HOUSTON CRIMES AND FALSE ARRESTS

houston crimes and false arrests explained by criminal defense attorney herman martinez

<span><p>In the city of Houston, crime is somewhat common. In data collected from 2011, there were 198 murders in the city of Houston, meaning that there were 9.2 murders per 100,000 individuals in the city. There were also 771 cases of rape that were reported that year, and 8,054 robberies. There were 765 cases of arson, which is the act of setting fire to buildings deliberately to cause damage. As well, there were 12,281 auto thefts and 11,869 reported cases of assault. The most common crime in the city of Houston in 2011 was theft in general, with 68,596 reported cases.</p>
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In 2010, there were more murders than in 2011, and there were less rape
cases. As well, there were more robberies, more
<a href=”/Criminal_Defense/Assault.aspx”>assaults</a>, more burglaries, more
<a href=”/Criminal_Defense/Theft_Crimes.aspx”>thefts</a>, more auto thefts and more
<a href=”/Criminal_Defense/Arson.aspx”>arson</a> cases. This shows that the Houston police department and other authorities
are working very hard to reduce the crime rate in this city. While this
is a noteworthy accomplishment, crime is a terrible thing, and the government continues to fight to reduce the numbers for this year and years to come. That means that sometimes law enforcement can be over-zealous to find offenders, and may falsely arrest Houston citizens.
</p>
<p>
If you have been charged with a crime, you want an aggressive
<a href=”/Attorney_Profile.aspx”>Houston criminal defense lawyer</a> such as Herman Martinez, on your side right away. Attorney Martinez is a former prosecutor who knows many individuals in the Houston court system and understands both sides of the law. He is more than willing to take on your case and help you work through the charges that you are currently dealing with. Don’t wait to get help, contact the firm right now and receive a <a href=”/Case_Evaluation.aspx”>free initial consultation</a> where you can discuss the details of your case confidentially. If you’re looking for the best criminal defense you can get, look no further.
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DEMANDING IDENTIFICATION FROM LOITERERS

loitering laws - herman martinez - houston criminal defense attorney

 

In many states, loitering is illegal. Loitering is typically the action of wandering from place to place without any apparent business. Normally, the court must prove that the accused posed some sort of threat to society or public safety in order to charge that person with the crime. If a police officer sees a person that is loitering, normally that officer can demand identification and an explanation of the persons’ personal activities. If the person fails to comply, then the officer can arrest him or her. Laws are very specific that an officer must have observed that an individual was loitering before asking for identification.

Many people argue that officers use loitering laws to clear neighborhoods of homeless or undesirable people who tend to congregate on the streets. Some courts believe that these laws are unconstitutional on the grounds that they are discriminatory against the poor people. The safest place to challenge the validity of a loitering law or loitering arrest is in the court room. You will want a hardworking Houston criminal defense attorney to assist you if you believe that you mistreated on the grounds of loitering and want to set the record straight.

With a Houston criminal defense lawyer from The Martinez Law Firm on your side, you may be able to show that your arrest was discriminatory, unconstitutional, or unwarranted. You may also be able to show that you were in a specific place for a specific reason. If you were not granted the right to remain silent during your arrest, and were taken into custody because you failed to answer an officer’s questions, then you can also argue that this is a violation of you Miranda Rights. Contact an attorney at The Martinez Law Firm to discuss your specific case in detail with a trusted professional!

ROAD RAGE CAR ACCIDENTS CAN LEAD TO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

Road rage is the act of driving angrily and aggressively without any regard to other motorists out on the road. Those who are struggling with road rage tend to speed, cut other off, tailgate, and do a variety of other dangerous or foolish acts. If a driver who is displaying road rage ends up in a fatal accident, then that man or woman can be arrested and may be charged with vehicular manslaughter. This is because the witnesses may be able to evidence that the driver was operating his or her vehicle with reckless intent.

If you have been arrested for vehicular manslaughter stemming from road rage, then you need to hire a local criminal defense attorney to help you combat your crimes. Without a hardworking lawyer on your side, you may be convicted of this serious crime and may eventually be jailed as a result. Even if you merely injured a person in a car accident due to road rage, it could still lead to a charge and a conviction for vehicular assault. This is especially true if you were angry at the driver and then bumped his or her car or facilitated an accident out of anger.

Many times, road rage accidents may be the result of a DWI. Some intoxicated individuals become excessively angry, and may even cause accidents as a way to vent their anger at drivers out on the road. Even a driver who does not have an illegal BAC above the 0.08% threshold can be arrested for this crime and charged with vehicular assault or manslaughter if the alcohol caused aggressive and irritable behavior. Those who are driving with a BAC above 0.08% may be arrested for dual crimes. Talk to a
Houston criminal defense attorney today if you want more information about how aggressive driving or road rage can affect a case and how to combat accusations.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEATH’S AT BIRTHDAY PARTY IN NORTH TEXAS

Recently, a domestic violence fight erupted at a girl’s 16th birthday that ended in the tragic death of both of her parents. According to KHOU, the parents began arguing as the party, and the argument escalated when a gun was pulled. The father, Kelly Suckla, shot his wife Kristi near the door of the home at about 10:00 p.m. After realizing what he had just done, the enraged father turned the gun on himself in the front yard and committed suicide. While the couple had been estranged for years, they were still married and were allegedly on amicable terms. Both had chosen to get together for their daughter’s birthday to make it a special day for her. Kristi allegedly moved into her parent’s home two months before her death and was hosting the Sweet 16 at this residency.

Neighbors were speechless when they heard about the shocking deaths. They say that this is relatively a quiet neighborhood that is full of families and laughter. The family members at the party were aware that both husband and wife would be at the party together, and the violence was not anticipated in the least. Family members who were there at the time of the death include the couple’s daughter and son. Though they did not witness the shooting, both children say that they hear the screams and the gunfire.

Tragically, this is not the only domestic violence murder that has taken place in Texas in recent years.

In fact, in recent days the number of murders has more than doubled. There were 26 murders related to a domestic argument in Dallas alone last year, which is saddening when there were only 10 the year before. The spike in abuse cases may be related to the unemployment levels in Texas. Many researchers say that when spouses aren’t employed it can be unhealthy for their relationships and may cause tension that can lead to abuse. In Texas, officers are now prioritizing domestic abuse cases above others to tackle this extreme and saddening problem.

If you have been accused of domestic violence, you may be facing serious sentences for your crime. If you need someone to advocate for you in court to prove your innocence, then The Martinez Law Firm may be the right firm for you.

ARSON AND MURDER: AN UNFOLDING CRIME STORY IN TEXAS

All across the United States, arson, the crime of setting property or items on fire, is considered a crime. Recently, a man was arrested in the Lubbock area when he allegedly set an apartment building on fire. The devastating fire caused the death of an elderly woman who was not able to evacuate before she was engulfed. The police took a 23-year-old suspect into custody and charged him with the murder of the woman inside the building.

The Lubbock Police Department claims that this criminal intentionally set the building on fire. The police thought the fire was suspicious when they realized that there were no product defects or kitchen fires that had caused the blaze. At the last report, the 23-year-old in custody was being held on a $3 million bond. The jail records show that the young man lives in an apartment where the fire broke out and that the blaze may have originated in his room. They think that it may have been purposeful. It is still not certain whether or not the elderly woman who perished in the fire lived alone. Her name has been kept from the press in order to preserve her family’s privacy.

Arson and murder are two serious felonies that can come with exorbitant charges. In Texas, the courts have upheld capital punishment, so murder can even cause a death sentence. If this happens, then the defendant will want an incredibly talented and hardworking attorney on his or her side. Because violent crimes are taken seriously in Texas, you will want a lawyer who is unwavering in his resolve to defend you. You need someone that you can rely on, and someone that you can be sure will be there for you every step of the way. At The Martinez Law Firm, you can trust an attorney to come alongside you and advocate for your best interests.

ROBBER NEARLY GETS AWAY WITH CRIME UNTIL HE SHOOTS HIMSELF

 

In Harris County Texas, in May of 2011, a young man was close to getting away with his well-thought-out crime of robbery, until he shot himself. Investigators share that they believe he would have actually been able to make an escape had he not incapacitated himself by way of shooting himself after the hold-up. Twenty-year-old Kerney Devon Benson-Flowers now is facing charges for felony aggravated robbery for his actions.

According to a criminal report filing by a witness motorist stating that he and his friend were sitting in a vehicle on Sapphire Mist Court close to the North Freeway at the time they say Flowers and another individual approaching. They were driving in a large Dodge Ram truck and then soon parked in the neighborhood cull-de-sc. Within moments the witnesses saw two men with ski masks covering their faces and armed with weapons, approaching their vehicle. At this point, they demanded their wallets, and in fear of being killed they handed them over to the criminals without hesitation.

The witnesses state that the following turn of events was anything from normal because as the two robbers were running away back to their truck, there was a gunshot and a loud scream. Flowers was the individual who accidentally shot himself, though it is uncertain how severe the injuries were at the time. These two men did escape at the time, and little did they know that month’s later one of them would be pinned back to the crime. After the police conducted investigations from the scene of the robbery and single gunshot, they were able to find traces of blood as well as bullet fragments. Police sent these findings off to the crime lab for testing and in October the reports came backlinking the crime to Flowers.

Local Deputy Thomas Gilland, with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, states that this incident just proves again that criminals think they can get away with their crimes, and he discusses that now a day’s law enforcement has the needed technology to link criminals to their actions making it harder for them to get away with it. According to police reports, Flowers had already spent three years of his life in prison for a theft conviction and was just recently released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Robbery charges can result in severe consequences with the law if an individual is convicted, especially in the case of Flowers who have a previous record of theft convictions. Law enforcement officials will stop at nothing to take action against individuals who have broken the law, which is why hiring a criminal defense attorney is so essential. If you are facing similar charges for theft or any other criminal offense, contact
The Martinez Law Firm today for the
Houston criminal defense attorney that you deserve!