What should I do if arrested in Texas?

Remain silent, ask for a lawyer immediately, do not consent to searches, and call Texas Crime Defense 24/7 for jail release help.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Texas?

Misdemeanors often $2500-$7500, DWI $5000-$15000, felonies $10000+. We offer flat fees and payment plans with free consultation.

Can a DWI be dismissed in Texas?

Yes. Illegal stop, faulty breath test, rising BAC defense and deferred options can lead to dismissal or reduction.

24/7 Jail Release • Austin, Texas

TEXAS CRIMINAL
DEFENSE THAT
FIGHTS TO WIN.

Arrested for DWI, drugs, assault, theft or a felony? Former prosecutors now defending you. 2,400+ cases dismissed or reduced. We answer in under 5 minutes — day or night.

Free Case Review → See $ Not Guilty Verdicts

★ 4.9 — 487 Reviews Texas Board Certified Former Prosecutors Se Habla Español

27+Years Combined Trial

2,400+Cases Won / Dismissed

18 minAvg. Jail Response

Texas State Capitol Austin - criminal defense

“They got my DWI dismissed in 60 days.”

★★★★★

Marcus T. — Travis County DWI dismissed, license saved. Verified client.

Call (512) 555-0147

DWI DEFENSE ✦ DRUG CHARGES ✦ ASSAULT ✦ FELONIES ✦ EXPUNCTIONS ✦ FEDERAL CRIMES ✦ THEFT ✦ DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ✦ DWI DEFENSE ✦ DRUG CHARGES ✦ ASSAULT ✦ FELONIES ✦ EXPUNCTIONS ✦ FEDERAL CRIMES ✦ THEFT ✦ DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ✦

Texas criminal defense law office gavel and books

01 — About the Firm

Austin-born. Courtroom-proven. Texas-strong.

Texas Crime Defense is a boutique criminal trial firm headquartered at 100 Congress Ave in downtown Austin. We don't do divorce, we don't do personal injury — we do one thing: keep Texans out of jail and protect their records, licenses, careers and gun rights.

✓Former Travis, Williamson & Harris County prosecutors on every case — we know how the other side thinks.

✓Board-Certified Criminal Law specialists — less than 2% of Texas lawyers hold this.

✓Local jail playbook: Travis County Central Booking, Williamson, Hays, Dallas Lew Sterrett & Harris County Joint Processing — we get you out fast.

✓Trial-first, not plea-first. 86 jury trials taken to verdict in the last 6 years.

98%
DWI license hearings won or saved in 2024-2025

$0
Upfront for jail consult — pay only if we take your case

Meet Your Defenders How we fight

02 — What we defend

Every Texas crime. Every county court.

From Class C tickets to First-Degree felonies and federal indictments. If the State of Texas is trying to convict you, we are the wall between you and prison.

Most Called

DWI / DUI & Intoxication

1st DWI, 2nd DWI, felony DWI, breath/blood test refusal, ALR hearings, occupational licenses. We attack the stop, the field sobriety circus and the Intoxilyzer 9000.

Felony Focus

Drug Charges

Possession, delivery, manufacturing, THC, fentanyl, prescription fraud. Illegal search? We file to suppress and get it tossed under Texas Code Crim. Proc. 38.23.

Trial Heavy

Assault & Family Violence

Assault bodily injury, aggravated assault, strangulation allegations, protective orders. Self-defense and mutual combat strategies that win juries.

Record Saver

Theft, Burglary & White Collar

Shoplifting, theft $100-$300k, burglary, fraud, embezzlement. Diversion, deferred and expunction paths to keep your record clean for jobs.

Federal

Felonies & Federal Crimes

Murder, sexual assault defense, weapons, federal drug conspiracy, Western District of Texas cases. Grand jury to sentencing mitigation.

Clean Slate

Expunctions & Nondisclosures

Erase arrests, seal deferred cases, petition for non-disclosure, juvenile sealing. Background-check proof in 90-180 days.

03 — Proof, not promises

Recent wins across Texas.

Not Guilty • Dismissed • Reduced • No Jail

TRAVIS • WILLIAMSON • HAYS • DALLAS • HARRIS

NOT GUILTYFelony Assault — Travis County Jury, 2026

Self-defense video + 911 timeline destroyed State's case. 42 min deliberation.

DISMISSEDDWI .14 Blood — Williamson Co., 2025

Illegal stop, no reasonable suspicion. Suppression granted.

REDUCEDDelivery 4-200g → Misdemeanor — Hays Co.

Lab chain break + treatment plan = probation, no felony.

NO PRISON3rd Degree Felony — Federal WDTX

Guideline 57-71 mo → 12 mo + supervised release.

Can we win yours? Ask free*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case different.

04 — How we fight

From jail call to jury in 4 moves.

STEP 01 — 0-2 HOURS

Emergency Jail Response

Call day/night. We find booking status, contact magistrate, post bond, stop interrogation. Silence + lawyer = power.

STEP 02 — DAYS 1-14

Evidence Raid

Bodycam, dashcam, 911, lab, ALR request in 15 days for DWI. Private investigator knocks before memories fade.

STEP 03 — WEEKS 2-12

Attack & Negotiate

Motions to suppress, grand jury packets, prosecutor leverage. 68% of our cases dismissed pre-trial.

STEP 04 — TRIAL

Win at Trial

Mock juries, forensic experts, storytelling that Texas juries trust. If they won't drop it, we try it.

Texas punishment ranges you face

Class C: $500 fine • Class B: 180 days jail • Class A: 1 year jail • State Jail Felony: 180 days-2 yrs • 3rd Degree: 2-10 yrs • 2nd Degree: 2-20 yrs • 1st Degree: 5-99 yrs/life. Don't guess — get a board-certified opinion free.

Check My Exposure Free

Texas defense attorney consulting client

05 — Your defenders

Former prosecutors. Now your shield.

James R. Callahan

FOUNDER • BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL LAW

Ex-Travis County prosecutor. 86 jury trials. UT Law. Dismissed 1,100+ DWIs & felonies.

Elena M. Vargas

PARTNER • FEDERAL & FAMILY VIOLENCE

Ex-federal clerk WDTX. Fluent Spanish. Protective order & assault jury specialist.

Marcus D. Cole

SENIOR TRIAL COUNSEL • DWI / DRUGS

NHTSA-certified in field sobriety. Intoxilyzer 9000 killer. ALR hearing ace.

★★★★★

“2 AM Travis County jail, they answered. Out by breakfast. DWI dismissed. These people are killers in court.”

— D. Ramirez, Austin

★★★★★

“Felony drug charge reduced to misdemeanor probation. Kept my nursing license. Forever grateful.”

— S. Johnson, Round Rock

★★★★★

“Federal case — facing 5 years, got probation. Elena outworked the US Attorney. Unbelievable.”

— K. Williams, Dallas

06 — Texas law, plain English

Arrested? Read this first.

Texas cops and prosecutors count on you not knowing your rights. Here's the crash course. Then call us to use them.

Austin Texas legal consultation handshake

⚠️ Never do these 3 things

1. Don't explain, apologize or “clear it up” — it will be used. 2. Don't consent to phone/car/house search. 3. Don't miss your ALR 15-day DWI deadline — you lose your license automatically.

What to do if arrested in Texas? +

Stay silent, ask for a lawyer clearly: “I invoke my right to remain silent and want my attorney.” Don't resist. Memorize one phone number — ours: (512) 555-0147. We handle bond, magistration warning and contact family.

Will I go to jail for first DWI in Texas? +

First DWI Class B: up to 180 days jail + $2,000 fine + license suspension, but jail is often avoidable. Probation, dismissal via suppression, or DWI pretrial diversion in Travis/Williamson counties are common for clean records with a strong lawyer.

How much does a criminal lawyer cost? +

Misdemeanor $2,500-$7,500, DWI $5,000-$15,000, felony $10,000-$35,000+, federal $25,000+. We do flat fees, payment plans, and free jail consults. Cheaper than a conviction costing you jobs for life.

Can I expunge my Texas record? +

If dismissed, acquitted, pardoned or certain Class C: yes, expunction destroys it. If deferred adjudication completed: nondisclosure seals it from public. We check eligibility free in 10 minutes.

Do you handle all Texas counties? +

Daily in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Dallas, Tarrant, Harris and federal WDTX / SDTX. For other counties we co-counsel or travel — call to confirm.

Ask a Lawyer Free — 5 Min Reply

07 — Texas Crime Insights