Mission Criminal Defense Lawyers

Former State Prosecutors Fighting to Protect Your Rights

Being arrested, questioned by police, or charged with a crime can leave you feeling frightened and uncertain about what will happen next. The decisions you make during the first hours and days of a criminal investigation can have a lasting impact on your freedom, employment, reputation, and future.

The most important thing to remember is that you have constitutional rights. You have the right to remain silent, and you have the right to request an attorney. You do not have to explain yourself, prove your innocence, or answer investigative questions without legal counsel present.

The criminal defense attorneys at Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. represent individuals in Mission, Texas, and throughout Hidalgo County who are facing police investigations, misdemeanor charges, felony accusations, and other serious criminal matters. As former state prosecutors, the firm’s attorneys understand how the government investigates, prepares, and prosecutes criminal cases.

Whether the police want to question you, you have already been arrested, or charges have been formally filed, Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can stand beside you throughout the criminal justice process. The firm can evaluate the allegations, examine the prosecution’s evidence, challenge unlawful police conduct, and help you understand every available defense and resolution.

A criminal charge is not the same as a conviction. You are presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves every element of the alleged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. You have the right to challenge the evidence, confront the accusations against you, negotiate with prosecutors, and present your case in court.

Criminal Defense Representation for Mission, Texas

Navigating the Texas criminal justice system can be complicated and intimidating. Prosecutors may have police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, laboratory results, body-camera recordings, phone records, or other evidence that they intend to use against you. However, the existence of evidence does not necessarily mean that the evidence is reliable, admissible, or sufficient to support a conviction.

Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. gives each case the time and attention it deserves. A criminal defense attorney can review how the investigation was conducted, whether your rights were respected, and whether law enforcement followed the law when stopping, searching, questioning, or arresting you.

Depending on the circumstances, the firm may identify grounds to seek:

• Dismissal of the charges
• Reduction of a felony to a misdemeanor
• Suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence
• Exclusion of statements obtained in violation of your rights
• A favorable plea agreement
• Deferred adjudication or another alternative disposition
• Reduced penalties or community supervision
• An acquittal at trial

No attorney can guarantee a particular result. However, experienced legal representation can help ensure that your rights are protected and that every reasonable defense is fully explored.

What Should You Do If You Are Arrested in Mission, Texas?

Any interaction with the police can be stressful. Officers and investigators are trained to ask questions, gather statements, and obtain information that may later be used in a criminal prosecution. They may appear friendly, suggest that answering questions will help you, or claim that they only want to hear your side of the story.

Even when you are innocent, attempting to explain the situation without an attorney can create problems. You may unintentionally provide inaccurate information, make an incomplete statement, or say something that is later taken out of context.

If you are arrested or questioned by police, take the following steps.

Remain Calm and Be Respectful

Do not argue, resist, threaten an officer, or attempt to physically interfere with an arrest. Remaining calm does not mean that you agree with the officer or that the arrest is lawful. It simply reduces the risk of additional allegations and allows your attorney to challenge the officer’s conduct through the proper legal process.

Clearly Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent

You generally do not have to answer questions about where you have been, what you were doing, who you were with, or what happened. You may be required to provide basic identifying information in certain circumstances, but you do not have to participate in an interrogation.

Clearly state:

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

After invoking your rights, stop answering questions. Do not attempt to explain the situation or continue making casual conversation with officers.

Ask for a Criminal Defense Attorney

You have the right to request legal counsel. Once you ask for an attorney, do not discuss the allegations until your lawyer is present.

A criminal defense attorney can advise you before questioning, communicate with investigators on your behalf, and help prevent statements that could damage your case.

Do Not Consent to a Search

Police officers may ask for permission to search your vehicle, home, phone, bag, or other property. In some situations, officers may have a warrant or another lawful basis to conduct a search without your consent. However, you are not required to voluntarily give them permission.

You can calmly say:

“I do not consent to any searches.”

Do not physically resist a search. Your attorney can later determine whether the search was lawful and whether any evidence should be suppressed.

Do Not Discuss Your Case with Other People

After an arrest, avoid discussing the allegations with friends, coworkers, relatives, alleged victims, witnesses, or other people in custody. Phone calls from a jail may be recorded, and text messages or social media posts may be obtained by investigators.

Speak about the facts of the case only with your attorney.

What If Police Want to Question You but You Have Not Been Arrested?

Police may contact you and ask you to come to the station, provide a written statement, or answer “a few questions.” They may tell you that you are not a suspect or that speaking voluntarily will clear everything up.

You should not assume that an informal conversation is harmless. You may be a suspect, a potential suspect, or a witness whose statements could expose you to criminal liability.

Before agreeing to an interview, contact Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. A criminal defense lawyer can communicate with law enforcement, determine the nature of the investigation, and advise you about whether answering questions is in your best interest.

If you are speaking with an officer and are unsure whether you are free to leave, calmly ask:

“Am I being detained, or am I free to go?”

If the officer says that you are free to leave, you may politely end the encounter and contact an attorney.

Why You Should Speak with a Lawyer Before Accepting a Plea Agreement

A prosecutor may offer a plea agreement that appears to provide a quick resolution. However, accepting a plea can result in a permanent criminal conviction and consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom.

Before pleading guilty or no contest, you should understand:

• The exact offense to which you are pleading
• Whether the conviction will appear on your criminal record
• The possible jail or prison sentence
• The amount of any fines, fees, or restitution
• Whether probation or community supervision will be required
• Whether the plea could affect your driver’s license
• Whether the offense could affect your immigration status
• Whether you could lose employment or professional licenses
• Whether the conviction could affect firearm rights
• Whether the plea could be used to enhance future charges
• Whether a dismissal, reduction, or alternative disposition may be available

Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can review the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution’s case and explain the risks and potential benefits of any plea offer. You should not accept an agreement until you understand its immediate and long-term consequences.

The Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

A misdemeanor or felony conviction can affect nearly every area of your life. Depending on the offense, possible consequences may include:

• Time in jail or prison
• Fines and court costs
• Probation or community supervision
• Mandatory classes, counseling, or treatment
• Community service
• Driver’s license suspension
• Installation of an ignition interlock device
• Difficulty finding employment
• Loss of a professional license
• Immigration consequences
• Housing difficulties
• Loss of firearm rights
• Damage to your personal and professional reputation
• Restrictions on travel or future opportunities

These collateral consequences make it important to take every criminal accusation seriously, even when the charge appears minor.

How Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. Can Help

The attorneys at Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can investigate the facts, evaluate the prosecution’s evidence, and develop a defense strategy based on the circumstances of your case.

The firm may examine:

• Police reports and arrest records
• Body-camera and dashboard-camera footage
• Witness statements
• Surveillance recordings
• Search warrants and arrest warrants
• Breath, blood, or urine test results
• Drug-testing procedures
• Laboratory reports
• Phone records and electronic evidence
• Photographs and physical evidence
• Statements allegedly made to law enforcement
• Whether officers had reasonable suspicion or probable cause
• Whether evidence was properly collected, preserved, and tested

Police officers and prosecutors must follow constitutional and procedural rules. When law enforcement violates those rules, a defense attorney may be able to challenge the admissibility of evidence or seek other appropriate relief.

Criminal Charges We Defend in Mission, Texas

Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. represents clients facing a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony charges, including:

DWI and DUI Charges

A DWI arrest can result in criminal penalties as well as consequences involving your driver’s license. The firm can review the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, breath testing, blood testing, and the officer’s observations.

Drug Possession and Controlled Substance Charges

Drug cases may involve questions about unlawful searches, constructive possession, laboratory testing, the weight of the alleged substance, and whether prosecutors can prove that the accused knowingly possessed it.

Assault and Family-Violence Allegations

An assault accusation can result from conflicting accounts, misunderstandings, self-defense situations, or allegations made during emotionally charged disputes. Family-violence findings may also create additional legal and personal consequences.

Theft and Burglary Charges

Theft-related cases may involve disputes about ownership, intent, identification, value, or whether the accused knowingly participated in the alleged conduct.

Sex-Crime Allegations

Sex-crime accusations can cause immediate and severe damage to a person’s reputation. These cases require careful, confidential representation and a detailed examination of witness accounts, communications, physical evidence, and investigative procedures.

Trespassing and Property Offenses

Criminal trespass and related property charges may depend on whether proper notice was given, whether the person had permission to be present, and whether the prosecution can prove the required criminal intent.

White-Collar Crimes

White-collar investigations may involve allegations of fraud, forgery, embezzlement, identity theft, financial misconduct, or misuse of business information. These cases can involve large amounts of documentary and electronic evidence.

Juvenile Charges

A juvenile arrest can affect a young person’s education, future opportunities, and family. The firm can help parents understand the juvenile justice process and the options that may be available.

Other Misdemeanor and Felony Charges

Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. also handles other Texas criminal matters, including probation violations, weapons allegations, evading arrest, criminal mischief, organized criminal activity, and other state charges.

Challenging Unlawfully Obtained Evidence

Evidence does not automatically become admissible simply because police officers collected it. Law enforcement must comply with constitutional protections and Texas law.

A defense attorney may investigate whether:

• A traffic stop was supported by reasonable suspicion
• An arrest was supported by probable cause
• A search warrant was valid
• Officers exceeded the scope of a warrant
• Consent to search was actually voluntary
• Statements were obtained after the right to counsel was invoked
• Officers failed to provide required warnings before custodial questioning
• Evidence was contaminated, mishandled, or improperly stored
• Laboratory procedures were reliable
• Witness identification procedures were unfair or suggestive

When evidence was obtained unlawfully, the defense may file a motion asking the court to suppress it. If important evidence is excluded, the prosecution’s case may be weakened or, in some circumstances, dismissed.

Alternatives to Jail May Be Available

Not every criminal case must result in incarceration. Depending on the charge, criminal history, facts, and available programs, alternatives may include:

• Deferred adjudication
• Pretrial diversion
• Community supervision
• Drug or alcohol treatment
• Counseling programs
• Anger-management classes
• Community service
• Restitution
• Reduced charges
• Dismissal after completion of required conditions

The availability of these options depends on the individual case. Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can explain which alternatives may apply and advocate for a resolution that minimizes the impact on your life.

Expunctions and Orders of Nondisclosure in Texas

An arrest record can continue to appear on background checks even when charges were dismissed or never resulted in a conviction. In some situations, Texas law allows eligible individuals to clear or restrict access to certain criminal records.

Expunction

An expunction may result in eligible arrest records being destroyed or removed from many government files. Eligibility depends on factors such as how the case was resolved, whether charges were filed, and whether applicable waiting periods have passed.

Order of Nondisclosure

An order of nondisclosure generally restricts public access to certain criminal records. Government agencies and some authorized entities may still have access, but the record may no longer appear in many ordinary public background searches.

People who completed deferred adjudication may qualify for nondisclosure in certain cases, although some offenses are not eligible.

Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. can review your criminal history and determine whether you may qualify for an expunction or order of nondisclosure.

Former State Prosecutors Working for Your Defense

Experience on both sides of the courtroom can be valuable in a criminal case. As former state prosecutors, the attorneys at Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. understand how prosecutors review evidence, evaluate witnesses, negotiate plea agreements, and prepare cases for trial.

That insight allows the firm to anticipate the prosecution’s approach and identify weaknesses that may not be obvious at the beginning of a case.

The firm works to provide clients with straightforward legal guidance, careful preparation, and a defense strategy tailored to the facts of the case.

We Are Here for You

You deserve committed legal representation when your freedom, record, and future are at stake. Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. represents people in Mission, Texas, and surrounding Hidalgo County communities who are facing criminal investigations and charges.

The sooner you speak with an attorney, the sooner your lawyer can begin protecting your rights, preserving evidence, and preparing your defense.

Do not plead guilty, answer investigative questions, or consent to a search without understanding your rights. Contact Tijerina Law Firm, P.C. to discuss your case with an experienced Mission, Texas criminal defense lawyer and learn more about the options available to you.