best possible outcome for your case. Do not let the prosecution use your naivety to their advantage and stand up for your right to a fair trial by contacting the first-offender attorneys at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC today. 

Evading Arrest

Evading arrest is a serious charge in the State of Texas and can lead to the consequences of raising the severity of your initial charge. If you have been accused of evading arrest, you’ll need a competent and experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side. With over 45 years of experience across the team, the lawyers at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC can help protect your rights and provide you with all of the legal options available in your case. Contact us today for more information on our services. 

Probation Violation

Individuals placed on probation, or, as the 71st Texas Legislature changed the term in 2003, community supervision, have to abide by strict rules from the court during that period. If an individual violates the terms of their probation, they can potentially have their probation revoked, leading them to face jail time as well as incurring new penalties. If you are being charged with breaking the terms of your probation, you need legal counsel to serve your best interests. The team at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC, will aggressively defend your right to a free trial and ensure that your side of the story is heard.

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Criminal Defense Attorneys That Fight Hard for You

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If you or a loved one was recently arrested for an alleged criminal offense in Fort Worth, Texas, or the surrounding areas, the team at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC can help. Our years of experience and commitment to the service of our community means that we fight hard for all of our clients. We know that everyone deserves the right to a fair trial, and we work hard to ensure that the prosecution does not bully you into accepting an unfair plea bargain or taking the fall for a crime you didn’t commit. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a confidential consultation to go over the facts of your case.

CALL NOW TO RECEIVE A FREE CASE REVIEW

CLICK TO CALL +1-817-502-3600

Texas Criminal Defense Resources

  • Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA) — Formerly known as the Tarrant County Criminal Bar, the TCCDLA was formed in Fort Worth under the present name in the late 1970s. The focus of this nonprofit association is to serve criminal defense attorneys practices in Tarrant County and to protect individual rights guaranteed by the Constitutions of both Texas and the United States. On the TCCDLA website, you can learn more about the organization and find a variety of useful documents and links. 
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) — With more than 3,200 members, the TCDLA is the largest state association for criminal defense attorneys nationwide. You can learn more about the nonprofit organization’s purpose, boards and committees, and bylaws on this website. You can also read recent press releases and learn how to download the TCDLA app for your mobile device.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense Law

What Are Some Defenses to a Crime?

When it comes to criminal cases, there are a variety of defense strategies that a criminal defense attorney can employ. These are as follows:

Innocence: It has to be proven that you had nothing to do with or were incapable of doing the crime that you are being charged with.

Constitutional violation: Regardless of whether an individual is guilty of a crime or not, they still have a right to protection under the U.S. Constitution. A violation of someone’s constitutional rights can lead to a case being completely dismissed or make the prosecution agree to a plea bargain for a lesser charge. 

Self-defense: Self-defense is a criminal defense category often used for cases of battery or assault, and, in some cases, murder. It has to be proven that the defendant caused harm or killed the victim to protect their own life against violent threats or violence made against them by the victim. 

Insanity: In some cases, pleading insanity at the time of the crime can cast reasonable doubt regarding the mental state of the defendant, bringing into question if the defendant was truly able to control their actions. Insanity is one of the hardest defenses to prove.

What Are Possible Defenses Against Criminal Liability?

1. Defendant has an alibi.
2. Coercion or duress.
3. Defense of property.
4. Entrapment, which is the defense to criminal charges on the basis that the defendant committed the crime because of harassment or coercion by a government official.
5. Self-defense.