Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States, the Department of Justice promised to take aggressive steps against anyone attempting to fraudulently profit from the pandemic. In March of 2020, the Justice Department took its first action against a Texas-based website selling a fake coronavirus vaccine.

This action was a civil injunction designed to shut down the website in short order. While the owner of the website is currently anonymous, the federal government has announced a wire fraud investigation into the perpetrators of the hoax. If convicted on these federal charges, the operators of the site could spend years in federal prison.

Texas Civil Action Against the Website

The initial enforcement effort taken by the Department of Justice was a civil action against a Texas-based website "coronavirusmedicalkit.com." According to the DOJ press release, the site was offering a fraudulent vaccine that the operators claimed was created by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has no affiliation with the website, and no known cure has been discovered to date.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

The COVID-19 pandemic and the "stay at home" orders that have come with it are impacting nearly every aspect of our daily lives. One unexpected development brought on by coronavirus fears and quarantine is an increased rate of domestic violence allegations in Houston and across Texas. This "fear" is directed toward the complaining witness, but there is another kind of fear, too: that many persons are being falsely accused.

Remember: when you are stuck together for a period of time and can't go out, tensions can run high. Mistakes are made... on both sides. Here's an overview of what's being said about increased domestic violence and what you should keep in mind if you are accused.

Is Domestic Violence Showing a Sharp Increase During Houston's Stay at Home Orders?

According to an investigation by the Houston Chronicle, there has been a substantial increase in domestic violence allegations based on the number of hotline calls and requests for emergency housing in the wake of the social isolation brought on by coronavirus in early March of this year. The Houston Area Women's Center saw an "unusually high" number of calls during the week of April 1, 2020. The number of requests for emergency housing was close to the center's maximum capacity of 120 residents.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

Over the years, countless defendants in driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases have prevailed at trial thanks to inaccurate breath test results. Defense attorneys have had success showing a jury that failure by the police or a crime lab could have resulted in a false positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) result.

There are multiple factors that could result in inaccurate breathalyzer readings. False-positive breath test results can occur due to mistakes made by the police. These errors are often related to the calibration of a breathalyzer machine. These machines are sensitive and can lead to wildly inaccurate results if not carefully maintained.

False positives can also occur thanks to the consumption of certain foods shortly before giving a breath sample. From Kombucha to sugarfree gum, these foods can have trace amounts of alcohol or cause chemical reactions that lead to a false positive. One food type that can cause a false positive you might not be aware of is honey buns.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

Thanks to the Constitution of the State of Texas, you are entitled to bail following an arrest under state law. Like with many rights, your ability to obtain release from jail after paying a bail amount has certain limitations. While rare and uncommon, it is possible for the courts to deny bail to a person facing a charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI).

The good news is that the issue of bail is not decided with any finality. Even in cases where bail is initially denied, it is always possible to re-address bail with another judge. One of the valuable benefits an experienced and Board Certified Houston DWI defense attorney could offer is an understanding of common bail practices and experience with having bail requirements reduced.

While the denial of bail is unlikely in a DWI case, understanding the circumstances where it could happen could be valuable if you are facing such a charge.

The Right to Bail in Texas

Article 1, Section 11 of the Texas Constitution outlines the right to bail. While the Constitution provides that "All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties," it also outlines exceptions to this general rule. Section 11 makes clear there is an exception for any capital offense where the state can show a likelihood of conviction. Section 11a also highlights other exceptions that focus on felons with extensive criminal histories, sexual offenders, and acts of violence among other things.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones is no stranger to fighting. Unfortunately, his next battle will be with the state of New Mexico following an arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

According to Albuquerque police, officers responded to a report of gunshots at approximately 1 a.m. on March 26, 2020. When police approached a parked, running vehicle they encountered the professional mixed martial arts fighter. The police report alleges that when Jones opened the door to the vehicle, officers observed him in possession of a handgun and a half-empty liquor bottle.

After making contact with Jones, the officers allege they noticed signs of intoxication. Jones denied firing the weapon but admitted to driving and drinking alcohol. He also submitted to field sobriety testing, which police claim he failed. Additionally, the report noted bloodshot, watery eyes, and the smell of alcohol coming from his facial area.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

Law enforcement in Houston has made a strong effort to stem prostitution in recent years. In addition to more aggressive prosecution of prostitutes and Johns alike, the police have also stepped up their efforts to increase arrests so police departments can receive federal grant money. One of the tactics they rely on is known as a sting operation. Police need arrest numbers to justify the federal grant money law enforcement will receive. Police will scoff at the notion of a quota-based system, but receiving grant money is specifically based upon performance, i.e., arrest numbers.

To meet these performance-based arrests numbers, police engage in sting operations that are a deceptive trap set up to capture both prostitutes and those who solicit them. But are they legal? Many of these stings result in mass arrests over the course of several days. But does the use of deception in these operations result in entrapment? After all, entrapment is one of the strongest defenses in a Houston prostitution case. Below, we discuss when these sting operations cross the line into illegal entrapment. Many unwitting citizens looking for a companion find themselves the victim of a law enforcement entrapment scheme when all they were searching for was a legal massage.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

In a previous blog post, we discussed the potentially exculpatory evidence that might be contained in police body camera footage. However, this is not the only type of video evidence that could be useful in your driving while intoxicated (DWI) case.

While many DWI stops take place on the side of a quiet road or residential street, many of these interactions occur in front of busy commercial businesses. In fact, it is not uncommon for drivers to pull over into the parking lot of a business during a traffic stop. When the stop or ensuing field sobriety tests occur at or near a private business, it is possible that security cameras recorded the entire incident.

While this footage could be important to your case, obtaining it is not as straightforward as asking the prosecutor for a copy. In many cases, the police may not even be aware the video exists. An experienced DWI defense attorney could not only help uncover this video but obtain it on your behalf.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

As we have discussed previously, Texas is one of only a handful of states that does not legally permit the police to set up checkpoints to screen for drunken drivers. While most states allow the police to operate these checkpoints if they meet certain conditions, the practice is barred entirely in Texas. That does not mean all forms of checkpoints are illegal.

While state law prevents the police from operating random checkpoints for the purpose of investigating criminal acts, it does allow checkpoints for noncriminal reasons. One of those reasons is for public health emergencies like the current COVID-19 pandemic. While these checkpoints may not intentionally target criminal activity, it does not mean the police are barred from making an arrest if they find probable cause that a crime was committed during the course of the checkpoint.

Current Public Health Checkpoints throughout Texas

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Texas has begun operating routine checkpoints on state highways. These checkpoints are part of an effort to screen drivers entering Texas from Louisiana that could have the virus. Any drivers entering the state from Louisiana are required by order of the Governor to quarantine for 14 days upon entry into the state. During these checkpoints, the police will also require motorists to complete paperwork that provides details about where in Texas the driver will quarantine themselves.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

Following suit with jails across the country, Harris County is taking steps to release a large number of non-violent offenders due to the risk COVID-19 spreading in the jail. Not all non-violent offenders will be released, including some individuals convicted of driving while intoxicated.

On March 31, 2020, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that approximately 1,000 inmates will be released from the Harris County Jail. According to Hidalgo, this drastic action is needed to ensure social distancing within the facility. Due to crowded conditions, Hidalgo claimed that the jail was a "ticking time bomb" for a coronavirus outbreak.

The process was thrown into confusion on Friday, April 3rd, when a judge ordered a halt to the releases. It remains to be seen if further releases will continue.

Cases of Coronavirus in the Jail

This action transpired after a Harris County inmate tested positive for COVID-19 in March. The inmate, along with two dozen others who showed symptoms, was quarantined within the jail. An additional 1,000 inmates that show no symptoms but have had contact with someone who has have also been quarantined. In total, there are 8,000 inmates in the Harris County Jail.

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 Posted on April 04, 2020 in Uncategorized

When it comes to investigating a charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI), the power of the police is not unlimited. They cannot simply pull over a car on a hunch that the driver is intoxicated. That does not mean the police cannot take aggressive steps to pursue drivers they believe are intoxicated.

Some police officers are known to target bars and entertainment venues in an effort to target impaired drivers. These officers will wait outside of a specific venue, follow patrons that leave the bar, and look for a reason to pull them over.

To some people, this might seem unfair. To others, it might even appear like entrapment. According to the law, however, the police are within their right to patrol near these venues. That does not mean witnessing a driver leaving a bar is enough for the police to pull a driver over, however.

Why Entrapment Does Not Apply

There is a common misconception that entrapment involves a police officer "trapping" a citizen committing a crime. However, entrapment only occurs when the police induce a person to commit a crime. In the case of DWI, a police officer would either have to induce the person to become impaired or operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

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