Fort Worth Felony Defense Lawyer

Texas criminal law divides offenses into misdemeanors and felonies, and that distinction is not just a label. A felony carries a different punishment structure, is heard in a different court, and creates consequences that follow a person long after any sentence ends.

Texas recognizes five felony levels under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 punishment ranges. A state jail felony carries 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and a fine up to $10,000. A conviction here creates a permanent felony record. A third-degree felony carries two to ten years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. A second-degree felony carries two to twenty years and the same fine. A first-degree felony carries five to ninety-nine years or life and a fine up to $10,000.

Capital felonies sit above all of these. Punishment is death or life without parole, depending on the circumstances and notice provided by the State.

The charge level is not fixed at arrest. Prosecutors can file enhancement allegations based on prior convictions, the identity of the victim, or other aggravating facts. A case that appears to be a third-degree felony can move up before trial. Understanding exactly where your charge sits, and whether enhancements have been alleged, is the first thing a defense review needs to address.

A felony arrest in Tarrant County follows a sequence with its own timeline. Knowing each stage helps you avoid the mistakes that tend to occur at each one.

The rights that apply at arrest are the foundation of whatever defense follows.

Retaining a defense attorney in a felony case is not the same as having someone appear in court alongside you. What a lawyer does before any hearing often determines what options exist at every hearing that follows.

A defense review starts with the exact charge, the statute, and the version of the offense alleged. That analysis identifies what the State must prove, which elements are potentially weakest, and what the realistic punishment range is if the case goes poorly.

Evidence review follows. Dashcam and bodycam recordings, search warrant affidavits and returns, lab reports, phone extractions, witness statements, and chain-of-custody records all need examination before a defense position forms.

Motion practice is where constitutional challenges go on the record. If police conducted an unlawful stop or relied on a defective warrant, a suppression motion challenges that evidence before trial. A successful motion can reshape the entire case.

Negotiation happens alongside preparation, not after it. What the State offers reflects its read on its own evidence and on the strength of the defense. A defense that has already built a record and identified weaknesses changes that calculation.

Trial preparation informs every earlier phase. A lawyer who prepares each case for trial approaches the same file differently from day one.

The charge determines where the defense should start. Not every felony in Fort Worth involves the same evidence, statutes, or proof questions.

Drug crimes charges are among the most frequently filed cases in Tarrant County. Possession, delivery, and manufacturing charges under the Texas Health and Safety Code are graded by substance and weight. The legality of the stop or search is often the first question the defense addresses.

Charges for assault and aggravated assault under Tex. Penal Code Section 22.02 require the State to prove serious bodily injury or the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon. These cases typically turn on statements at the scene, witness credibility, and the medical record.

Felony DWI under Tex. Penal Code Section 49.09 applies when a defendant has prior DWI convictions or a child passenger was present. The criminal case and the administrative license suspension run on separate timelines from arrest, and both need early attention.

Theft and fraud felonies are graded primarily by value. Electronic records, financial documents, and intent evidence drive these cases.

Gun crimes charges under Tex. Penal Code Section 46.04 typically involve possession after a prior conviction, unlawful carry, or a prohibited location. The search and the defendant’s legal status at the time of possession are the usual starting points.

Felony cases in Fort Worth are heard in Tarrant County’s district courts, separate from the county criminal courts that handle misdemeanors. The Tarrant County Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth is where most felony proceedings take place.

Tarrant County has multiple criminal district courts, including the 213th, 297th, 371st, and 396th. When a case is filed, it is assigned to one of these courts, which handles everything from arraignment through plea or trial. Judges in these courts differ in how they approach bond hearings, pretrial motions, and negotiations, and an experienced Tarrant County defense attorney accounts for those differences in building a case strategy.

Bond is set at magistration and can be reviewed by the district court. Missing a scheduled court date creates a separate legal problem on top of the underlying charge, including a warrant and a potential bail-jumping allegation.

The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes felony cases filed in the county. Understanding how that office operates is basic defense preparation.

After arrest, law enforcement presents its investigation to the DA’s office. Prosecutors decide whether to proceed, what charge to file, and whether to take the case to the grand jury for an indictment vote. Once a case is indicted, the DA’s office handles pretrial negotiations and, if no agreement is reached, tries the case before a jury.

What the prosecution is willing to offer reflects its read on its own evidence and on how strong the defense appears. A defense that has already filed motions and challenged the State’s evidence changes what prosecutors believe their case is worth. This is one of the clearest practical arguments for early defense work.

If you qualify for appointed counsel, you have a constitutional right to it. Many public defenders are experienced and capable. There are real differences between appointed and retained representation worth understanding before arraignment.

The core issue is availability, not competence. A felony case requiring early evidence preservation, suppression motions, sustained discovery review, and active negotiation across months needs an attorney with time to give it. Caseload is the single most important practical difference between the two options.

Most Texas felony cases resolve through plea agreements. That reflects how risk and punishment range interact across thousands of different fact patterns.

A plea bargain is an agreement in which the defendant pleads guilty or no contest in exchange for the prosecution’s recommendation on charge or sentence. The court must accept the agreement before it takes effect.

What drives a prosecution offer is the State’s assessment of its own evidence and its read on the defense. A suppression motion that threatens key evidence, a credibility problem with the State’s witness, or a well-documented chain-of-custody challenge all affect what the prosecution believes its case is worth. The negotiation and the defense investigation run together, not in sequence.

Whether to accept an offer depends on the punishment range, the realistic probability of conviction at trial, and the full consequences each outcome brings. A defense review is built to answer those questions honestly before any decision is made.

A prison sentence is the consequence most people focus on. It is not the only one, and in many cases it is not the one that shapes daily life the longest.

Most Texas felony cases resolve through plea agreements. That reflects how risk and punishment range interact across thousands of different fact patterns.

A plea bargain is an agreement in which the defendant pleads guilty or no contest in exchange for the prosecution’s recommendation on charge or sentence. The court must accept the agreement before it takes effect.

What drives a prosecution offer is the State’s assessment of its own evidence and its read on the defense. A suppression motion that threatens key evidence, a credibility problem with the State’s witness, or a well-documented chain-of-custody challenge all affect what the prosecution believes its case is worth. The negotiation and the defense investigation run together, not in sequence.

Whether to accept an offer depends on the punishment range, the realistic probability of conviction at trial, and the full consequences each outcome brings. A defense review is built to answer those questions honestly before any decision is made.

A prison sentence is the consequence most people focus on. It is not the only one, and in many cases it is not the one that shapes daily life the longest.

There is no single answer because no two felony cases are the same. Three factors shape what you will pay. Here is how each one applies to your situation.

The consultation is an evaluation. These questions give you information no website provides.

Evaluating a defense attorney for a serious felony charge is a different exercise than choosing counsel for a minor matter.

Focus on criminal defense first. A lawyer who handles criminal cases alongside real estate, family law, and business disputes divides attention across different courts and prosecution strategies. A lawyer who handles only criminal cases does not.

Tarrant County court familiarity matters. The district courts in Fort Worth have their own judges, docket cultures, and prosecutors. Knowing how a specific court operates and how the DA’s felony division approaches negotiations comes from practicing there regularly.

Board Certification in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization reflects demonstrated experience, a written examination, and peer evaluation. It is verifiable through the State Bar of Texas.

Direct communication is a practical requirement. A felony case runs for months. You will have questions at unexpected times. An attorney who is accessible and direct about the facts of your case is a better fit than one who routes communication through staff.

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization is a program administered by the State Bar of Texas that certifies lawyers in specific practice areas, including criminal law.

To earn Board Certification in Criminal Law, a lawyer must demonstrate that a substantial portion of their practice involves criminal law, pass a written examination, meet continuing education requirements, and receive favorable evaluations from judges and other attorneys. The certification is renewed regularly and reflects verified depth of practice, not simply years in the field.

Gary Medlin has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1989. That credential can be confirmed through the State Bar of Texas.

The first consultation is most useful when you arrive with the right information.

The Medlin Law Firm — Fort Worth, Texas

If you are facing a felony charge in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County, the first decisions you make carry real weight. What you say, what evidence gets preserved, and when defense work begins all shape what options remain available as the case develops. The Medlin Law Firm will review the charge, the evidence, the deadlines, and the realistic range of outcomes so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.