Legal Defense for a Texas Homicide Charge.

When it comes to criminal prosecutions, no charge in Texas is more serious than that of homicide. Those convicted of some homicide charges can face many years in prison, if not the rest of their lives, and in some circumstances, convicted defendants could face the death penalty. If you or someone you love is facing such a situation, you need to contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Frank A. Perez, P.C. today to get the process of building a strong defense started. In the meantime, below is a brief overview of the types of homicide charges in Texas.

A Texas Murder Charge:

The Texas statutes define murder as follows:

A person commits an offense if he:

• Intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual:
• Intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual; or
• Commits or attempts to commit a felony, other than manslaughter, and in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempt, or in immediate flight from the commission or attempt, he commits or attempts to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.

A first degree felony carries a potential penalty of 5 – 99 years in prison.

A Texas Capital Murder Charge:

Texas defines capital murder as follows:

• The person murders a peace officer or fireman who is acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty and who the person knows is a peace officer or fireman;
• The person intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or
  retaliation, or terroristic threat under Section 22.07(a)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6);
• The person commits the murder for remuneration or the promise of remuneration or employs another to commit the murder for remuneration or the promise of remuneration;
• The person commits the murder while escaping or attempting to escape from a penal institution;
• The person, while incarcerated in a penal institution, murders another…
• Capital murder is punishable by death.

Manslaughter

Texas defines manslaughter as:

• A person commits an offense if he recklessly causes the death of an individual.
• An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree.

Manslaughter can carry a penalty of between 2 – 20 years in prison.

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Texas’ definition of criminally negligent homicide is as follows:

• A person commits an offense if he causes the death of an individual by criminal negligence.
• An offense under this section is a state jail felony.

A state jail felony carries a sentence between 180 days – 2 years.

As you see, homicide charges are serious legal matters. If you face such a situation, contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Frank A. Perez, P.C. immediately to schedule an initial consultation.