The Wright Firm's Weblog

Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty!

There was no shortage of surprise across the country as the verdict was read in Casey Anthony’s trial.  Anthony, the much maligned mother of the tragically deceased Caylee Anthony, was found not guilty of her daughter’s murder.  Supporters of Anthony who believed she was being framed for Caylee’s murder are in many ways as shocked by the verdict as detractors who believed her to be guilty.  Even though jurors had been imported from nearby Tampa Bay and sequestered for the entire proceedings, there was a collective sense surrounding the trial that Casey Anthony had already been convicted of the murder in the Court of Public Opinion.

Public opinion aside, in the Florida legal system a criminal defendant is presumed to be not guilty until he or she is proven guilty in a court of law.  Same goes (or is supposed to go) in any criminal court in the United States.  The “not guilty” verdict means that the 12 jurors found that the prosecution had not PROVEN that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter. 

Casey Anthony was found guilty by the jury of four counts of providing false information to police investigators.  She will face sentencing for those convictions Thursday morning.  She could be sentenced at most to four years in prison (one year for each count).

Are you facing your own legal battle in criminal court?  The Wright Firm is here to help!  Give us a call at (972) 353-4600 or check us out on the web at www.thewrightlawyers.com. 

 

Texas “No Refusal” Weekend

The standard rule in Texas, when it comes to drinking and driving, is that anyone driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is considered legally impaired and will be issued a DWI. Typically, when a driver is pulled over and the police suspect the driver has been drinking, the driver will be asked to perform several tasks, known collectively as a field sobriety test. In addition, the driver will be asked to take a breathalyzer. Generally, the driver will be allowed to refuse the breathalyzer but will be penalized for the refusal with a 180-day automatic suspension of driving privileges.

But, this weekend the State of Texas has implemented a “no refusal” weekend for the Fourth of July holiday. While several cities across the United States have implemented “no refusal” weekends in the past, Texas is the first state to issue a state-wide policy. Police officers attribute the “no refusal” mandate based on evidence that the Fourth of July weekend is the number one holiday for alcohol-related fatal crashes. Last year’s Fourth of July weekend produced a total of 337,000 car crashes in Texas alone.

The “no refusal” weekend begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 1, and ends at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5. Under this policy, anyone suspected of driving a car or boat while intoxicated and who refuses to take a breathalyzer will have a search warrant issued to them and their blood drawn. So a word to the wise – enjoy your holiday weekend but be smart, safe and don’t drink and drive.

For more information contact The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 (phones answered 24 hours a day) or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com.

 

What Every Mavs Parade Goer Should Know!

The City of Dallas will host a championship parade in downtown Dallas on June 16, 2011 in honor of the Dallas Mavericks NBA Championship. Most of us remember the disaster of the 1993 victory parade honoring the Dallas Cowboys after they won the Super Bowl. Violence erupted on every street corner. However, there will be a significant difference between the 1993 parade and the 2011 parade in that the security will be enhanced. Dallas Police Chief David Brown says uniformed and undercover officers will be out in large numbers, including police from nearby cities, and sheriffs from Dallas. Chief Brown warns if people head downtown seeking trouble, they will be dealt with and removed. 

If you happen to have a legal mishap(s) at the parade please seek the advice of an experienced attorney to help you through your legal woes. For more information contact The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 (phones answered 24 hours a day) or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com.

 

Mavs Parade: Be Careful of Public Intoxication!

Public Intoxication charges can happen to the best of us, just ask Deshawn Stevenson. Who is actually considered innocent until proven otherwise!  Simply put public intoxication in Texas means you are in a public place while intoxicated to the degree you may endanger yourself or someone else. Public Intoxication is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and usually requires 4-12 hours in jail at the time of the incident. While public intoxication is a Class C Misdemeanor it will have a significant impact on your record. A conviction could affect the way that police deal with you in the future. Every time you are pulled over police officers will see that you have a public intoxication conviction. A police officer will surely inspect you far more closely every time you are pulled over specifically to determine whether he/she thinks that you are driving while intoxicated. If you find yourself in this situation it is important that you hire an experienced attorney.

For more information contact The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 (phones answered 24 hours a day) or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com.

 

 

The Police Are At The Super Bowl: We Don't Mean The Band!

Former police officer and Wright Firm Attorney Victor Rivera offers the Super Bowl fans his insight on the police agencies at the Super Bowl.  The "Go Packers!" comment does not necessarily reflect the views of the firm and are solely his own. 

So you’re headed to the Super Bowl? Congratulations. Have fun but try to avoid the plethora of police officers that will be in attendance. Yes, Cowboys Stadium will be flooded with police officers from various different agencies. Why such a high level of security? Well that’s simple, the game and the number of spectators that will be present make it a potential target for terroristic activities and that’s the last thing anyone wants on such a fun day. According to Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, the Super Bowl is a level one security risk which means it is a top priority for local, state, and national security.

So what policing agencies will be in attendance on Sunday? Pretty much every North Texas police Department is helping out. In fact, over 60 police agencies will be in attendance. Let’s start with the obvious department, Arlington PD. They are in charge of the event and are also in charge of security, to a certain degree, since the stadium is located in Arlington. Then you have the big police departments of Fort Worth and Dallas lending a hand. But let’s not forget all the little departments that will be present, such as Irving, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, North Richland Hills, even the little town of Roanoke will be helping out, to name but a few. Did I also mention that the Texas Department of Public Safety will have their State Troopers there? And let’s not forget the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Officers who will be scattered throughout the premises looking for easy Public Intoxication arrests. (See my previous article about how a Public Intoxication arrest can severely affect your life). Last but not least, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will be in attendance representing the government’s interest in protecting this game.

So what do all these officers mean for a person simply trying to enjoy the game? First it means that you should be safe while partaking in the festivities. But it also means that while you can have fun you need to be careful about how much fun you actually have, especially when it comes to drinking. Please understand that although this game is in Arlington and that all Arlington officers can make an arrest because the stadium is within their jurisdiction, any other officer present will have that same power. Normally, a Fort Worth officer can only arrest a person in the City of Arlington for a felony conducted in his or her view. However, this special event is giving all officers present the power to make any arrest if necessary. Thus, if a Roanoke officer approaches you, don’t try to say, “You can’t do anything to me because you are out of your jurisdiction.” That just won’t fly this time around. So be extra cautious as to what you do or say to any of the officers present, especially to the Feds, or you may regret the outcome.

If you are arrested, you will be sent to a holding facility which will more than likely be at the Arlington City Jail. However, if the Arlington City Jail becomes overcrowded, there will be a back-up plan to have you held elsewhere. If you are arrested for Public Intoxication, get ready to spend at least four (4) hours in jail. If you get arrested for something more severe than P/I, Arlington will have a judge ready to do magistrations so that you can be shipped to the Tarrant County jail as quickly as possible. What is a magistration? Magistration is when a judge informs you of what you have been arrested for, the range of punishment for the crime, and what your rights are. Once that is done, the county jail can take you in as a prisoner. Don’t let that happen to you. Enjoy yourself but know your limitations. The Super Bowl will be crawling with officers, both in uniform and others undercover, so don’t get popped for having too much fun. Go Packers!

If you have questions on Texas criminal law, contact The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult for a lawyer regarding the specific facts of your own case.