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
One phone call—and suddenly your child faces criminal charges.
Now you’re not just worried about what happened. You’re worried about what happens next.
The record. The school. The scholarships. The opportunities that can quietly disappear after one bad night.
And while most parents are still trying to process everything, police and prosecutors are already building the case.
At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, we represent parents who are terrified that one mistake, one accusation, or one night with the wrong crowd is about to change their child’s entire future.
Our Dallas criminal defense attorney move quickly to protect your child’s rights, control the damage early, and fight to keep one moment from defining the rest of their life.
Schedule your free consultation with our Dallas juvenile defense lawyers today and take the first step toward protecting your child’s future.
The first 48 hours are not just about figuring out what happened. They can affect whether your child comes home, what the judge sees first, and how hard the case becomes to undo.
While you are still trying to get answers, your child may already be questioned, processed at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, reviewed by intake officers, and scheduled for a detention hearing.
Here is what matters most right now.
Tell your child to say:
“I want to speak with my attorney.”
Then they should stop talking.
Most kids do not talk because they are trying to hide something. They talk because they are scared. They apologize. They try to explain. They say things like, “I didn’t mean to,” “I was just mad,” or “I was only there because my friend told me to come.”
That may sound harmless in the moment. Later, it can become the sentence prosecutors build around.
If the incident happened at school, your child may have already spoken to a school resource officer, principal, teacher, or administrator before you were called. Write down who spoke to your child, when it happened, and what your child remembers saying.
After arrest, intake officers may review the accusation, school behavior, prior history, home stability, and whether your child should be released or held for a detention hearing.
This part is easy for parents to underestimate.
A quiet child can be written up as “uncooperative.”
A crying child can be seen as unstable.
A child trying to explain can accidentally give the state more evidence.
A parent who says, “He’s been acting out lately,” may think they are being honest — but that detail can be used to make the child look like a supervision risk.
Your goal is not to overshare. Your goal is to give the court the right context: stable home, involved parent, school ties, supervision plan, and reasons your child can safely come home.
A detention hearing can happen within 24 to 48 hours.
This hearing may decide whether your child goes home or stays in detention while the case moves forward.
Most parents walk in ready to say:
“My child is a good kid.”
That may be true, but judges usually need more than that. Bring proof that your child has structure, support, and something to return to:
Do not delete anything. Do not let your child delete anything. Even messy context can be useful if an attorney sees it before the prosecution does.
Parents often cooperate because they think it will make the case go away.
That instinct is understandable. It can also be dangerous.
The biggest mistakes are:
“We’ll just explain everything.”
Your child’s explanation may become evidence.
“It’s juvenile court, so it won’t be that serious.”
Juvenile cases can still affect school, probation, detention, record sealing, college, jobs, military options, and future background checks.
“We’ll get a lawyer after the hearing.”
By then, intake may have written its report, the judge may already have a first impression, and your child may already be sitting in detention.
This is not only about whether your child “gets in trouble.”
In the first few days, the system may start deciding whether your child is cooperative or defiant, whether your home is stable enough for release, whether your child is a risk, and whether detention is necessary.
That is why the first 48 hours matter. Not because every case is decided immediately, but because the first version of your child’s case can start forming before anyone has heard the full story.
A juvenile case doesn’t always end when court does.
One charge can affect your child’s education, future opportunities, freedom, and permanent record for years to come.
The earlier you understand the risks, the more options you may still have to protect their future.
| Consequence Type | Description | Long-term Impact |
| TJJD Detention | Placement in state juvenile facilities | Disrupted education, family separation |
| Adult Certification | Trial as adult for serious felonies | Adult criminal record, prison sentences |
| Probation | Court supervision with strict conditions | Limited freedom, risk of violation |
| Community Service | Required volunteer hours | Time away from school/activities |
| Restitution | Payment for damages or losses | Financial burden on families |
| Record Impact | Permanent juvenile record | Barriers to college, employment, military |
Juvenile detention is not just “time away.” It can interrupt the exact years your child is supposed to be building stability, confidence, friendships, school progress, and a sense of who they are.
A placement can pull them out of their normal routine and place them inside a system where every decision is monitored, every mistake can create more consequences, and getting back to normal life may not be simple.
For many parents, the fear is not only where their child may be sent. It is what happens to them emotionally, socially, and academically while they are there.
That is why early defense matters. The goal is not only to respond to the charge, but to fight for the outcome that keeps your child closest to their future.
The most frightening turn in a juvenile case is when the system stops treating your child like a child.
In serious cases, prosecutors may try to move the case into adult court. That shift can change everything: the penalties, the pressure, the long-term record, and the way your child is viewed by the court.
Suddenly, a teenager is no longer facing a process built around rehabilitation. They may be facing adult consequences before they have even had the chance to grow out of one reckless decision, bad influence, or misunderstood situation.
Parents cannot afford to wait and “see what happens” when adult certification may be on the table. The earlier an attorney steps in, the more time there is to challenge the direction of the case before it hardens.
The damage from a juvenile case does not always show up all at once. Sometimes it shows up later, when your child is trying to move forward.
A school application. A scholarship review. A background check. A military opportunity. A professional license. A job interview. One juvenile conviction can become the thing your child has to keep explaining long after everyone else has moved on.
That is what makes these cases so dangerous. The punishment is not always limited to court orders, probation, or detention. It can quietly follow your child into the rooms where their future is being decided.
A strong defense is about more than avoiding penalties today. It is about protecting the doors your child has not even tried to open yet.
A juvenile case does not always begin with something parents recognize as a “crime.”
It may start with a school fight, a dare from friends, a vape pen in a backpack, a fake ID, or one bad decision that suddenly becomes a police report, a court date, and a threat to your child’s future.
At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, we defend children and teens facing the full range of juvenile charges in Dallas — from lower-level allegations that can still leave a lasting mark to serious offenses that may put detention or adult certification on the table.
Below are some of the situations we see most often, and why even charges that sound minor should not be brushed off.
Theft and shoplifting cases often turn on intent — not just whether your child left a store with unpaid merchandise.
A dare, a group situation, switched price tags, self-checkout confusion, or a panicked decision can all look the same on a police report once the store decides to press charges.
We examine whether the state can actually prove a theft offense, not just point to a bad moment and call it criminal intent — the same issue our Dallas Theft Offenses Defense Attorney looks for in adult cases.
A broken window, spray paint on a wall, or damage caused during a group prank can become more serious than parents expect because criminal mischief charges often rise or fall on the claimed cost of the damage.
Property owners may estimate full replacement when a repair would cost far less, and that number can affect whether the case is treated as a minor offense or something much more serious.
Our Criminal Mischief Lawyer Dallas looks closely at what was actually damaged, who caused it, and whether the amount being claimed is really supported by the evidence..
Parents often assume the real danger starts only when a teenager is drunk. In Texas, it can start much earlier.
A minor can face alcohol charges for simply having alcohol under their control, and if they are driving, any detectable amount can be enough for a DUI — even if they are nowhere near the adult legal limit.
Our Dallas DWI Defense Lawyer team looks closely at how police found the alcohol, whether your child actually possessed it, and whether the stop, testing, and charge itself hold up.
A fake ID case can be more serious than “my child tried to get into a bar.” In Texas, using someone else’s real license, carrying an altered ID, or presenting a fake one can lead to different charges — and prosecutors may try to turn what looks like a teenage mistake into allegations involving fraud or tampering with a government record.
Our Dallas Fake ID Lawyer team looks at exactly what the ID was, how it was used, and whether the state is trying to make the case sound bigger than the facts support.
Drug cases are often less clear-cut than they first sound.
If marijuana, pills, or a THC vape is found in a backpack, car, locker, or group setting, prosecutors still have to prove your child knew it was there and had control over it — not just that they were nearby when it was found.
Our Dallas Drug Defense Lawyer team looks closely at the search, who actually possessed the substance, and whether the state is trying to turn proximity into proof.
Juvenile violent crime cases often begin with conduct parents think of as a fight — pushing, self-defense, or a chaotic group altercation, but police may charge it as assault once they get involved.
Our Dallas Violent Crime Lawyer team looks at who started the confrontation, whether your child was defending themselves, what the injuries actually show, and whether prosecutors are turning a teenage conflict into something the evidence does not support.
Few juvenile accusations change how a child is seen faster than a sex offense allegation.
These cases can involve inappropriate touching, sexting, age-gap relationships, or accusations that arise after a breakup or school conflict — and prosecutors may focus heavily on messages, photos, witness accounts, age, and consent issues.
Our Dallas Sex Crimes Defense Attorney team moves carefully and quickly to examine the full context before one allegation becomes your child’s identity.
Status offenses are cases only minors can face because the behavior is illegal solely due to the child’s age.
Missing school, running away, or breaking curfew would not be crimes if an adult did them, but for a child, they can still lead to court involvement and deeper supervision by the juvenile system.
These cases often signal that something more is going on at home, at school, or in the child’s life, but the court may still focus on repeated absences, prior interventions, supervision at home, and whether the child is complying with orders. We work to keep a status offense from becoming the first step into a system that is hard for families to get out of.
Contact our team to discuss your child’s specific charges and potential defenses during your free consultation.
We do not start by asking what deal the prosecutor might offer. We start by asking what parts of the case should never survive scrutiny in the first place.
In juvenile cases, that can mean a school fight turned into an assault charge, a child’s panicked explanation treated like a confession, a group accusation no one bothered to untangle, or evidence gathered through a search that should never have happened.
Our Dallas juvenile lawyers look for the cracks early — in the proof, the witnesses, the procedure, and the way the state is trying to frame your child — then use those weaknesses to fight for the cleanest possible way out.
Not every bad decision is proof of criminal intent. In juvenile cases, prosecutors may try to turn a prank, misunderstanding, dare, emotional reaction, or split-second choice into a charge that makes your child look deliberate and dangerous.
We look closely at what your child actually meant to do, what they understood in the moment, and whether the state can prove the required intent behind the accusation. If the case depends more on assumption than proof, we use that weakness to fight for dismissal, reduction, diversion, or a cleaner outcome.
Juvenile cases often move fast because adults believe the first version they hear. A teacher, officer, store employee, or another student may identify your child based on a blurry video, a group accusation, matching clothing, social media rumors, or someone trying to shift blame.
We compare the accusation against the timeline, video, messages, witness statements, and physical evidence to see whether the state can actually prove it was your child — not just assume they were involved because they were nearby, knew the wrong people, or got named first.
A juvenile charge can look very different once you ask who was really leading the situation. Children may go along with older teens, stronger personalities, threats, dares, group pressure, or fear of being embarrassed — then end up blamed as if they planned the whole thing themselves.
We look at the group dynamic, messages, witness accounts, age differences, prior conflicts, and who actually made the decisions. If your child was pressured, threatened, or pulled into something they did not start, we use that context to challenge how prosecutors are framing their role.
A fight on paper can look very different from what actually happened in the hallway, classroom, parking lot, or group chat before it started. A child who pushed back, threw a punch, or grabbed something during a chaotic moment may have been reacting to threats, bullying, being cornered, or trying to protect themselves or someone else.
We look at who started the confrontation, what happened before the first punch, whether your child had a reason to feel threatened, and whether the injuries match the story being told. If prosecutors are treating your child as the aggressor without showing the full context, we use that context to challenge the charge.
We listen to both parents and minors during initial consultations, knowing that juvenile cases affect entire families. Our confidential meetings allow honest discussion of circumstances without fear of disclosure.
Our North Texas juvenile defense experience spans all counties, giving us unique insight into local court procedures and judge preferences.
💼 A family-centered defense model—listening to both parents and minors—creates stronger case narratives that align with the court’s interest in protecting children’s welfare.
We immediately review police reports, social study recommendations and mental health evaluations, home environment assessments, and school records.
Before trial, we explore diversion programs that avoid formal convictions, deferred prosecution agreements, community service alternatives, and counseling options.
When negotiations fail, we aggressively defend juveniles in court, challenging evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and presenting compelling defenses.
One of the greatest benefits of successful juvenile defense is our ability to seal your child’s record, ensuring that youthful mistakes don’t follow them into adulthood. The key is avoiding juvenile detention through negotiated settlements.
When we can resolve cases without institutional placement, we can almost always secure record sealing.
Record sealing restricts access to juvenile records, while record expungement completely destroys them. Texas Family Code Chapter 58 governs these processes, with requirements varying based on successful probation completion, offense severity, and age at time of offense.
💡 Record sealing ensures that a child’s mistake doesn’t become a permanent barrier, allowing them to pursue higher education, employment, and housing without the weight of stigma.
Sealed records restore access to college admissions and financial aid, employment opportunities, professional licensing, military service, and housing applications.
Hypothetical scenario: A juvenile convicted of theft at 16 successfully completes probation and seals their record. At 22, they can honestly answer “no” when employers ask about criminal history.
Dallas juvenile cases move fast, and the early decisions are not just procedural. Intake, detention hearings, release conditions, diversion eligibility, and prosecutor review can all shape where the case goes next.
Our team understands how Dallas County courts evaluate juvenile cases, what judges need to see before releasing a child, and how prosecutors may try to frame a young person as a risk before the full story is known.
That local experience helps us step in with the right arguments, the right documents, and the right strategy before the case starts moving in the wrong direction.
A juvenile case should not be treated like a smaller case just because the client is young.
Richard C. McConathy has spent more than 35 years defending people accused of crimes in Texas. Our firm has handled over 6,000 criminal cases and secured more than 1,000 dismissals.
That matters in juvenile court because the state still has to prove its case. We bring the same pressure, preparation, and evidence-focused defense used in serious adult criminal cases to protect children facing charges that can affect their future.
Parents should not have to wonder whether their child’s lawyer is learning the system while their child’s future is on the line.
Richard C. McConathy has been recognized throughout the Texas criminal defense community, including serving as a former Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Criminal Law Section.
That kind of experience matters when a juvenile case involves serious allegations, detention risk, adult certification concerns, or a prosecutor pushing for an outcome that could follow your child for years.
Juvenile defense is personal. Parents are scared. Children are overwhelmed. And families often feel like the system is moving faster than they can process.
We explain what is happening, what each decision means, and what risks need to be taken seriously. But our compassion does not mean we go soft on the case.
We support your family while challenging the evidence, the assumptions, and any attempt to turn one accusation into the defining story of your child’s life.
When your child is in trouble, silence from a lawyer can feel almost as stressful as the charge itself.
When you call the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, the first goal is simple: help you understand where your child stands, what happens next, and what needs to be handled first.
Parents usually call us scared, angry, confused, or trying not to panic. You may not know what your child said, whether they are coming home, what the school knows, or how serious the charge really is.
Our job is to give you direction fast — then start building the defense.
When you call, you may have ten fears at once.
Is my child coming home?
Did they already say too much?
Will the school find out?
Is this going on their record?
Do we have court tomorrow?
We help you slow it down.
The first conversation is about finding the immediate danger point in the case — whether that is a detention hearing, a police statement, a school investigation, a no-contact order, a missed deadline, or a charge that is more serious than it first sounded.
You do not need to know what to ask. We know what to look for first.
Most parents are trying to help. That is exactly why they can get pressured into doing things that hurt the case.
You may feel like you should explain everything, make your child apologize, contact the school, delete embarrassing messages, talk to another parent, or cooperate fully so the court sees your family as “reasonable.”
Some of those instincts can backfire.
We tell you what not to say, what not to delete, what to preserve, and which conversations should wait until there is a strategy. The goal is to keep fear from creating evidence the state can use later.
Parents do not need false comfort. They also do not need someone making the case sound worse just to scare them.
We explain what the charge actually means, what the court may care about, and what risks are real in your child’s situation.
That may include detention, probation, school consequences, record issues, driver’s license problems, immigration concerns, college or scholarship concerns, or adult certification in serious cases.
You should leave the first conversation understanding what is urgent, what is manageable, and what we are going to fight.
A police report can make your child look like the worst moment of their life.
It may not show the pressure from friends, the bullying before the fight, the panic during questioning, the missing video, the confusing group situation, the mental health context, or the fact that your child has a home, school life, family, and future outside this accusation.
We look for that missing context early.
Not to make excuses — but because the court needs the full picture before it decides what kind of child it thinks it is dealing with.
Juvenile cases can make parents feel like they are always one step behind.
A hearing gets scheduled. A condition gets added. The school calls. The prosecutor makes an offer. Your child gets scared, angry, or shuts down. Suddenly, every decision feels like it could affect their future.
We keep you informed about what is happening, what it means, and what decisions are coming next.
You should not have to chase your lawyer for basic answers while your child’s future is on the line.
One accusation should not get the power to define your child’s future.
At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, we move quickly to understand what happened, protect your child’s rights, challenge the state’s version of the case, and fight for the cleanest possible outcome.
If your child was arrested, questioned, or accused of a crime in Dallas, now is the time to act — before the case moves further without your family fully protected.
Contact us today at 972 528 0116 for immediate help from our Dallas juvenile defense team—available 24/7 to protect your child’s future.
Yes, but only in specific felony cases. In Texas, a child as young as 14 may face adult certification for the most serious offenses, including capital felonies, first-degree felonies, and aggravated controlled substance felonies; at 15 or older, other felonies may also qualify.
Adult certification is not automatic. The state must ask the juvenile court to transfer the case, and the judge must decide whether the child should be moved into adult criminal court. If that happens, the stakes change fast: adult prosecution, adult penalties, and a record that is much harder to contain.
A juvenile detention hearing is usually held quickly after a child is brought to detention. In Dallas County, the initial hearing must be held within 48 hours of a youth being brought to detention. The judge is not deciding guilt at this hearing — they are deciding whether your child goes home or stays detained while the case moves forward.
The court may look at the charge, school history, prior referrals, home supervision, safety concerns, and whether your child is likely to return to court. This is where parents need more than “my child is a good kid.” They need proof that home is stable, supervision is realistic, and detention is not necessary.
Many juvenile records in Texas can be sealed, but it does not always happen automatically. Eligibility depends on the charge, the outcome, whether court orders were completed, and whether your child has later criminal history. Some records may not qualify, including cases involving adult certification or certain serious outcomes.
That is why record sealing should be part of the defense strategy from the beginning — not something families only think about after the case is already over.
Yes, parental attendance is typically required at all juvenile proceedings. Parents must accompany minors to hearings, sign legal documents, and ensure compliance with court orders.
Not necessarily. A statement can hurt, but it does not always end the case.
What matters is what your child said, who asked the questions, where the conversation happened, whether police were involved, and whether your child understood they could stop talking. A scared child may say “I’m sorry” or “I was there” without realizing how that can sound later in a report.
The next step is to stop more talking and write down what your child remembers while it is still fresh.
Not without legal guidance. An apology may feel like the right thing to do, but in a juvenile case it can be treated like an admission.
The same goes for parent-to-parent texts. A message meant to “clear things up” can be screenshotted, forwarded, and used later. Contact may also violate school rules, court conditions, or no-contact instructions.
Yes. The school side and the juvenile court side can move at the same time.
Your child may face suspension, alternative school placement, expulsion review, athletic consequences, or no-contact rules before the court case is resolved. The risk is that what your child says in a school meeting can also affect the juvenile case, especially if police, school resource officers, or alleged victims are involved.
Yes. A lawyer is not only for children who did nothing wrong.
Even when a child made a mistake, the outcome still matters. The defense may focus on keeping your child home, avoiding adult court, reducing the charge, protecting school and record consequences, negotiating better terms, or positioning the case for diversion or sealing later.
A guilty child still has a future. The question is whether the case is handled in a way that leaves them one.
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.
