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Fort Worth Violent Crimes Lawyer Serving Tarrant County, Texas

Criminal offenses that involve bodily harm or the threat of bodily harm to innocent people are taken very seriously in Texas. Alleged offenders in these cases will face aggressive and relentless prosecution seeking strict penalties.

Several different crimes can be considered crimes of violence. The differences between the specific classifications can seem like minor distinctions but the penalties can become much more serious. A conviction or guilty plea for something as common as a bar fight can have profound long-term consequences for an alleged offender’s future employment or housing.

Fort Worth Lawyer for Criminal Defense

If you were charged with any crime of violence in Texas, you should not waste any time in seeking legal representation. Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC aggressively defends clients in communities all over Tarrant County, Johnson County, Parker County, and surrounding areas of North Central Texas.

Having served in various roles in multiple District Attorney’s Offices throughout the Lone Star State, our Fort Worth violent crime attorneys understand the most effective ways to challenge a prosecutor’s case. Call (817) 502-3600 right now to let our firm review your own situation during a free, confidential consultation.

How Can Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC Help if You’ve Been Charged with a Crime of Violence?

  • Which crimes of violence does your firm handle?
  • How does Texas define an alleged offender’s mental state?
  • Where can I find additional information for victims of violent offenses?

Types of Violent Crimes in Fort Worth, Texas

The various violent crimes contained in Title 5 of the Texas Penal Code are referred to as “Offenses Against the Person.” Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC represents clients facing criminal charges stemming from many of these offenses, including:

Defining Culpability for Violent Crimes in Fort Worth, Texas

Many of the crimes listed above are similar. The difference between the offenses depends on the way the crime was committed, injuries suffered by an alleged victim, and whether a weapon was used in the commission of the alleged crime. Another important factor in these alleged offenses is the culpable mental state of the alleged offender.

Texas Penal Code § 6.02 classifies culpable mental states to relative degrees, from highest to lowest, and § 6.03 defines them as follows:

  • Intentional — A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to the nature of his or her conduct or to a result of his or her conduct when it is his or her conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.
  • Knowing — A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of his or her conduct or to circumstances surrounding his or her conduct when he or she is aware of the nature of his or her conduct or that the circumstances exist. A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to a result of his conduct when he or she is aware that his or her conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.
  • Reckless — A person acts recklessly, or is reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his or her conduct or the result of his or her conduct when he or she is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the alleged offender’s standpoint.
  • Criminal Negligence — A person acts with criminal negligence, or is criminally negligent, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he or she ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the alleged offender’s standpoint.

Texas Resources for Violent Crime Victims

Victim Assistance | Fort Worth, Texas, Police Department — The Victim Assistance Section of the Fort Worth Police Department provides assistance and support services directly to victims of crime, including on-site crisis intervention, assistance with filing Crime Victim’s Compensation claims, and other efforts. On the website, you can find links to publications relating to victim assistance and family violence. You can also find additional 24-hour phone numbers for support, local agencies, and other resources.

350 West Belknap Street

3rd floor

Fort Worth, TX 76102

(817) 392-4390

Victim Assistance | Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney — If you are the victim of a violent crime, Tarrant County will assign a victim assistance coordinator to your case to help inform you of your rights as set forth in the law, accompany you to meetings with your prosecutor and/or to court, and assist with applying for Crime Victims’ Compensation, completing the Victim Impact Statement, and safety planning, appropriate referrals, and protective orders and other paperwork, as needed. Under the “Victim’s Voice” section of the website, you can read the allocutions, press statements, and letters of victims. You can also find additional information about trials and news releases.

401 West Belknap Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76196

(817) 884-2740

Find a Criminal Defense Attorney Lawyer in Fort Worth, TX

Are you currently under investigation or have you already been arrested for an alleged crime of violence in Texas? Make sure that you have knowledgeable legal counsel with experience getting these types of criminal charges reduced or dismissed.

The attorneys at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC represent clients for violent crimes throughout Tarrant County, Texas, including Fort Worth and Arlington. Our attorneys are familiar with the tactics used by local law enforcement agencies throughout Tarrant County, TX, including the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County Constable’s Office.

We also represent clients after an arrest by any of the city police departments in Tarrant County. Nearly every city in Tarrant County maintains its own police force including: the Arlington Police Department, the Forest Hill Police Department, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Hurst Police Department, and the Mansfield Police Department.

We also represent clients charged in Weatherford, Cleburne, and the surrounding areas of Parker County, Johnson County, and North Central Texas.

Our Fort Worth criminal defense attorneys can review your case and discuss all of your legal options as soon as you call (817) 502-3600 or submit an online form today to take advantage of a free consultation.