Criminal Attorney San Antonio-Bexar

What to expect when facing criminal charges in San Antonio-Bexar County, Texas.

Dealing with criminal charges in San Antonio, Texas is stressful because a bad outcome can cost you everything. For instance, a criminal charge can cost you your job. You may also lose the right to vote or the right to own a gun. And worst of all, it may cost you your freedom.

But the good news is that for many people, a criminal charge in San Antonio does not always lead to a bad outcome. In some cases you can work with the State to have your charges lowered or even dropped. In this post, I will show you why this is true. And I will also give you a roadmap of what to expect if police arrest you for a crime in San Antonio, Texas.

What happens if Police arrest me for a misdemeanor or felony in Bexar County, Texas?

1. Hire a Bail Bond Company to get you of jail.

After police arrest you for a crime, they will take you to a judge or magistrate. The judge should then set a bond amount in your case. The bond amount is the fee you pay to get out of jail. However, most people do not pay the full bond amount to get out of jail.

For example, if police arrest you for a DWI-1st in San Antonio, then a judge may set your bond amount at $3,500.00. To get out of jail, you can hire a bond company to post your bond. Bond companies usually charge 10% of the bond.

So in our example, you will pay a bond company $350.00 ($3,500*.10=$350.00) to post your bond. This is the most common way to get out of jail. In short, bail bond companies allow you to pay money to get out of jail. But if you do not have money to post the bond, then you may get stuck in jail until you resolve your case.

On top of that, there are two other ways to bond out of jail if police arrest you for a crime in Bexar County, Texas. Specifically, you may qualify for a PR bond. Or you can hire a lawyer to bond you out of jail.

2. PR Bonds allow you to get out of Bexar County Jail for free. But there is a catch.

A Personal Bond, or PR Bond, lets a person get out of jail for free. In other words, you do not have to hire a bail bond company to post your bond. However, there is a catch. This option is up to the judge.

And there are conditions to a PR Bond that you need to follow. You will need to check in with a pretrial officer as your case progresses. The judge may also order you to pay a small fee and get drug tested while you are out on a PR Bond.

Further, PR bonds carry benefits for both the defendant and Bexar County. Notably, PR bonds save defendants money. And they allow Bexar County to control the jail population. This is a win-win for both sides. Nevertheless, not everyone qualifies for a PR Bond.

To qualify for a PR bond in Bexar County, Texas, you must meet the following conditions:

1. Live in San Antonio or Bexar County, Texas;
2. You must be in jail for a crime that happened in Bexar County, Texas;
3. Also, you cannot be on parole, bond, or probation for another crime;
4. You must promise you will show up to your court dates; and
5. You need to have a valid ID.

If you have questions about a PR Bond in San Antonio, then you can call the pretrial office at 210-335-1371. [Note: Our office is not connected in anyway to Pretrial or any Bexar County Government Agency. This blog post is simply a PSA.]

4. Hire a lawyer to post your bond.

Another way to get out of jail is to hire a lawyer to post your bond. Many lawyers offer this option for their clients. With the right lawyer, this can be a great option. However, with the wrong lawyer, this can turn into a headache.

The upside of hiring a lawyer to post your bond is that it may save you money. To explain, many lawyers work out fee deals that cover both the legal defense and bond fees. Stated differently, this gives you a 2 for 1 option. The legal fee covers the bond fee.

The downside happens when you hire a bad lawyer or when you cannot afford the payment plan in your case. If you don’t like your attorney, then you can switch lawyers. But that means the first lawyer you hired will “go-off bond” in your case. This means the lawyer will cancel your bond. As a result, the judge will issue an arrest warrant for you and you will have to bond out all over again.

Similarly, if you cannot afford the payment plan for your case, then the lawyer will “go-off bond” in your case. The results will be the same. You will need to go to jail and bond out again.

In sum, there are pros and cons to hiring a lawyer to post your bond. And it is a personal choice on which way to go.

How do I get a satellite bond in Bexar County, Texas?

There is actually no such thing as a satellite bond in Bexar County, Texas. The term refers to a satellite office located in the basement of the old Bexar County Courthouse. In effect, this office serves as a mini jail for booking.

Here’s how it works. If there is a warrant for your arrest for a crime in San Antonio, then you may be able to use the satellite office to turn yourself in and bond out. At the same time, you must either hire a bond company or an attorney to post your bond. From there, you take your bond paperwork to the satellite office, get booked, and then released from jail.

During the booking process, police take your mug shot, get your fingerprints, and get your contact information. After this is done, they pull your warrant and often give you a court date.

The satellite office address is 100 Dolorosa Street, B10.2, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Their phone number is 210-335-2592. You can call their office to see if you have a warrant and ask them if your type of case allows you to use their office to bond out.

Of major interest, the benefit of the satellite office is that you can get in and out of jail quickly. In contrast, if you turn yourself in at the Bexar County Jail, then you may spend all day going through the booking process. However, not everyone can use the satellite office to post their bond.

How does criminal defense work in San Antonio?

At its most basic form, criminal defense turns on two questions: (1) Did you break the law?; and (2) If so, what do we do about it? The State will tell you what they think you did wrong by filing an indictment or information. And if you did something wrong, then your attorney and the prosecutor can often–but not always–agree on what to do about it.

1. Did you do commit a crime in Bexar County, Texas?

Critically, the indictment and information are written statements that tell you what law you broke and how you broke it. These written statements are also the starting point for your defense. Namely, your defense lawyer will compare the facts of the case to the charges you are facing.

Most important of all, the key to the defense is to see if the facts line up with the charges. This is where the defense looks at the body camera videos, witness statements, and other evidence to figure out what really happened. After that, the defense will develop a plan for the case.

This defense can take different forms. For example, it can include the following:

• Kicking out a confession (Miranda issue);
• Challenge the reason for the stop or arrest (search and seizure defense);
• Raise a self-defense issue (I did the crime, but I had a good reason for doing it);
• Show that police arrested the wrong person; or
• Take the case to trial because the client is not guilty of any crime.

To recap, the defense will depend on the facts of the case and the goals of the client.

2. Okay, I did the crime. What are my options?

If the prosecutor can show a judge or jury that you broke the law, then your sentencing options may include the following:

• Ask the State to lower charges or dismiss your case: In some cases, you can ask the State to lower your charges. If you have a 2nd Degree Felony, then you can ask them to drop it to a 3rd Degree or a misdemeanor charge. You can also ask them to drop your case if you pay back the victim for any harm you caused. This often happens in theft cases or criminal mischief cases.
• Request 12.44 Jail Time: This allows you to do your time in County Jail instead of TDC or State Jail.
• Ask for Probation to avoid going to jail: You don’t go to jail if you pay a fine, complete community service hours, and complete classes. But the case will stay on your record;
• Apply for Pretrial Diversion (PTD): The State drops the case against you if you complete classes, do community service, and pay fees. Also, if you complete PTD, then you can clear your record later;
• Push for the lowest Jail Time possible: This is often, but not always, the worst option. In sum, it means you go to jail.

The main takeaway is that even if you did something wrong, you maybe able to work out a deal to cut your losses.

How much jail time can I get for a felony in Bexar County, Texas?

How much jail time can I get for a misdemeanor in Bexar County, Texas?

Criminal Defense Attorney San Antonio. Phone: 210-733-7575.

If police arrest you for a crime in San Antonio, then do not panic. Talk with a qualified attorney to review your case and discuss your options.

Need to hire a criminal lawyer in San Antonio, Texas?

Genaro R. Cortez is a criminal lawyer in San Antonio with over 20 years experience handling criminal cases in South Texas. His services include the following:

• Give every client an objective review of their case;
• Help each client develop a plan on how to defend the case;
• Attend all court hearings;
• Return all phone calls, emails, and texts within 1 business day;
• Talk to the State about dropping the charges, lowering the charges, or working out no-jail plea deals. (He does this on a case by case by case basis.) ;
• Fight for every client to make sure the system treats him or her fairly;
• Most important of all, he will use his experience to push for the best outcome for every client in every case.

Call Genaro R. Cortez today to talk about your case. Phone: 210-733-7575.