Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC | Assault Family Member Lawyer | Domestic Violence Charges

Have you been charged with assault of a family member (or a domestic violence charge)? Wondering what to do next? Sometimes these charges can seem unfair. Assault charges are a traumatic experience, particularly if they happen when you feel they’re not warranted.  Often times, there is a legit self-defense claim or “first attacker” defense.

You’ll need someone who can negotiate on your behalf to possibly have your charges dropped or reduced to something less serious, and a Fort Worth assault family member lawyer who has successfully dealt with countless cases like yours can do that. We’ll provide a thorough consultation, outlining the steps we’ll take in defending your case and what rights you have throughout the process.

As Fort Worth criminal defense lawyers, we fight to protect clients accused of committing assault family member charges in Tarrant County, Texas. If you or a loved one is facing serious assault charges, then you need an experienced Fort Worth criminal defense lawyer. You will deal directly with our team of former prosecutors who will not only treat you with respect, but also make sure we craft the best strategy and defense to fight your case.

Here are the primary assault cases our team of Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorneys handle in Tarrant County, Texas

  1. Assault Bodily Injury
  2. Assault against a Family Member (Domestic violence)
  3. Assault against a Family Member (Domestic Violence) – Impeding Breath (Choking)
  4. Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon or Causing Bodily Harm
  5. Gun & Weapon Charges (Often Related to Assault Charges)
  6. Sexual assault or Sex Crimes
  7. Injury to a Child
  8. Burglary of a Habitation
  9. Aggravated Robbery or Robbery
  10. Murder
  11. Violent Crimes
  12. 3G Offenses (These often overlap with many of the charges above)

At Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC, we have some of the top criminal defense attorneys in Fort Worth and the surrounding Tarrant County area. We take the time to listen to your needs and help you develop a professional strategy for your defense. Our goal is a dismissal, no bill, not guilty, or a reduction of your charge with a eye to the future for a chance to seal your record with an expunction or non-disclosure.  Our team has already secured two NOT GUILTY verdicts in felony jury trials this year. 

What we offer in your Tarrant County Criminal Defense:

1. EXTENSIVE TRIAL EXPERIENCE

Our firm has extensive trial experience in criminal and DWI defense. Our criminal defense attorneys and DWI lawyers have tried over 350 combined criminal trials, including assault and aggravated offenses, sex crime offenses, drug-related offenses, and over a hundred specifically involving DWI and DWI related charges.

In addition, we have reviewed and successfully negotiated thousands of criminal and DWI charges in Tarrant County, Texas. This experience gives us the knowledge to advise our clients if they are getting the best outcome possible on their charge.

2. FORMER DWI PROSECUTORS IN TARRANT, DALLAS, AND HARRIS COUNTY

Our team at Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC are all former Tarrant County prosecutors.  Being trained as a prosecutor gives us invaluable experience because we know exactly how the State of Texas will attempt to prosecute you on your criminal charges. This knowledge will allow our firm to build the best defense in fighting your criminal or DWI charge. Partner Hilary Wright is a former Chief Prosecutor in Tarrant County, Texas.

3. SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE IN CRIMINAL LAW | BOARD CERTIFIED LAWYERS

In addition to be trained as former prosecutors, our criminal defense attorneys know the inside and out of each and every aspect of a police investigation and State prosecution, including criminal laws, proper police procedures, DNA and blood forensic evidence, and knowing exactly how the State plans to introduce evidence into trial.

Partners Colin McLaughlin and Hilary Wright are both Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and all of our attorneys continuously attend criminal and DWI CLE seminars to make sure we are up to date on any change in the law.

For more serious aggravated cases, Partners Colin McLaughlin, Dustin Trammel, Hilary Wright, and Bryan Hoeller are also certified by the Courts to try cases up to capital murder charges, which requires a higher level of skills, courtroom experience, and CLE (continuing learning education).

4. HIGHLY RATED & AWARD WINNING FORT WORTH CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS

Our team has received over 300 5 star reviews on Google from our former clients.  In addition, our team has been recognized for their outstanding performance in criminal law.  Managing Partner Bryan Hoeller has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters for 2023 and 2024.  Lindsay Truly and Dustin Trammel were also both named Super Lawyers Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters for 2022, 2023, and 2024.  In addition to being Board Certified, Partner Colin McLaughlin was named a Top Criminal Lawyer in Fort Worth by Fort Worth Magazine for 2022, 2023, and 2024. Partner Hilary Wright is President-Elect for the Texas Association of Specialty Courts.

ARRESTED IN TARRANT COUNTY FOR ASSAULT BODILY INJURY ON A FAMILY MEMBER?

OUR STRATEGY IN FIGHTING YOUR ASSAULT FAMILY MEMBER CRIMINAL CHARGE:

Our strategy is simple: Be 100% committed to holding the State of Texas to their burden of proof (Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, the highest burden in any area of law). We accomplish this by thoroughly evaluated your case to make sure you are getting the best criminal defense possible. In addition, we make sure your constitutional rights are not being violated.

Here are some of the questions we consider as well as investigate your assault charges:

  1. Do you have a self-defense claim? Were your actions legally justified under Texas Law?
  2. Were there any actual injuries? Past injuries being claimed as fresh?
  3. Were you protecting your property or someone else during the assault?
  4. Is there an issue with the background of one or many of the State’s witnesses (including the alleged victim) that would affect the credibility of their testimony?
  5. Has the alleged victim been assaultive toward you in the past?
  6. Who started the fight?
  7. Is there a suppression issue in your case that would throw out some or all of the evidence?
  8. Did the officer follow the proper guidelines and police procedures when conducting their investigation?
  9. If there was a search warrant, did the search warrant meet the requirements set out under Chapter 18 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure?
  10. If DNA, Toxicology, Fingerprints, Gunshot Residue (GSR) or other law enforcement tests were conducted or administered, were the tests conducted according to their respective forensic guidelines or is there is an issue that would compromise the result?

SOME COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES WITH A “FAMILY VIOLENCE” ASSAULT OFFENSE:

Any type of an assault on a family member (“domestic violence”) can have severe collateral consequences on your life and any future arrest. Here are some of the collateral consequences involved:

  1. If you plea guilty or get convicted of an offense involving family violence, your right to own or possess a gun can be severely limited or banned under State and Federal Law.
  2. If you plea guilty or get convicted for Assault Bodily Injury on a Family Member (normally a Class A Misdemeanor), then it’s possible for the State to enhance any future arrest for the same offense to a felony (Assault Bodily Injury on a Family with a Previous Conviction is a 3rd Degree Felony, with a range of punishment from 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine).
  3. If you hold any type of license for employment, than getting getting arrested, pleading guilty, and/or getting convicted of a family violence offense can cause you to lose your license or your job.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVERSION PROGRAM (PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION):

Tarrant County does have diversion programs specifically for assault family member cases, which offers a path to get the case dismissed (and ultimately expunged) while also avoiding many of the collateral consequences associated with a family member violence charge.  The Domestic Violence Diversion Program, which targets domestic violence, or violence between intimate partners is funded by a grant from the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s office.  Learn more about Tarrant County Diversion Programs.

Select clients charged with Domestic Violence in Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 5 and No. 1 are placed into the Pre-Trial Diversion Court which monitors the client’s progress in a non-adversarial manner, and is in lieu of traditional case processing (i.e. pleading guilty and getting on deferred probation, which can have many collateral consequences). Clients are selected for program participation after undergoing a comprehensive screening and assessment process and meeting the following eligibility criteria:

  • Partner-on-partner violence,
  • No current or prior violations of protective orders,
  • No stalking activity,
  • No open warrants,
  • No other pending charges,
  • No prior history of diversion,
  • Commitment to completing a prescribed program, and
  • Consent of victim for offender participation.

This court is unique because it combines the judicial function with case management, victim assistance and an assessment process. The project includes services specifically dedicated to preventing, identifying and responding to violent crimes against partners as they relate to domestic violence.

Misdemeanor Assault and Assault Family Member Charges:

  • Assault Bodily Injury (Class A Misdemeanor)
  • Assault Bodily Injury on a Family Member (Class A Misdemeanor)
  • Violation of a Protective Order (Class A Misdemeanor)
  • Gun & Weapons charges (UCW)(Class A Misdemeanor)
  • Resisting Arrest (Class A Misdemeanor)
  • Terroristic Threat (Class B Misdemeanor)
  • Terroristic Threat on a Family Member (Class A Misdemeanor)
  • Deadly Conduct (Class A Misdemeanor)

Felony Assault and Assault Family Member Charges:

  • Assault on a Family Member with a Previous Conviction for Assault on a Family Member (3rd Degree Felony)
  • Assault on a Family Member Impeding Breath or Circulation (3rd Degree Felony)
  • Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2nd Degree Felony)
  • Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon against a Family Member (1st Degree Felony)
  • Assault on a Peace Officer or Security Guard (3rd Degree Felony)
  • Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer (1st Degree Felony)
  • Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault of a Child (2nd Degree Felony)
  • Aggravated Sexual Assault (1st Degree Felony)
  • Intoxication Assault (3rd Degree Felony)

Get a Consultation for Your Assault Case Today

You have rights. Helping you fight back is what a good assault lawyer does. We’ll walk you through the entire process step by step and strive to protect your rights and defend you from the charges.

Don’t make a move without an experienced attorney by your side. Please call Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC to speak with a Fort Worth assault family member lawyer now. Don’t wait another minute in this stressful situation. Reach us by phone at 817-334-7900, or fill out our online form below to get a call back. Our goal is a dismissal or No Bill on your Assault Family Member charge.