The Medlin Law Firm - Gary Medlin
Understanding Bond Conditions In Texas & How People Accidentally Violate Them
Being released on bond in Texas does not mean life goes back to normal. In many cases, it changes immediately. You may still be presumed innocent, but your daily routine can start to feel a lot like probation. You may have to report regularly, submit to drug or alcohol testing, avoid certain people, stay away from certain places, or limit where you travel. These bond conditions can be restrictive, expensive, and confusing. They can also create serious problems when a person violates them without meaning to. At The Medlin Law Firm, we regularly help people deal with bond [...]
State Jail Felony Vs 3rd Degree Felony In Texas
Summary: A state jail felony and a third degree felony are both felonies in Texas, but they do not carry the same punishment range or the same negotiation value. A straight state jail felony usually carries 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility, while a third degree felony usually carries 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and both can include up to a $10,000 fine. Texas law also allows some state jail cases to be punished more lightly or enhanced more harshly, which is why you need to know the exact statute, [...]
Bond Conditions That Can Send You Back To Jail
Overview: Getting out of jail on bond does not mean you are free to live normally again. Texas courts can place strict release conditions on a bond, and violating them can lead to rearrest, a higher bond, or in some cases bond revocation. The biggest problems usually involve no contact orders, missed testing, travel without permission, missed court, or ignoring device and reporting rules. The exact conditions depend on the charge and the court, especially in DWI and family violence cases. If you were just released in Fort Worth, or you are helping a family member stay out after arrest, [...]
Felony Probation Vs Deferred Adjudication In Texas
Key points: Straight probation and deferred adjudication are not the same outcome in Texas, even though both involve supervision in the community. Straight probation follows a conviction, while deferred adjudication delays a finding of guilt and can end with a dismissal if completed successfully. That does not mean deferred adjudication disappears from your record, and it does not mean every felony is eligible for either option. The exact offense, the court, and the plea posture can change what is available before you ever decide whether to accept the deal. If you are facing a felony in Fort Worth, one of [...]
What Happens After You’re Arrested In Texas: Booking, Bond, & Release
If you or someone you care about has just been arrested in Texas, the first few hours can feel confusing, slow, and overwhelming. You may be trying to figure out where the person is, what happens next, when bond will be set, and how long release will take. Those questions matter, and the answers are not always simple. At The Medlin Law Firm, we help people across Dallas-Fort Worth understand what comes next after an arrest. The process usually moves through several stages: custody, booking, magistration or arraignment, bond, and then release. Each stage comes with delays, paperwork, [...]
What Refusing A Breath Test Triggers In Texas
TL;DR: Refusing a breath test in Texas does not end the DWI case. It can trigger an automatic license suspension, the officer’s warning says the refusal may be used in a later prosecution, and police may still seek a warrant for blood in some cases. The first serious deadline is usually the hearing request window, because waiting too long can let the suspension go into effect before the criminal case has even taken shape. If you were arrested for DWI in Fort Worth, or your spouse is trying to figure out whether refusing the breath test helped, the real answer [...]
How Rising BAC Could Be Your DWI Defense In Dallas
TL;DR: The rising BAC defense argues that your blood alcohol level was still climbing when you were stopped and had not yet reached 0.08 while you were driving. Since breath and blood tests are typically administered 45 to 90 minutes after the stop, the recorded result may reflect a BAC you reached after you parked, not while you were on the road. This defense is scientifically grounded but depends entirely on the timing facts, what you consumed, and when. What Is The Rising BAC Defense & How Does It Work In Texas? Under the Texas DWI intoxication standard in Tex. Penal Code [...]
DWI Bond Conditions & Ignition Interlock In Dallas
TL;DR: After a DWI arrest in Dallas, bond conditions take effect before your first court date and carry legal consequences from day one of your release. A judge can require an ignition interlock device, SCRAM monitoring, regular check-ins, and travel restrictions under CCP Art. 17.441 and Art. 17.40. Violating any condition can result in immediate bond revocation and separate charges. Understanding what is mandatory, what is discretionary, and how these conditions connected to a potential probation sentence matters before you leave the jail. Your First Steps When An IID Is Required On A Dallas DWI Bond If the Dallas County [...]
Field Sobriety Test Myths Vs. Reality In Texas
TL;DR: Field sobriety tests in Texas are not pass/fail science. They are officer observations interpreted against NHTSA guidelines originally validated under controlled laboratory conditions that rarely match a real roadside stop. A failing performance does not prove intoxication. Medical conditions, anxiety, surface conditions, footwear, and age all affect results independently of alcohol. You are not legally required to perform these tests in Texas. How they are administered, and what the camera captured versus what the police report says, often tells a different story. The Three Standardized Tests Texas Officers Are Supposed To Use Under the NHTSA standardized field sobriety testing guidelines, [...]
Frank Crowley Courts: A DWI Defendant's Guide
TL;DR: If you were charged with DWI in Dallas County, your case will likely be handled at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in downtown Dallas. For many people, this is their first time walking into a criminal courthouse, and knowing what to expect can make the process feel less overwhelming. Learn how Dallas County DWI cases move through Frank Crowley, what happens at the first court setting, when you may need to appear in person, and how discovery can shape the direction of your case. It helps to understand your court assignment, your bond conditions, and any deadlines that could [...]
