Defending Your Freedom: Aggressive Felony Defense Representation

When Your Future Hangs in the Balance

A felony accusation is one of the most serious and life-altering events a person can face. Unlike misdemeanors, felony charges carry the potential for significant state prison time, lifelong consequences, and the permanent stigma of a criminal record. At Barton & Associates, we understand the profound gravity of your situation. Our seasoned felony defense attorneys approach each case with an unwavering commitment to protecting your constitutional rights, your freedom, and your future. We do not see just a case file; we see a person whose liberty, family, and reputation are under threat, and we marshal every resource to mount the most vigorous defense possible.

The criminal justice system moves swiftly and with formidable power against those accused of serious crimes. Prosecutors have vast resources at their disposal. Attempting to navigate this complex and high-stakes arena without experienced, dedicated counsel can lead to disastrous outcomes. From the moment you are under investigation or arrested, the decisions you make—and the attorney you choose—can determine the trajectory of your life. Our firm provides the strategic, relentless defense necessary to challenge the prosecution at every turn, scrutinize the evidence, and fight for the best possible resolution, whether through dismissal, acquittal, or a negotiated outcome that minimizes the impact on your life.

The Grave Consequences of a Felony Conviction in Texas

Understanding the severe, long-term ramifications of a felony charge is crucial. The penalties extend far beyond the immediate threat of incarceration.

• Lengthy Prison Sentences: Texas felonies are classified by degree, with punishments ranging from 180 days in state jail for a State Jail Felony to life imprisonment or the death penalty for a Capital Felony. Even a Third-Degree Felony can carry 2 to 10 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison.
• A Permanent Criminal Record: A felony conviction creates a permanent, public record that can never be fully expunged in Texas (though some may become eligible for an order of nondisclosure under strict conditions). This record appears on background checks for life.
• Loss of Fundamental Rights: Convicted felons in Texas lose the right to vote, the right to possess firearms, and may be ineligible to serve on a jury.
• Professional and Personal Collapse: You can lose professional licenses (in law, medicine, real estate, etc.), be terminated from employment, and face nearly insurmountable barriers to finding future work, housing, or obtaining educational loans.
• Social Stigma and Family Disruption: The damage to your personal reputation and relationships can be devastating, placing immense strain on your family and community standing.

Our mission is to protect you from these catastrophic consequences. We explore every avenue—from challenging the state’s evidence before trial to negotiating for reduced charges or alternative sentencing—to shield you from the full force of the law.

Our Comprehensive Defense Strategy for Serious Charges

Facing a felony requires a defense that is both deeply detailed and strategically broad. Our approach is methodical and aggressive.

1. Immediate Crisis Intervention & Investigation

The defense begins at the earliest possible moment. If you are under investigation but not yet charged, we can intervene to protect your rights and potentially influence the prosecutor’s charging decision. Upon arrest, we work to secure your release on reasonable bail. We then launch an independent, parallel investigation, often hiring investigators and forensic experts to:

• Visit and document the crime scene.
• Locate and interview witnesses the prosecution may have overlooked.
• Challenge forensic evidence (DNA, ballistics, digital evidence, fingerprints) with our own experts.
• Uncover law enforcement misconduct, procedural errors, or violations of your rights.

2. Pre-Trial Motions & Evidence Suppression

A critical phase of felony defense happens before a trial date is ever set. We file targeted pre-trial motions to shape the battlefield in your favor, including:

• Motions to Suppress Evidence: Arguing that key evidence was obtained through an unlawful search, seizure, or arrest in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Successfully suppressing a confession, a weapon, or drugs can cripple the state’s case, often leading to dismissal.
• Motions to Reveal Exculpatory Evidence: Compelling the prosecution to turn over any evidence favorable to you (Brady material), such as police reports suggesting another suspect or witness statements that contradict the state’s theory.
• Challenging the Credibility of Evidence: Questioning the reliability of eyewitness identifications, the maintenance records of breathalyzer machines, or the methods of crime labs.

3. Expert Negotiation for Case Resolution

While we are fully prepared to try your case before a jury, a negotiated resolution can sometimes serve your best interests. Our attorneys, drawing on decades of experience and credibility within the local legal community, engage in strategic negotiations with prosecutors to seek:

• Dismissal of Charges: When the evidence is weak or rights were violated.
• Reduction of Charges: Negotiating a felony charge down to a misdemeanor, which dramatically reduces potential penalties and long-term consequences.
• Favorable Plea Agreements: In cases where the evidence is substantial, our goal is to secure an agreement that minimizes prison time, recommends probation, or arranges for alternative sentencing like drug treatment programs.

4. Uncompromising Trial Advocacy

If the state refuses to offer a just resolution, we are trial-tested litigators ready to defend you in court. We build a compelling, narrative-driven defense for the jury. Our trial work includes masterful jury selection, clear and persuasive opening statements, rigorous cross-examination of prosecution witnesses to expose inconsistencies and biases, and a powerful closing argument that reinforces the presumption of innocence and the state’s failure to meet its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Types of Felony Cases We Defend

Our attorneys have a proven track record defending clients across the spectrum of serious felony offenses, including:

• Violent Crimes: Aggravated Assault, Robbery, Murder, Manslaughter
• Drug Crimes: Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute
• Sex Crimes: Sexual Assault, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Indecency with a Child
• White-Collar & Financial Crimes: Fraud, Embezzlement, Money Laundering, Theft (over $2,500)
• Weapons Charges: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Federal Crimes: We also represent clients facing federal felony charges in U.S. District Court, which involve separate procedures and severe penalties.

The Barton & Associates Difference in Felony Defense

• Former Prosecutorial Experience: Our team includes attorneys who have served as prosecutors. This invaluable perspective allows us to anticipate the state’s strategies, understand how they build cases, and identify their weaknesses from the inside out.
• Resource Commitment: We invest in your defense. Our firm has the financial and professional resources to hire top-tier expert witnesses, private investigators, and forensic specialists—a critical advantage when challenging complex state evidence.
• Personalized, Zealous Advocacy: You will have direct access to your attorney. We develop a close working relationship with you and your family to understand every facet of your case and ensure your voice is heard throughout the process.
• A Reputation for Integrity and Strength: Our standing in the Bexar County courts is built on professionalism, thorough preparation, and a reputation for being formidable adversaries who are always prepared for trial. This credibility gives weight to our negotiations and arguments before judges.

Your Next Step is Critical: Secure Your Defense Now

If you or a loved one is facing felony charges, delay is your enemy. The prosecution begins building its case from the moment of arrest. You must have an advocate who starts building your defense just as quickly.

Remain silent. Do not speak to law enforcement, cellmates, or anyone else about your case without an attorney present. Exercise your Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights immediately.

Contact Barton & Associates for an urgent and confidential case evaluation. The details of your situation are vital. Call us directly at 210-500-0000 to speak with a member of our felony defense team. We will assess the charges against you, explain the legal process ahead, and begin crafting a powerful, personalized defense strategy designed to protect what matters most: your freedom and your future.

Main Category: Criminal Defense
Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law
115 Camaron St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Office: 210-500-0000