Before making a decision about your deadly conduct charge, it is important to consider all of your defense options. It may seem like you’ve been charged with a small offense that can be easily combated alone. But Texas takes these charges very seriously – whether or not a weapon is involved. A plea bargain may also not be the best option for you. After all, this is the future you are thinking about.
Depending on the case, a charge of deadly conduct could result in a Class A misdemeanor or a third-degree felony. An experienced Dallas County defense attorney can evaluate your case and show you which options – like negotiations, pretrial intervention, and going to trial – would be the most effective in your case. Remember, the prosecution must prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. There are several strategies available to you with the right defense attorney.
Deadly Conduct Defense Lawyer in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, TX
Contact the [firm] if you have been charged with allegedly committing a violent crime in or around Dallas County. We represent clients in communities such as Irving, Richardson, and Decatur.
Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas.
Overview of Deadly Conduct Under Tex. Penal Code § 22.05
There are four main forms of deadly conduct in the state of Texas. It is a specific type of assault. It closely resembles reckless conduct in other states, but with more of a focus on firearms. The four types of deadly conduct are:
- Engaging in any activity that places another person in imminent danger of serious bodily injury with reckless disregard for their safety
- Discharging a firearm at or in the direction of a building or car with reckless disregard for whether or not it is occupied
- Pointing a gun at another individual whether or not it is loaded and with or without intent to fire
- Firing a firearm at or in the direction of another person with reckless disregard for their safety
The penalties for these offenses vary greatly depending on the involvement of weapons. An experienced criminal defense attorney could help navigate your case to a more appropriate or favorable outcome.
Penalties for Deadly Conduct Charges in Texas
Deadly conduct without a firearm is a Class A misdemeanor and if you are convicted could result in:
- $4,000 fine
- Up to a year of jail time and/or probation
- Participation in a diversion program related to incidents in your case
- Criminal offense on your record
- Driver’s license suspension
- Inability to pursue specific career paths
Deadly conduct with a firearm is a third-degree felony and if you are convicted could result in:
- $10,000 fine
- Up to 10 years of jail time and/or probation
- Participation in a probation-required diversion program
- Inability to pursue specific career paths
- Ineligibility to receive certain types of government assistance
- Ineligibility to own or possess a firearm
- Loss of ability to vote or hold public office
These penalties do not include any social consequences involved with the stigma of a conviction or subsequent jail time. However, a charge doesn’t necessarily have to end in a conviction. Contact an experienced Dallas County lawyer to discuss the options available for your case.
Section 22.06 of the Texas Penal Code provides some exceptions to deadly conduct charges. If we can prove any of the following elements, it may be possible to drop your charges and dismiss the case:
- No serious bodily injury was threatened or actually inflicted.
- The victim provided consent for you to commit the alleged conduct.
- The victim understood the conduct to be a risk of their occupation, a recognized medical treatment, or a legitimate scientific experiment.
Gang members are specifically prohibited from claiming consent as a defense. If you committed deadly conduct as part of a gang initiation or regular gang activities, you will be barred from raising this defense in court.
Additional Resources
Deadly Conduct | Texas Penal Code – The Texas Legislature provides an online version of Texas’s statutes, including the law governing deadly conduct. Visit this link to read the definition of the law and the penalties for committing this crime in Texas.
Crime in Texas | Ken Anderson – Crime in Texas is a book that provides a complete overview of Texas criminal law. Visit this link to read a short description of the evolution of the statute to cover drive-by shootings.
Find A Dallas County Defense Attorney for Deadly Conduct Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy
The state can charge you with deadly conduct for any action that could perceivably cause harm to another person present. The benefit to this kind of law is that there are as many defenses as possible charges.
Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas.