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.

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!

Jalen Larson Mays was nearby an equipment storage facility when the structure went ablaze. The flames licked the structure and charred the equipment that was stored inside, bringing on thousands of dollars in damages. As Jalen walked away, a witness noticed his nonchalant actions and reported the fire to 911. This observer then targeted Jalen as an arsonist because he did not seem, to be affected by the fire and didn’t intend to call emergency help. The witness told the 911 dispatcher what Mays looked like and explained that there was a possibility that he set the fire.

Yet investigators have contradicted the witness’ suspicions, saying that the fire was a fluke incident that was caused by an open flame that ignited combustibles. They believe that this open flame could have come from anywhere. The fire ruined sports equipment that was used by up to 2,500 kids in community sports in the Houston area. Mays was caught by police after the blaze was put out, and arrested because he had the same description and clothing as the witness had described.

The 19-year-old was charged with arson. He had paint oxidation marks on both shoulders that matched the exterior wall of the structure, and he was carrying a lighter in his pocket. The sports league says that they did not have insurance on the building and are soliciting donations to rebuild and replace the structure and the items that were inside. If you have been charged with arson like Mays, we understand that all evidence may point to you and the situation may seem hopeless. Yet with a trustworthy and accomplished lawyer, you may be able to reduce your charges or lessen your sentence. Without the right evidence, you may be able to get your case thrown out altogether. Hire a lawyer who is respected in the courtroom! Get help from an attorney at the Martinez Law Firm today for legal aid!

While most children are well-behaved at an early age, a Corpus Christi youth has received charges for beating his mother. According to an article by the Associated Press, the boy used a hammer to repeatedly injure his mother. The 13-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence. The article stated that he remains in
juvenile custody and that the mother suffered head, arm, and facial injuries. Officials say that the incident happened when the boy and this mother got into an accident. The boy apparently fled the scene but later returned and hid under the bed with a hammer. There has been nothing forthcoming about the nature of their argument.

The article and the reports were unclear of whether the boy was charged as an adult or a juvenile. In past cases, it is usually understood that a juvenile may be tried as an adult if he or she is 14 or older when committing certain crimes. Because the boy in the above situation is only 13-years-old it is likely he will be tried as a juvenile. His crime can still carry significant penalties due to determinate sentencing. This can drastically change the way a penalty is handled. Aggravated assault is one of the crimes that can be acted upon with determinate sentencing. The juvenile can be committed to the Texas Youth Commission with a possible transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for up to 40 years.

The boy’s charges are considered under state adult law as a felony of the first degree. There are obviously many conditions to consider when your child has been convicted of a crime. It can be quite a stressful experience especially if significant harm was done. We strongly recommend you to contact an attorney in this situation. The legal team at the Martinez Law Firm can help you and your child reviews the charges to determine the best course of action.

One of the biggest challenges as a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney is defending a sexual assault case. The reason being is when picking a jury for this type of case most people are uncomfortable with the issues that are going to be discussed.
Additionally, when picking a jury there are always a few people that have
been victims of sexual assault or have a family member that has been a victim.

When discussing this issue publicly the person becomes highly emotional
putting me in an awkward position and potentially “poisoning”
the rest of the jury panel. Fortunately, they recognize that they will
not be a “fair” jury in this type of case. At the end of the
day, picking a jury is a misnomer. What really happens is that people
are disqualified for different reasons and the first twelve that are not
excluded or “struck” by the prosecutor and me are the ones that
get to sit as a jury.

For example, last week I was picking a jury that went to the last person
on the panel to become jurors because so many of the jury panel members
had issues with this type of case.

If you have been charged with sexual assault in Houston,
call my office immediately for the representation you need!