Misdemeanor Defense

• Author: Cindy Stormer
• Pages: 1323-1456

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MISDEMEANOR

DEFENSE

CHAPTER 15

MISDEMEANOR DEFENSE

I. General Points

A. Misdemeanors and Penalties

§15:01 Definition and Distinction from Felonies

§15:02 Misdemeanor Penalty Ranges

§15:03 Penalties for Controlled Substances

B. The Prosecutor’s Role

§15:10 Prosecutors Protect Justice

§15:11 Prosecutor’s Basic Obligations

§15:12 Disclosure of Evidence

§15:13 Crime Victim’s Compensation

C. Defense Attorney ’s Obligations

§15:20 Plea Offers

§15:21 Investigate Facts and Law

§15:22 Advise on Punishment

§15:23 Advise on Collateral Consequences

§15:24 Negotiating the Deal

D. Procedures

§15:30 Initial Client Interview

§15:31 Initial Procedures and Discovery

§15:32 Court Proceedings

§15:33 Bonds and the Writ of Habeas Corpus

§15:34 Representing the Mentally Ill Client

II. Traffic Tickets

§15:40 General Points

§15:41 Stipulation and Appeal Bond

§15:42 Deferred Adjudication

§15:43 Plea Offer in Traffic Tickets

§15:44 Defensive Driver Course

§15:45 Challenging the Detection Device for Speeding

III. Search and Seizure

A. General Points

§15:50 General Rule: Warrant Is Required

§15:51 Arrests Without Warrants

§15:52 Levels of Interaction

§15:53 Must Have an Affirmative Link

TEXAS SMALL-FIRM PRACTICE TOOLS 15−2

MISDEMEANOR

DEFENSE

§15:54 Forfeiture

B. Specific Searches

§15:60 Places Incident to Arrest

§15:61 Persons Incident to Arrest

§15:62 Persons During the Execution of Search Warrants

§15:63 Body Fluids

§15:64 Protective (Cursory) Searches

§15:65 Prevention of Destruction of Evidence

§15:66 Vehicle Inventory Searches

§15:67 Curtilage and Open Fields

§15:68 Border Searches

§15:69 School Searches

§15:70 Water Safety Checks

§15:71 Automobiles

§15:72 Dog Search/Odor

C. Stops, Detentions, Arrests

§15:80 Detention

§15:81 Reasonable Suspicion

§15:82 Warrantless Arrests in the Home

§15:83 Traffic Stops

§15:84 Roadblocks and License Checkpoints

D. Motions to Suppress and Jury Charges

§15:90 Pretrial Motion to Suppress Evidence

§15:91 Objections to Fruits of Search Warrant

§15:92 Jury Charge on Illegal Search

§15:93 Corroboration Required in Some Drug Offenses

§15:94 Legal Hemp and Marijuana

IV. Confessions and Statements

§15:100 Definition and Protection

§15:101 Warning Requirement for Custodial Interrogation and Statements

§15:102 Exceptions to Warning Requirement

§15:103 Voluntariness

§15:104 Corroboration

§15:105 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

§15:106 Recorded Statements at Trial

V. Plea Bargaining

§15:110 Purpose

§15:111 Dut y to Inform Client

§15:112 Agreement Is Binding

§15:113 Appeal After a Plea Bargain

§15:114 Excessive Fines

VI. Speedy Trial

§15:120 Basis for the Right to a Speedy Trial

§15:121 Time Length

§15:122 Factors

§15:123 Burden of Proof

§15:124 Remedy for Violation

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VII. Pretrial Issues

§15:130 Appointing Experts

§15:131 Multiple Defendants

§15:132 Habitual Offenders

§15:133 Criminal Attempt

§15:134 Early Identification of Defendant Suspected of Having Mental Illness or Mental Retardation

§15:135 Competency

§15:136 Insanity

§15:137 Enhancement

§15:138 Indigency

§15:139 Consolidation and Joinder

§15:140 Motion for Continuance

§15:141 Bench Warrant

§15:142 Evading/Escape

§15:143 Subpoenas in Criminal Cases

§15:144 Possession of a Controlled Substance Defense

VIII. Community Supervision

A. General Proceedings

§15:150 Definition: Deferred Proceedings or Probated Sentence and Probation Eligibility

§15:151 Presentence Investigation Report (PSI)

§15:152 Payment of Fines, Costs, or Restitution

§15:153 Shock Probation

B. Deferred Adjudication

§15:160 Definition and Procedure

§15:161 Violation of a Condition

§15:162 Subsequent Offense

§15:163 Offenses for Which Deferred Adjudication Is Not an Option

§15:164 Consequences of Deferred Adjudication

§15:165 Petitions for Nondisclosure

C. Special Conditions

§15:170 Judge May Impose Any Reasonable Condition

§15:171 Community Service

§15:172 Offense Committed Because of Bias or Prejudice

IX. Trial Issues

§15:180 Visiting Judges

§15:181 The Plea in Traffic Cases

§15:182 Failure of the State to Timely Designate an Expert

§15:183 Double Jeopardy

§15:184 Lesser Included Offenses

§15:185 Evidence Stipulations

§15:186 Voir Dire Challenge for Cause

§15:187 Character Evidence of Victim

§15:188 Jury Issues

§15:189 Allocution

§15:190 Concurrent v. Cumulative Sentencing

§15:191 Credit for Time Served

§15:192 Other Trial Strategies

§15:193 Eyewitness Identification and other Issues—Wrongful Convictions