What Our Criminal Defense Lawyer Will Do for You
Once you seek counsel with Ceja Law, you can relax, knowing that, in addition to presuming you innocent, we will listen to your story with sympathetic ears. Your cause will become our cause, and we will fight aggressively to win your case and avoid court. Whether you have been arrested for violating a Texas state or federal statute or are currently under investigation for a crime, we will take the time to:
- Answer all your questions and clarify any legalese you don’t understand
- File any required paperwork promptly
- Interview any witnesses of the alleged crime
- Investigate your case thoroughly, examining all relevant police records
- Make all necessary court appearances and defend you vigorously
Most important of all, once we have all pertinent information relative to your case, our team of criminal defense lawyers will strategize a proper defense to extricate you from this situation. It is always our goal to bring you, as we have brought so many other clients, to the best resolution of your conflict, whether it is a case dismissal, an acquittal, a grand jury “no-bill,” or a reduction of charges.
Types of Crimes Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Routinely Handle
Ceja law is well-prepared to defend you from any of the following charges:
DWI
Driving while intoxicated is a serious crime, never treated lightly. Nonetheless, the law punishes offenses on a scale that takes your criminal history into account. Your first conviction is a Class B Misdemeanor (or Class A if a chemical test alleges your blood or breath result is higher than a .15); your second conviction is a Class A Misdemeanor and your third conviction is a 3rd Degree Felony.
The penalties are much more likely to be harsh if you are a repeat offender, cause death or bodily harm, were driving recklessly, or were driving with a child under the age of 15 as a passenger. Because you may be facing jail time as well as a very heavy fine, as your criminal defense lawyer we have to be aggressive in our defense. Jose Ceja believes that every stage of a DWI investigation should be challenged – from the validity of the traffic stop, to the accuracy of the breath or blood test.
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
Drug charges often result in extremely long prison sentences upon conviction. You should get legal defense representation as quickly as possible to save you from self-incrimination. Once Jose Ceja is on the case, you will have a protective barrier between you and the prosecution. As you are no doubt aware, the larger the quantity of drugs found on your person or in your control, the worse the charges can be. At a certain point, your crime will no longer be considered “possession,” but “distribution” or even “drug trafficking.” This is why it is crucial to have a sharp criminal defense lawyer at your side.
Assault
According to Texas Law, even though the crime is called “simple assault,” it is defined as “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caus[ing] bodily injury to another person,” or threatening to do so in a provocative manner, punishable by up to one year in prison. In Texas, assault can be a misdemeanor or a felony. As expected, the more seriously the offense is defined, the harsher the penalty.
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor assault in Texas, you could face a jail sentence, a fine, and possible restrictions on owning a gun for some period of time. However, if you are convicted of domestic abuse as a misdemeanor, you could potentially be barred from owning a handgun permanently under Federal Law.
Aggravated assault is characterized by either resulting in serious injury or involving the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon. An aggravated assault in Texas is a second-degree felony with a fine of up to $10,000 and a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. If the aggravated assault involved certain components, like domestic violence, it can be deemed a first-degree felony and carry a sentence of up to life in prison.
Domestic Family Violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse or family violence, is typically a crime committed against a family member or someone with whom you have a romantic or sexual relationship. Such a relationship may exist in the present or have existed in the past, so assaulting an ex-spouse or ex-fiancé(e) is also considered family violence.
Domestic violence can refer to any kind of assault — e.g. hitting, punching, biting, kicking, or a sexual attack. Though usually thought of as a crime committed against a family member or someone with whom you have a romantic or sexual relationship, this crime can also involve anyone living in the same home, for example, a roommate, housemate, their child or the child of a partner, or a foster child of anyone in the home.
Depending on the severity of the charges, and whether you are convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony, you risk penalties including heavy fines, jail or imprisonment, and possibly lifestyle restrictions, including a loss of the legal right to hunt, fish or bear arms. A conviction may also cost you employment opportunities, negatively impact child custody or visitation arrangements. If convicted of sexual domestic violence, you may also have restrictions placed on where you can live.
Criminal Theft
Taking something that doesn’t belong to you with the intent of depriving its owner of the object is a crime known as theft. The seriousness of the offense, however, depends on the value of the property stolen. If the stolen item is valued at between $500 and $1500, your offense will be considered a misdemeanor. Though “misdemeanor” may sound unimportant, a conviction for this crime may mean incarceration for as much as a year and/or a fine of as much as $4,000.
The penalties continue to increase as the amount allegedly stolen increases. If you are accused of stealing between $100,000 and $200,000, a conviction for this second-degree felony may result in a spending up to 20 years in confinement. Even if you have been accused of stealing a small amount, you definitely need a strong criminal defense attorney to battle for your rights in court.
Sex Crimes
If you are accused of committing a sex crime, the repercussions may be very serious, even for what seems to be a relatively minor offense. In addition to threatening your reputation, a sex crime accusation may put your employment, your relationships, and your professional licenses at risk. In addition to facing potentially prolonged incarceration, you may also be facing long-term probation and being listed on the Texas Sex Offender Registry which may limit future employment and even restrict where you are allowed to live.
Ceja Law routinely defends clients who have been arrested for: criminal solicitation of a minor (Under 17), indecency with a child, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual performance by a child, and public lewdness. Whatever you have been charged with, our legal defense team is here to defend you, never to judge you.
Expunctions and Orders of Non-Disclosures
Because having a criminal record can have negative consequences, even if you were never convicted of a crime, Ceja Law Firm actively assists you in clearing your record once we win your case. There are two possible ways to do this in Texas: expunction (also known as expungement) and orders of non-disclosure (also known as Texas record sealing). Expunction is permitted for individuals who were arrested but had the charges dismissed or were found not guilty after a court trial. An expunction completely erases your record. An order of nondisclosure, on the other hand, is an option for those who have completed all terms of deferred adjudication.
For many misdemeanors, Ceja Law Firm can have your record sealed as soon as you have completed deferred adjudication. For a felony, there is often a waiting period before you may be eligible. You should take note that an order of non-disclosure does not completely wipe out your record the way a criminal expungement does. Instead, it seals it from public view, but not from government agencies.
Federal Offenses
Since your reputation, your financial security, and your freedom are all threatened by federal convictions, you need a powerful federal criminal offense attorney like Jose Ceja to represent you. If, as often occurs, you are charged with violating both federal and state laws, he is more than capable of handling the complex situation.
Common Types of Federal Offenses
- Drug crimes are federally prosecuted if they take place on federal property, involve weapons, drug trafficking, manufacturing, federal agencies, or occur in proximity to a school with children under 21.
- Conspiracy is defined as a crime two or more parties collaborate in and commit — e.g. fraud, embezzlement, or drug trafficking.
- Racketeering (RICO) violations occur when an organized group engages in illegal business activities, e.g. bribery, fraud, embezzlement, extortion, and money laundering.
- Bank and securities fraud happens when banks or other financial institutions are defrauded by the submission of false documentation to take illegal advantage of investors, financial firms, and the market.
- Credit card fraud occurs when a credit card or its information is used to make unlawful purchases or illegally withdraw funds from an account.
- Immigration crimes include illegal entry or re-entry into the U.S., immigration fraud, human trafficking, harboring illegal aliens, and marriage fraud.
- Internet crimes include identity theft, hacking, phishing scams, and child pornography.
- Firearms and weapons charges pertain to illegal possession, use, sales, and distribution of firearms and other deadly weapons.
Protect Yourself with an Experienced Weapons Charges Attorney
As you can see, weapons charges can easily lead you into dangerous territory, interfering with your freedom, your ability to earn a living, your right to spend time with your children, and your standing in the community. In some cases, you may face federal charges as well. That’s why it’s critical that you have a sharp weapons charges attorney like Jose Ceja at your side.
Weapons Charges in Texas
If you face weapons charges in Texas, it is important to take immediate steps to protect yourself by getting in touch with an experienced weapons charges attorney. In the vicinity of Houston, Jose Ceja, lead attorney of Ceja Law Firm PLLC, is the person to see. He is acutely aware of how much is at stake for you when you are facing weapons charges and will fight aggressively and skillfully to protect your rights, your reputation, and your freedom.
The High Stakes of Convictions on Weapons Charges in Texas
Weapons charges are designed to be sufficiently tough to keep the public safe. While the simple charge of “unlawfully carrying a weapon” (UCW) by itself — defined in this case as a handgun or club — is a Class A misdemeanor, depending on where you are, what condition you’re in, and what you’re doing at the time of your arrest, you may face felony charges, resulting in:
- Substantial fines
- Jail time or imprisonment
- Loss of your gun
- Loss of your right to own a gun
- Loss of your right to vote
- Travel restrictions or interference with citizenship applications
- Limitations on employment opportunities and professional licensing
- Restrictions to child visitation or custody
Protect Yourself with an Experienced Weapons Charges Attorney
As you can see, weapons charges can easily lead you into dangerous territory, interfering with your freedom, your ability to earn a living, your right to spend time with your children, and your standing in the community. In some cases, you may face federal charges as well. That’s why it’s critical that you have a sharp weapons charges attorney like Jose Ceja at your side.
Contact Our Houston Criminal Defense Attorney
No matter what the circumstances of your arrest and no matter how desperate you may feel, come to us for excellent criminal defense. Jose Ceja is a true professional with outstanding credentials. He has powerful insight into how best to approach your case and is fully committed to giving you the optimal chance of obtaining the best possible outcome. Reach us at our Houston, Texas office by phone or by filling out a contact form on our website for a free consultation.