If a prosecutor just found out a motion to revoke your probation (MTR) against you, then you are probably scared and not sure what to do next. That is understandable. An MTR is serious — it is how the State asks a judge to end your probation and send you to jail.
But the key point to know is an MTR is not the end of the story. You have options, and the steps you take in the next few days can make a real difference in how your case turns out.
As a San Antonio MTR lawyer with over 20 years of experience in Bexar County courts, here are the five things I tell every client to do the moment they learn an MTR has been filed.
Step 1: Find Out If There Is a Warrant for Your Arrest — Right Now
When the judge signs off on your MTR, they also issue a warrant for your arrest. This means police can arrest you at any time — at work, at home, or during a traffic stop. Do not wait to find out.
You can check if you have a warrant in Bexar County by calling:
- Bexar County Sheriff’s Office: (210) 335-6201
- Bexar Satellite Office: (210) 335-2592
- The court your case is assigned to directly
Have your full name, date of birth, and SID number ready when you call. Knowing your status immediately gives you more control over what happens next — including whether you can arrange a self-surrender instead of getting arrested at the worst possible moment.
Step 2: Do Not Wait to Be Arrested — Call a Lawyer First
This is the mistake I see most often. People know the judge issued an arrest warrant for them and they do nothing, hoping it will go away. It will not.
Calling a San Antonio MTR attorney before you turn yourself in gives you a major advantage. Your lawyer can:
- Check whether the judge set a bond in your case or remanded you without bond (R.W.O.B.)
- Arrange a self-surrender so you can choose the timing — protecting your job, family obligations, and schedule
- Begin working on getting a bond set if you are R.W.O.B.
- Check if your case is eligible for you to self-surrender at the Bexar County Satellite Office
- Start building your defense before you ever walk into a courtroom
The sooner you call, the more options you have.
Step 3: Find Out Your Bond Status
Not all MTR cases come with a bond. Under Texas law, only the judge who ordered your arrest can authorize your release. Some judges set a bond automatically. Others remand defendants without bond, meaning you sit in jail until your hearing.
If a bond was set, you can use a bail bondsman — or even the Bexar County Satellite Office at the courthouse — to bond out quickly. If you are remanded without bond, your attorney can file a motion asking the judge to set a reasonable bond amount.
In Bexar County, judges typically set MTR bond amounts at roughly double the original case bond. That varies by judge, but your lawyer can negotiate for a lower amount.
Step 4: Start Documenting Everything You Have Done Right on Probation
Here is something many people do not realize: what you did right on probation matters just as much as what went wrong.
Judges and prosecutors look at your full picture. If you have been paying your fines, attending your classes, reporting to your probation officer, and staying out of trouble — that works in your favor, even if you slipped up in one area.
Start gathering documentation now:
- Payment receipts for fines, fees, and court costs
- Certificates of completion for any classes or programs
- Proof of employment or school enrollment
- Letters of support from employers, family members, or counselors
- Community service logs
This paperwork can be the difference between a judge continuing your probation or revoking it and sending you to jail.
Step 5: Know That You Have the Right to Fight the MTR
You do not have to accept the allegations in the motion. When you appear for court, the judge will ask you if the violations listed in the MTR are “True” or “Not True.” If you believe the State’s allegations are wrong — or if there are circumstances the judge should hear — you have the right to plead “Not True” and contest the MTR at a hearing.
At that hearing, the State must prove the violations by a preponderance of the evidence — meaning it is more likely than not that you broke the rules of probation. That is a lower bar than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard from your original case, but it is still a standard the State must meet. A skilled MTR lawyer can challenge the State’s evidence and fight for the best possible outcome.
Even if you do not want to contest the allegations, your lawyer may be able to negotiate with the prosecutor to withdraw the MTR entirely in exchange for completing extra classes, community service hours, or other agreed terms.
The Bottom Line on a Motion to Revoke Probation Bexar County
An MTR does not mean your probation is over. It means the clock is ticking, and the steps you take right now matter enormously. The clients who come to me early — before they are arrested, before they miss a court date — consistently have more options and better outcomes than those who wait or do nothing.
If a motion to revoke your probation has been filed in Bexar County, contact us online or call the Law Office of Genaro R. Cortez, PLLC at (210) 733-7575 today. We offer free consultations and have helped hundreds of people in San Antonio fight their MTR, stay on probation, and move forward with their lives. Do not wait for the State to make the next move.