Principal Office
15110 Dallas Pkwy #400
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 233-5700
15110 Dallas Pkwy #400
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 233-5700
Years Defending Texans
Cases Dismissed
Criminal Cases Handled
Counties Served Across Texas
Available | Serving All of Texas
Being charged with a violent crime in Texas carries devastating consequences that can destroy your future. Prison sentences spanning decades, permanent felony records, and the loss of fundamental rights await those who don’t mount an aggressive defense. At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, our Arlington violent crimes attorneys understand the gravity of these charges and fight relentlessly to protect our clients’ freedom.
Our legal team brings over 35 years of combined experience defending violent crime cases in Tarrant County courts. Led by an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Arlington, we use deep local knowledge to develop strategic, effective defenses.
📞 Contact our Arlington violent crimes attorneys today at (972) 528-0478 for a confidential consultation. Your freedom depends on acting quickly.
Under Texas law, violent crimes involve the intentional use or threatened use of physical force against another person. Common violent crimes include:
Penalties depend on factors like weapon involvement, extent of injuries, victim’s relationship to defendant, and prior criminal history. Even seemingly minor altercations can escalate to felony charges with life-altering consequences.
Texas law distinguishes between simple assault and more serious forms of violence. Simple assault occurs when someone intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury, threatens imminent harm, or makes unwanted physical contact.
Charges escalate to felonies when involving:
Class A misdemeanor assault carries up to one year in jail and $4,000 in fines. Our Arlington assault defense attorneys examine every detail, seeking weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence.
Aggravated assault represents one of the most serious violent crime charges in Texas. This second-degree felony involves causing serious bodily injury or using a deadly weapon during an assault. Convictions carry 2 to 20 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
The prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that you:
Self-defense, defense of others, and lack of intent provide viable defenses against aggravated assault charges. Our legal team investigates every angle to protect your rights.
Family violence cases receive special treatment in Texas courts. These charges involve assault against current or former spouses, dating partners, family members, or household residents. Beyond criminal penalties, defendants face:
Texas courts often issue emergency protective orders immediately after arrest. These orders can force you from your home and limit contact with your children.
Robbery differs from simple theft by involving force or intimidation. Texas defines robbery as intentionally causing bodily injury while committing theft, or threatening someone with imminent harm.
Aggravated robbery becomes a first-degree felony when defendants:
First-degree felony convictions carry 5 to 99 years or life imprisonment plus up to $10,000 in fines.
Tarrant County Robbery Statistics (2023)
| Charge Type | Cases Filed | Conviction Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Robbery | 284 | 73% |
| Aggravated Robbery | 156 | 81% |
| Armed Robbery | 89 | 85% |
Source: Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office Annual Report
Homicide charges represent the ultimate stakes in criminal defense. Texas recognizes several forms:
Capital murder cases may result in the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. First-degree murder carries 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
If you’ve been charged with homicide in Arlington, contact us immediately at (972) 528-0478. These cases require immediate legal intervention.
Texas has complex laws governing firearm possession and use. Weapon-related violent crimes often involve unlawful carrying in prohibited locations, felon in possession charges, or deadly conduct. Federal authorities frequently prosecute weapon charges alongside state violent crime cases, creating additional penalties.
Kidnapping charges arise when someone intentionally restraints another person by restricting movement without consent. Even brief restraint during other crimes can result in additional felony charges. For example, preventing someone from leaving during a domestic dispute may constitute unlawful restraint.
If arrested in Arlington, you’ll likely be processed at the Arlington Police Department (620 W Division St, Arlington, TX 76011) before being transported to Tarrant County Jail (100 N Lamar St, Fort Worth, TX 76196). The booking process typically takes 4-8 hours depending on jail capacity.
Your actions immediately after arrest significantly impact your case outcome. Follow these essential steps:
Remain Silent Exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Police officers are trained to extract incriminating statements through seemingly casual conversation. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.
Refuse Searches and Statements Never consent to vehicle, home, or personal searches without a warrant. Politely but firmly state: “I do not consent to any searches.” Don’t provide written or recorded statements without legal representation.
Contact an Attorney Immediately The sooner you involve experienced legal counsel, the better your chances of a favorable outcome. Our experienced Arlington criminal defense attorney team provides immediate consultation and begins investigating your case right away.
Don’t Discuss Your Case Avoid discussing your arrest or charges with friends, family, or cellmates. Prosecutors can subpoena anyone you’ve spoken with about the case.
Arlington Municipal Court (currently at 101 S Mesquite St in the City Tower building) handles Class C misdemeanor cases. For more serious violent crimes, you’ll appear at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center (401 W Belknap St, Fort Worth, TX 76196), which houses all Tarrant County criminal courts.
Arraignment Process:
Parking and Access:
What to Bring:
Bond amounts for violent crimes vary significantly based on charge severity, criminal history, and flight risk assessment:
| Charge Type | Typical Bond Range | Enhanced Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Assault | $1,000 – $5,000 | Family violence: +50% |
| Aggravated Assault | $10,000 – $50,000 | Deadly weapon: +100% |
| Robbery | $25,000 – $100,000 | Prior felonies: +200% |
| Murder | $100,000 – $1,000,000 | Capital charges: No bond |
🏛️ Bond Processing Locations:
⏰ Release Timeline:
Many violent crime arrests in Arlington occur near major venues:
Our attorneys understand how crowd dynamics, alcohol consumption, and heightened emotions at these venues can escalate minor disagreements into serious criminal charges. We’ve successfully defended numerous clients arrested near Arlington’s entertainment venues.
Our legal team conducts thorough investigations examining police reports for inconsistencies, interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence including forensics and surveillance footage, and assessing constitutional violations like illegal searches or Miranda rights violations.
We develop customized defense strategies including self-defense claims, alibi defenses with corroborating evidence, mistaken identity arguments, and mental health defenses involving psychiatric evaluations.
Our attorneys leverage decades of experience seeking charge dismissals, reduced charges from felonies to misdemeanors, alternative sentencing including probation, and plea agreements minimizing long-term consequences.
When cases proceed to trial, our former prosecutors provide aggressive courtroom advocacy through strategic jury selection, compelling opening and closing arguments, effective cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, and expert witness testimony supporting defense theories.
Our firm has successfully defended thousands of criminal cases with numerous dismissals and not guilty verdicts. We bring decades of combined experience defending clients against violent crime charges in Tarrant County courts.
Richard C. McConathy served as a prosecutor before dedicating his career to criminal defense. This insider knowledge provides understanding of prosecution strategies, familiarity with local judges and prosecutors, knowledge of plea negotiation processes, and insight into jury selection and trial tactics.
As an Arlington-based law firm serving Tarrant County for over 35 years, we understand the local legal landscape through relationships with court personnel at Tim Curry Justice Center, experience with Arlington Police Department investigations, familiarity with Tarrant County prosecutors, knowledge of local judges across all 20 criminal courts, and understanding of community attitudes toward violent crimes.
Our legal team includes experienced criminal defense attorneys, investigators, and support staff dedicated to protecting your rights with Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist credentials, 35+ years combined experience, extensive trial experience, and 24/7 availability for emergency consultations.
Texas violent crime penalties are among the harshest in the nation. Understanding potential consequences emphasizes the importance of aggressive legal representation:
| Classification | Prison Term | Maximum Fine | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-Degree Felony | 2-10 years | $10,000 | Aggravated assault (certain circumstances) |
| Second-Degree Felony | 2-20 years | $10,000 | Aggravated assault with deadly weapon |
| First-Degree Felony | 5-99 years or life | $10,000 | Aggravated robbery, murder |
| Capital Felony | Life without parole or death | $10,000 | Capital murder |
Prior felony convictions significantly increase penalties: One prior felony increases minimum sentence to next higher category, while two prior felonies result in 25 years to life under habitual offender laws. Deadly weapon use can trigger additional punishment enhancements.
Beyond imprisonment and fines, violent crime convictions create lifelong consequences:
Loss of Civil Rights: Voting rights (restored after sentence completion), gun ownership and possession, jury service eligibility, and public office candidacy.
Employment and Housing Obstacles: Background check failures, professional license disqualification, security clearance denial, educational program exclusion, rental application rejections, public housing disqualification, and mortgage qualification challenges.
Texas law recognizes the right to defend yourself and others from unlawful force. Texas Penal Code Section 9.32 permits deadly force when reasonably believing it’s immediately necessary to protect against imminent threat of death, serious bodily injury, aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, robbery, or to prevent arson or burglary.
Our attorneys thoroughly investigate self-defense claims, gathering medical records, 911 call recordings, witness testimony, and expert testimony on reasonable force standards.
Many violent crimes require specific intent elements. Prosecutors must prove defendants intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly committed charged offenses. Challenges to intent include accident or mistake explanations, lack of premeditation in murder cases, and voluntary intoxication negating specific intent (limited applicability).
Eyewitness testimony proves notoriously unreliable, especially during stressful violent encounters. Our attorneys challenge identification through cross-racial identification studies, stress and lighting factors affecting perception, suggestive identification procedures by police, and alibi evidence placing defendants elsewhere.
Research shows eyewitness misidentification contributes to 69% of wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence. Source: National Registry of Exonerations
We investigate thoroughly to expose false accusations of violent crimes, protecting innocent defendants from wrongful conviction.
Police procedural violations can result in evidence suppression or case dismissal including illegal searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment), Miranda rights violations (Fifth Amendment), right to counsel denial (Sixth Amendment), and due process violations (Fourteenth Amendment).
Tarrant County prosecutors take violent crimes seriously, often seeking maximum penalties. However, experienced defense attorneys can negotiate favorable outcomes by:
Prosecutors typically build violent crime cases using:
Even strong prosecution cases may have negotiation opportunities:
Police investigations often continue for weeks or months before filing formal charges. During this period:
Felony cases require grand jury indictments before trial. Our attorneys can:
Violent crime charges threaten everything you’ve worked to build. Your freedom, family relationships, career prospects, and reputation hang in the balance. The prosecution has unlimited resources and experienced attorneys working against you – you need equally skilled legal representation fighting for your rights.
At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, we understand the stakes and fight aggressively for every client. Our 35+ years of combined experience, hundreds of case dismissals, and thorough understanding of Tarrant County courts provide you with the best possible defense.
Don’t wait – time is critical in violent crime cases. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and prosecution builds stronger cases with each passing day.
Call (972) 528-0478 now for a confidential consultation with an experienced Arlington violent crimes attorney. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your case and begin building your defense immediately.
Your future depends on the decisions you make today. Choose experienced, aggressive legal representation. Choose the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy.
We also have a location in Frisco, Dallas, and Fort-Worth.
Texas defines violent crimes as offenses involving the intentional use or threatened use of physical force against another person. This includes assault, aggravated assault, murder, robbery, domestic violence, and kidnapping. The severity depends on factors like weapon use, injury extent, and victim relationships.
Probation eligibility depends on specific charges and circumstances. First-time offenders facing lower-level violent crimes may qualify for probation, while repeat offenders or those charged with serious felonies face mandatory prison sentences. Our attorneys evaluate each case individually to determine available sentencing options.
Immediately contact an experienced criminal defense attorney and exercise your right to remain silent. Don’t attempt to “clear things up” with police, as statements can be taken out of context. Document your whereabouts during the alleged incident and preserve any evidence supporting your innocence.
Aggravated assault is a second-degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Convictions create permanent felony records affecting employment, housing, and civil rights. Enhanced punishments apply for defendants with prior felony convictions or when deadly weapons are used.
Yes, violent crime charges can be dismissed under various circumstances including insufficient evidence, constitutional violations, witness unavailability, or successful self-defense claims. Our attorneys thoroughly investigate each case seeking dismissal opportunities and negotiating with prosecutors for favorable resolutions.
Whether you're facing a felony charge or fighting a traffic ticket, every case deserves serious attention. Get an experienced defense team in your corner now.
