Any criminal charges filed against a defendant will almost certainly affect his or her life, regardless of the efforts of a San Antonio manslaughter lawyer.
This is especially true for serious and severe criminal charges that carry the possibility of significant jail time and/or a substantial monetary fine.
Besides the worries and uncertainties of a future criminal court trial and the anxieties caused by the possibility of a jury handing down a guilty verdict, the recently-charged defendant faces a slew of immediate problems that must be addressed. These include the following:
- The sudden potential loss of a job and income caused by negative publicity about the arrest,
- Difficulty in obtaining new, alternative employment,
- The possible loss of housing due to lost income,
- Rising family tensions caused by the disruptions of the arrest and criminal charges,
- A probable loss of prestige, respect, and support among relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances,
- Severe financial problems that may last for years and may never be overcome, and
- Other problems develop and become more pronounced in the wake of the arrest and the filing of criminal charges.
Life will instantly become more difficult for anyone charged with a crime. If you have been arrested and charged with a serious criminal offense, all these problems might take years to resolve—if at all. A criminal conviction will remain permanently on your record and cause many problems both now and in the future.
As one of four types of murder charges outlined in the Texas Penal code, a manslaughter charge is serious and must be dealt with immediately.
Because of the severity of the charge, which involves the loss of human life, and the potentially significant penalties you will face if convicted, the need for a San Antonio Manslaughter Lawyer will be required and an arrest for manslaughter will definitely be a possibility.
If you have been arrested and charged with manslaughter, you must retain skilled lawyers to defend yourself. Contact the Austin Hagee Law Firm, PLLC, at 210-500-3700 to schedule a free consultation, so we can analyze and evaluate your case. We will prepare a strategy for your defense and the potential dismissal or lessening of the charges against you.
Depending upon the particular facts of your case, including the cause and manner of the death of the victim, we’ll explore the possible defenses against a charge of manslaughter.
These include insanity, self-defense, and heat of passion or sudden passion. The appropriate defense is key because Texas state prosecutors will aggressively prosecute all homicide charges to the maximum possible extent.
Our firm will devote time and resources to your case to give you the best possible defense. We will analyze the evidence collected against you and conduct an independent investigation, utilizing a forensic investigator, if necessary.
We will also interview any witnesses and others who might have knowledge of your case. And we will negotiate with prosecutors to see if a plea deal can be reached, while at the same time vigorously preparing for trial.
What is Manslaughter In South Texas?
Pursuant to the Texas Penal Code, manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Texas and is a lesser homicide crime than either capital murder or murder, both of which are first-degree felonies.
In comparison to these two first-degree felonies, an individual will be charged with manslaughter if the prosecution believes that he or she bears a lower level of culpability in the death of the victim.
The principal difference between a manslaughter charge and a murder charge is that with manslaughter, there was no planning or premeditation involved in the death of the deceased, whose death was caused by the recklessness of the individual charged with manslaughter.
Texas is one of a few states whose penal code makes no distinction between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. The punishment upon a conviction for manslaughter, while quite severe, is less than the one imposed following a murder conviction. A potential jail sentence for manslaughter in Texas is two to twenty years, with the range in sentencing always depending upon the case’s unique facts.
If you are facing a charge of manslaughter, or have already been charged with this offense, you are facing a significant, immediate disruption to your life that will impact you and your family. Thereafter, you will face a trial and certain jail time if you are convicted.
For these reasons, it is imperative that you select a competent, capable San Antonio manslaughter lawyer with a proven record of success in the Texas criminal court system. You need attorneys who will tirelessly work for you, have experience in defending manslaughter cases, and will challenge at trial the admissibility of any evidence against you.
Facing Manslaughter Charges in Texas? Contact our San Antonio Manslaughter Lawyers
The skilled and experienced attorneys at the Austin Hagee Law Firm, PLLC are poised to help you. Call them at 210-500-3700 for a free consultation. Take advantage of their knowledge of the law.
You will not be disappointed. Our firm will work with you in all respects. If it helps, you can pay via our installment payment plan.