San Juan Criminal Defense Lawyers

A Former State Prosecutor on Your Side

Being arrested, questioned by the police, or accused of a crime can be one of the most frightening experiences of your life. You may be worried about going to jail, losing your job, damaging your reputation, or facing consequences that could affect your family and future.

During this stressful time, it is important to remember that an arrest is not the same as a conviction. You are presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution proves its case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. You also have the right to remain silent and the right to consult with an attorney.

The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. represents individuals facing criminal accusations in San Juan, Texas, and throughout Hidalgo County. With experience as former state prosecutors, the firm’s attorneys understand how criminal cases are investigated, charged, negotiated, and presented in court.

Whether the police want to question you, you have already been arrested, or formal charges have been filed, the Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can review your situation, explain your legal options, and build a defense based on the facts and evidence.

Criminal Defense Representation for San Juan, Texas

The criminal justice system can be difficult to navigate without experienced legal guidance. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers may already be collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, reviewing electronic communications, or preparing arguments against you.

A criminal defense attorney can examine the prosecution’s case and determine whether:

• The police had a lawful reason to stop or detain you
• Officers conducted an unlawful search or seizure
• Your constitutional rights were violated
• Statements were obtained improperly
• Physical or scientific evidence was handled correctly
• Witness accounts are inconsistent or unreliable
• The prosecution can prove every element of the alleged offense
• Charges may be reduced, dismissed, or resolved through an alternative disposition

The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. gives every case careful attention. The firm can review the evidence, identify potential weaknesses in the prosecution’s allegations, and help clients understand the possible benefits and consequences of every available option.

Depending on the circumstances, those options may include negotiating for reduced charges, seeking dismissal, pursuing deferred adjudication, entering a diversion program, filing motions to suppress evidence, or preparing the case for trial.

What Should You Do If You Are Arrested in San Juan?

An encounter with law enforcement can become overwhelming very quickly. Police officers are trained to ask questions and gather information. Even when officers appear friendly or suggest that speaking will help you, anything you say may later be used as evidence.

People who are innocent sometimes believe they can explain the situation and immediately clear everything up. Unfortunately, statements can be misunderstood, taken out of context, or compared with other evidence in ways that create additional problems.

If you are arrested or detained, remain calm and avoid arguing, resisting, or making sudden movements. Clearly state that you are exercising your right to remain silent and that you want to speak with an attorney.

You can say:

“I am exercising my right to remain silent. I want to speak with an attorney.”

After asserting those rights, do not continue discussing the allegations with officers, investigators, witnesses, alleged victims, or other people. Statements made during telephone calls from jail may also be recorded and used in a criminal case.

You may be required to provide basic identifying information in certain circumstances, but you generally should not answer questions about where you were, what happened, who you were with, or what you know about an alleged offense without first consulting a lawyer.

What If the Police Ask to Search Your Car, Home, or Property?

Law enforcement officers may ask for permission to search your vehicle, home, telephone, belongings, or other property. You have the right to refuse consent to a search.

Police may still conduct a search when they have a valid warrant or when a recognized exception to the warrant requirement applies. However, you should not physically interfere with officers, even if you believe the search is unlawful.

Instead, calmly state:

“I do not consent to this search.”

Your attorney can later review whether the search complied with constitutional requirements. When evidence is obtained through an unlawful search or seizure, the defense may be able to ask the court to suppress that evidence.

Do not unlock your telephone, provide passwords, or sign consent forms without obtaining legal advice.

What If the Police Want to Question You but You Are Not Under Arrest?

If officers approach you or ask you to come to the station voluntarily, you should not assume that you are only a witness. You may already be considered a suspect or a person of interest.

Ask whether you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly leave and contact a criminal defense attorney before agreeing to an interview.

You are not required to attend a voluntary interview simply because an officer asks you to do so. A lawyer can communicate with investigators on your behalf, determine why they want to speak with you, and advise you about whether answering questions is in your best interests.

Do not lie to law enforcement. It is generally safer to decline to answer questions and request an attorney than to provide incomplete, inaccurate, or speculative information.

Why You Should Speak With an Attorney Before Accepting a Plea Agreement

A plea offer may appear to provide a quick way to resolve a criminal case, but pleading guilty or no contest can have lasting consequences.

Before accepting an agreement, you should understand:

• The specific offense to which you would be pleading
• The possible jail or prison sentence
• Applicable fines, court costs, and fees
• Probation requirements
• Community service obligations
• Driver’s license consequences
• Immigration consequences
• Firearm restrictions
• Registration requirements
• Employment and professional licensing consequences
• Whether the conviction can ever be sealed or removed
• How the plea may affect future criminal cases

A defense attorney can evaluate the evidence and advise you whether the prosecution’s offer is reasonable. The attorney may also identify defenses or evidentiary problems that could justify seeking a dismissal, reduction, or more favorable resolution.

Never plead guilty merely because you feel pressured, frightened, or uncertain about what will happen next. Speak with the Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. before making a decision that could affect the rest of your life.

Criminal Charges Handled by the Tijerina Law Firm, P.C.

The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. assists clients in San Juan and surrounding Hidalgo County communities with misdemeanor and felony cases, including:

DWI and DUI Charges

A DWI arrest can lead to criminal penalties and separate driver’s license consequences. The defense may involve reviewing the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, breath or blood testing, video evidence, and the officer’s observations.

Deadlines may apply to challenging an administrative driver’s license suspension, so it is important to contact an attorney promptly.

Drug Possession and Controlled Substance Charges

Drug cases may involve allegations concerning marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription medication, or other controlled substances. An attorney can examine whether officers had probable cause, whether a search was lawful, and whether the prosecution can prove that the accused knowingly possessed the substance.

Assault and Family Violence Allegations

Assault accusations can result in jail time, protective orders, firearm restrictions, employment difficulties, and lasting reputational damage. Family violence findings can also create enhanced penalties in future cases.

A defense attorney can review witness statements, photographs, recordings, medical reports, self-defense claims, and inconsistencies in the allegations.

Sex Crime Charges

Sex crime accusations carry especially serious legal and personal consequences. Depending on the charge, a conviction may require sex offender registration and create lifelong restrictions.

These cases require a careful, confidential defense that thoroughly examines the evidence, witness credibility, electronic communications, forensic information, and the circumstances surrounding the accusation.

Theft and Burglary Charges

Theft-related cases can range from shoplifting and property offenses to burglary and more serious felony accusations. The value of the property, the defendant’s intent, the location involved, and any prior record may affect the charge and potential penalties.

Trespassing Charges

Criminal trespass cases often depend on whether the accused had notice that entry was forbidden or had been instructed to leave. The defense may challenge whether proper notice was given or whether the person reasonably believed that entry was permitted.

White-Collar Crimes

Fraud, embezzlement, forgery, identity theft, and other financial allegations often involve extensive records and complicated transactions. A defense attorney can analyze bank records, contracts, electronic communications, accounting information, and evidence concerning the accused person’s intent.

Juvenile Offenses

When a young person is accused of an offense, the consequences can affect education, employment, scholarships, and future opportunities. Juvenile cases require an approach that protects the child’s legal rights while seeking an outcome that preserves the child’s future whenever possible.

Other Misdemeanor and Felony Charges

The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can also assist with other state criminal accusations, probation matters, motions to revoke, bond issues, and related proceedings.

How a San Juan Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help

Every criminal case is different. The appropriate defense depends on the charge, the evidence, the client’s history, and how law enforcement handled the investigation.

The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can help by:

• Explaining the charges and possible penalties
• Representing you during police questioning
• Seeking a reasonable bond or bond reduction
• Obtaining and reviewing the prosecution’s evidence
• Examining police reports, recordings, and witness statements
• Investigating the facts independently
• Identifying constitutional violations
• Filing appropriate motions
• Negotiating with prosecutors
• Evaluating plea offers
• Preparing the case for hearings or trial
• Advising you about collateral consequences
• Guiding you through every stage of the case

Evidence is not automatically reliable simply because it appears in a police report. Officers and witnesses can make mistakes. Video footage may contradict written statements. Laboratory evidence may have testing or chain-of-custody problems. Searches, traffic stops, and interrogations must also comply with the law.

A thorough defense requires examining all available information rather than accepting the prosecution’s version of events without question.

The Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

A misdemeanor or felony conviction can affect much more than your immediate sentence. Depending on the charge, you may face:

• Jail or prison
• Probation
• Fines and court costs
• Community service
• Mandatory counseling or treatment
• Driver’s license suspension
• Loss of firearm rights
• Difficulty obtaining employment
• Professional licensing problems
• Housing difficulties
• Immigration consequences
• Loss of educational opportunities
• Damage to your personal and professional reputation

A criminal record may appear during employment, housing, licensing, and background checks. This is why it is important to take every accusation seriously, even when the charge appears minor.

Expunctions and Orders of Nondisclosure in Texas

An arrest record can continue to create problems even when the case was dismissed or did not result in a conviction. In some circumstances, Texas law allows eligible individuals to pursue an expunction or an order of nondisclosure.

An expunction can result in qualifying arrest records being destroyed or removed from many government records. An order of nondisclosure generally restricts public access to qualifying records, although certain government agencies may still be able to view them.

Eligibility depends on several factors, including:

• The charge
• How the case was resolved
• Whether the person completed deferred adjudication
• Whether charges were dismissed
• Whether the person was acquitted
• Applicable waiting periods
• The person’s prior criminal history
• Whether another charge arose from the same incident

Not every arrest or deferred adjudication qualifies. The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can review your record and help determine whether you may be eligible for an expunction or order of nondisclosure.

Do Not Discuss Your Case on Social Media

After an arrest, avoid posting about the incident on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, or other social media platforms. Do not delete potentially relevant posts or messages after learning about an investigation, as that could create additional legal concerns.

You should also avoid contacting an alleged victim or witness, particularly when a protective order, bond condition, or no-contact instruction is in place.

Even a seemingly harmless post, photograph, comment, text message, or private message could be obtained and used by prosecutors. Discuss the case only with your attorney and follow all court orders carefully.

Protect Your Rights After an Arrest in San Juan, Texas

You do not have to face criminal accusations alone. The sooner you speak with a defense attorney, the sooner your attorney can begin protecting your rights, preserving evidence, communicating with investigators, and preparing your defense.

The Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. represents individuals accused of crimes in San Juan, McAllen, and communities throughout Hidalgo County. As former state prosecutors, the firm’s attorneys understand how the government evaluates and prepares criminal cases.

If you have been arrested, charged with a misdemeanor or felony, contacted by investigators, or need assistance clearing an eligible arrest record, contact the Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. for a confidential case review.

We Are Here for You

A criminal accusation does not define you, and it does not eliminate your legal rights. You deserve an attorney who will listen to your concerns, investigate the allegations, explain your options, and advocate for the strongest available outcome.

Contact the Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. today to discuss your San Juan, Texas criminal defense case and take the first step toward protecting your freedom, reputation, and future.