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 arrested for a firearm or weapon offense starts with one decision by a police officer that can change your life. A traffic stop, a search, or a report from another person may quickly lead to criminal charges.
A Dallas Weapons Charges Lawyer protects your rights by challenging the evidence, examining how police obtained that evidence, and building a defense based on the facts and Texas law. A weapons charge does not automatically lead to a conviction, but every decision you make after an arrest matters.
Texas recognizes different weapon-related offenses. Some involve firearms. Others involve prohibited weapons, unlawful carrying allegations, or claims that a convicted felon possessed a firearm. Each offense carries different penalties, legal elements, and defense strategies.
A conviction may affect your freedom, employment, professional licensing, firearm rights, and future opportunities. The earlier a defense begins, the more opportunities exist to review police conduct, preserve evidence, and identify weaknesses in the State’s case.
Our office represents people facing weapons charges throughout Dallas County and surrounding North Texas courts. If you were arrested in Dallas, Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, or close communities, call 972-233-5700 or contact us online to speak with Richard McConathy about your Dallas County weapons charge.
Your call is confidential, and we are available 24/7.
At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, you work directly with attorney Richard C. McConathy. Our office has secured more than 1,000 dismissals across more than 6,000 criminal cases in North Texas.
Weapons charges involve constitutional issues, firearm laws, forensic evidence, and police procedures. We begin reviewing those issues immediately so we can identify opportunities to challenge the prosecution’s evidence as early as possible.
Whether your case involves unlawful carrying of a weapon, a felon in possession allegation, or another firearm offense, our goal is the same. We build a defense based on the facts, the evidence, and Texas law.
Richard C. McConathy remains actively involved throughout your case. You have the opportunity to discuss your charges, ask questions about court proceedings, and receive updates directly from the attorney handling your defense.
Richard C. McConathy has represented Texans accused of criminal offenses for over 35 years. During that time, he has defended clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges in courts throughout North Texas, including Dallas County.
That experience includes:
Every weapons case presents different legal issues. Our approach focuses on the facts of your case instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all strategy.
Weapons cases filed in Dallas County move through the Frank Crowley Courts Building, where local procedures, prosecutors, and scheduling practices shape the progress of every case.
Our office regularly represents clients whose cases proceed through Dallas County’s criminal justice system. Familiarity with local court procedures allows us to prepare efficiently while addressing issues that often arise in Dallas weapon prosecutions.
Every conversation with law enforcement and every court appearance carries consequences. Speaking with Richard C. McConathy early allows you to receive answers tailored to your case instead of relying on general information online.
Call (972) 233-5700 today to speak with our office, or complete our online contact form to begin discussing your defense with Richard C. McConathy.
A Dallas Weapons Charges Lawyer handles firearm offenses, prohibited weapon allegations, unlawful carrying cases, and other criminal charges involving weapons under Texas law.
The exact charge depends upon the type of weapon, where it was found, and the surrounding circumstances.
| Weapons Charge | What Prosecutors Must Generally Prove |
| Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon | The accused knowingly carried a handgun or prohibited weapon under circumstances prohibited by Texas law. |
| Felon in Possession of a Firearm | A person previously convicted of a felony possessed a firearm in violation of Texas law. |
Other allegations frequently include prohibited weapons and firearm possession connected to another alleged offense.
Firearm offenses include several different criminal allegations under Texas law. Prosecutors must prove every required legal element before obtaining a conviction.
Examples include:
Texas law prohibits possession of certain weapons unless a statutory exception applies.
These allegations may involve:
Traffic stops frequently lead to weapon charges. Officers discover firearms during consent searches, inventory searches, or probable cause searches.
Whether officers followed constitutional search requirements often becomes a major issue in these cases.
Weapons charges often appear alongside allegations involving drugs, assault, family violence, or robbery.
When multiple charges exist, every decision in one case may affect the others. Building a coordinated defense helps avoid unintended consequences across related criminal allegations.
Texas defines weapons offenses through several different criminal statutes. Each offense requires prosecutors to prove specific legal elements beyond a reasonable doubt before obtaining a conviction.
Several statutes frequently appear in Dallas weapon prosecutions:
A defense attorney begins by identifying which statute applies because every charge requires prosecutors to prove different facts.
A weapons charge does not automatically lead to a conviction because every case depends on the facts, evidence, and whether police followed the law. A defense begins by identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence instead of assuming the arrest itself proves guilt.
Texas prosecutors carry the burden of proving every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. If they fail to prove one required element, the charge may not result in a conviction.
The most common defenses in Dallas weapons cases include:
Many successful defenses begin with the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures.
If officers searched a vehicle, home, backpack, or person without legal authority, the court may suppress the evidence. Without that evidence, prosecutors may struggle to continue the case.
Police often arrest more than one person after finding a firearm inside a vehicle or residence.
Prosecutors must prove the weapon was yours or remained under your control. Mere presence near a firearm does not automatically establish possession.
A Dallas weapons arrest starts a criminal court process that includes multiple hearings before trial or resolution. Taking prompt action allows your defense attorney to begin reviewing evidence while memories remain fresh.
The court advises you of the charge and addresses bond conditions if necessary.
Your attorney begins gathering reports, body camera footage, witness information, and other available evidence.
Texas law requires prosecutors to disclose much of the evidence they intend to use.
That information often includes:
Reviewing discovery often reveals inconsistencies that deserve additional attention.
Defense attorneys may file motions asking the court to suppress evidence, dismiss charges, or resolve legal disputes before trial.
Those motions often focus on search procedures, probable cause, identification issues, and constitutional rights.
Some cases resolve through negotiated agreements.
Others proceed to trial because factual disputes remain or constitutional issues deserve judicial review.
Preparing every case thoroughly places the defense in the strongest position regardless of the ultimate outcome.
Weapons charges become more serious when prosecutors allege aggravating circumstances or additional criminal offenses. Those allegations can increase potential penalties and create additional legal issues that require immediate attention.
Several situations increase the stakes:
The more serious the allegation becomes, the more important early case preparation becomes.
Yes, prosecutors can file firearm charges without recovering the weapon. They rely on witness testimony, photographs, videos, admissions, or other evidence. Your attorney examines whether that evidence satisfies every legal requirement.
A traffic stop often raises constitutional questions about the search itself. Your defense attorney reviews why officers stopped the vehicle, how the search occurred, and whether police acted within constitutional limits.
No. Texas law allows lawful handgun possession in many situations while restricting possession in others. The surrounding facts determine whether police believe a criminal offense occurred.
Yes. A first offense still carries serious consequences. Early representation allows a defense attorney to preserve evidence, challenge unlawful searches, and begin protecting your rights immediately.
Yes, a weapons conviction may affect employment opportunities, professional licenses, firearm rights, housing applications, and future criminal proceedings depending upon the offense and the outcome.
Not always. Police officers must satisfy constitutional requirements before conducting many vehicle searches. Whether the search complied with the law depends on the specific facts.
Speaking with a Dallas Weapons Charges Lawyer early gives you the opportunity to understand the charge, protect your rights, and begin building a defense based on the facts.
Our office represents clients throughout Dallas County and nearby communities, including cases filed near the Frank Crowley Courts Building and other North Texas criminal courts. We provide straightforward answers, explain each stage of the process, and prepare every case with careful attention to the evidence.
Call the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at 972-233-5700 or contact us online to discuss your case.
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.
