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DNA evidence can provide valuable information about a crime, including information about who may have been involved in the crime. DNA evidence has the potential to help authorities identify potential suspects more accurately than they would be able to identify them by relying exclusively on other types of evidence. A Texas law passed last year aims to increase the amount of DNA evidence available to investigators by requiring individuals who are arrested for certain felonies to provide DNA samples.
The Krystal Jean Baker Act became law last June. The law is named for a young woman who was abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed in 1996. Although authorities collected DNA evidence around the time of Krystal’s death, they were not able to solve the case. In 2010, a man named Kevin Smith was arrested for a drug-related offense in Louisiana. At the time of his arrest, his DNA was sampled and entered into the national database. That sample linked Smith to the Baker case, and Kevin Smith pled guilty to the murder.
Some of the felony offenses that now require arrestees to provide a DNA sample under the Krystal Jean Baker Act are human trafficking, robbery, sexual assault, prostitution, capital murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. The law differs from some DNA sample regulations in that a defendant need only be arrested before they are required to provide a DNA sample via cheek swabs when they are booked into jail. No conviction is required.
When DNA samples are collected according to the Act, they are entered into a national database called CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System. Since the law was passed, it has enabled authorities to resolve cases that had gone cold. There are numerous reports of cases in Texas and elsewhere that have been resolved since the passage of the Krystal Jean Baker Act. For example, a recent arrest for sexual assault led to the offender’s DNA being linked to a 2019 sexual assault that had not yet been solved. A September 2019 arrest for theft led to the resolution of a homicide that happened in 2011. One arrest made in connection with a recent sexual assault led to the resolution of two other sexual assault cases.
Defendants who are facing charges for crimes they did not commit stand to benefit from the Krystal Jean Baker Act. Often, people focus on DNA evidence as a way to identify guilty parties. It is crucial that we also view DNA evidence as a way to avoid incriminating the wrong people. Many people who commit crimes are repeat offenders. As arrests for recent crimes garner additional DNA samples for the CODIS database, authorities have more opportunities to connect the correct person with each offense.
If you have been charged with a crime, your freedom is at stake. Fortunately, you do not have to defend your freedom on your own. A Texas criminal defense attorney is a powerful ally who can help you protect what is most important to you. To learn more about how a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.
DNA evidence can provide valuable information about a crime, including information about who may have been involved in the crime. DNA evidence has the potential to help authorities identify potential suspects more accurately than they would be able to identify them by relying exclusively on other types of evidence. A Texas law passed last year aims to increase the amount of DNA evidence available to investigators by requiring individuals who are arrested for certain felonies to provide DNA samples.
The Krystal Jean Baker Act became law last June. The law is named for a young woman who was abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed in 1996. Although authorities collected DNA evidence around the time of Krystal’s death, they were not able to solve the case. In 2010, a man named Kevin Smith was arrested for a drug-related offense in Louisiana. At the time of his arrest, his DNA was sampled and entered into the national database. That sample linked Smith to the Baker case, and Kevin Smith pled guilty to the murder.
Some of the felony offenses that now require arrestees to provide a DNA sample under the Krystal Jean Baker Act are human trafficking, robbery, sexual assault, prostitution, capital murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. The law differs from some DNA sample regulations in that a defendant need only be arrested before they are required to provide a DNA sample via cheek swabs when they are booked into jail. No conviction is required.
When DNA samples are collected according to the Act, they are entered into a national database called CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System. Since the law was passed, it has enabled authorities to resolve cases that had gone cold. There are numerous reports of cases in Texas and elsewhere that have been resolved since the passage of the Krystal Jean Baker Act. For example, a recent arrest for sexual assault led to the offender’s DNA being linked to a 2019 sexual assault that had not yet been solved. A September 2019 arrest for theft led to the resolution of a homicide that happened in 2011. One arrest made in connection with a recent sexual assault led to the resolution of two other sexual assault cases.
Defendants who are facing charges for crimes they did not commit stand to benefit from the Krystal Jean Baker Act. Often, people focus on DNA evidence as a way to identify guilty parties. It is crucial that we also view DNA evidence as a way to avoid incriminating the wrong people. Many people who commit crimes are repeat offenders. As arrests for recent crimes garner additional DNA samples for the CODIS database, authorities have more opportunities to connect the correct person with each offense.
If you have been charged with a crime, your freedom is at stake. Fortunately, you do not have to defend your freedom on your own. A Texas criminal defense attorney is a powerful ally who can help you protect what is most important to you. To learn more about how a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.
A young man is dead after the vehicle he was driving was hit by a drunk driver who did not yield the right of way. The drunk driver turned left in front of the oncoming vehicle, which had the right of way at the intersection. The vehicles collided. The twenty-year-old man died at the crash scene. The drunk driver was arrested after he was transported to a hospital to be examined for injuries and exhibited signs of intoxication. This is the fourth time that this particular driver has been arrested for DWI. The driver was convicted of DWI after each of his three previous arrests. In addition to DWI charges, the driver faces a felony murder charge in connection with the fatal crash.
Repeat offense DWI drivers face increasing penalties each time they drive drunk. Unfortunately, the high number of drivers who continue to drink and drive illustrates that the threat of harsher penalties may not be enough to keep people from continuing to drink and drive after they are convicted of a DWI. Approximately one in three drunk driving arrests involve people who have already been arrested for DWI one or more times.
Repeat DWI offenders are four times as likely as first-time offenders to be involved in an alcohol-related car crash. The risk of a wreck increases with each subsequent DWI conviction. Twenty-eight people die from alcohol-related wrecks every day in America. One or more people are hurt in alcohol-related crashes every one and a half minutes. In alcohol-related wrecks that result in one or more deaths, the blood alcohol level of the driver who caused the collision is often double the legal limit. Repeated drunk driving is hazardous, even if you are never arrested for it.
There are individuals who choose to drink and drive even though they are fully aware of both the increased penalties associated with repeat DWI convictions and the increased risk of an automobile wreck that accompanies repeated incidences of driving drunk. Alcohol addiction is a serious concern, and if you believe that you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, it is essential that you seek help or encourage them to seek help. People can overcome alcohol addiction and the struggles that go along with it, but they cannot do so on their own. When people who struggle with alcohol addiction are connected with people or organizations who are trained to help them, they are more likely to overcome their addiction than people who try to fight against it on their own.
If you are facing DWI charges, a Texas DWI Defense Attorney can help you protect your liberty, your family, and your freedom. They can also handle the legal details of your DWI case while you focus your energy on recovering from the personal concerns that your DWI arrest created in your life. Call Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, at (903) 753-7499.
One of the most common reactions to a DWI arrest is surprise. Many DWI defendants report feeling surprised that they were arrested for DWI because they did not think that they were drunk. It’s possible that you might be as surprised as those unlucky drivers were to learn that the law enforcement officers who patrol Texas roadways are not only looking for drivers who are drunk. They are looking for drivers who have been drinking. You can be arrested for DWI if an officer suspects that you have been drinking, whether you are drunk or not.
In addition to the surprise that accompanies the occurrence of a DWI arrest, many DWI defendants find themselves surprised by how quickly the costs of a DWI arrest add up. You’ll need to post bail, and you’ll have to pay any fees involved in towing and impounding your vehicle. Losing your driver’s license forces you to seek alternative methods of transportation to all of the places that you usually go to, and that often involves paying someone to take you there. There are court costs associated with DWI cases, and you’ll more than likely have to pay attorneys’ fees unless you qualify for the services of a public defender. Even if you do qualify for public defender services, you may choose to retain a private attorney to represent you in your DWI case, which costs money. Additionally, the resolution of your DWI case may include the payment of a fine. Many DWI defendants in Texas report incurring costs of between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars throughout their DWI case.
In addition to the monetary costs of a DWI arrest, the personal cost of drinking and driving is high. Many people have hectic lives, and a DWI arrest can add many tasks and burdens to the list of responsibilities and activities you already have on your plate. Meeting with an attorney and going to court takes time, and it is often time that you would otherwise be at work. You may lose additional work time attending any classes, appointments, and probation that are required as part of the resolution of your DWI case. If you lose your job or if you were in the process of looking for a job when you were arrested for DWI, that DWI may make the jobs you want harder to get. You might also encounter difficulties in applying to college or applying for public or private benefits, programs, and even housing. Your DWI arrest may even place a strain on the relationships that are most important to you.
If you consider the financial and personal costs associated with a DWI arrest, you may conclude that it’s simply not worth it to drive after you have had even one drink. If you are already facing the costs of a DWI arrest, do not let the cost of attorneys’ fees prevent you from aligning yourself with someone who can help you walk through your DWI case in pursuit of the best possible resolution. A Texas DWI defense attorney can help you protect your liberty, your family, your freedom, and other things that are important to you. Call Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, at (903) 753-7499.
One of the most common reactions to a DWI arrest is surprise. Many DWI defendants report feeling surprised that they were arrested for DWI because they did not think that they were drunk. It’s possible that you might be as surprised as those unlucky drivers were to learn that the law enforcement officers who patrol Texas roadways are not only looking for drivers who are drunk. They are looking for drivers who have been drinking. You can be arrested for DWI if an officer suspects that you have been drinking, whether you are drunk or not.
In addition to the surprise that accompanies the occurrence of a DWI arrest, many DWI defendants find themselves surprised by how quickly the costs of a DWI arrest add up. You’ll need to post bail, and you’ll have to pay any fees involved in towing and impounding your vehicle. Losing your driver’s license forces you to seek alternative methods of transportation to all of the places that you usually go to, and that often involves paying someone to take you there. There are court costs associated with DWI cases, and you’ll more than likely have to pay attorneys’ fees unless you qualify for the services of a public defender. Even if you do qualify for public defender services, you may choose to retain a private attorney to represent you in your DWI case, which costs money. Additionally, the resolution of your DWI case may include the payment of a fine. Many DWI defendants in Texas report incurring costs of between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars throughout their DWI case.
In addition to the monetary costs of a DWI arrest, the personal cost of drinking and driving is high. Many people have hectic lives, and a DWI arrest can add many tasks and burdens to the list of responsibilities and activities you already have on your plate. Meeting with an attorney and going to court takes time, and it is often time that you would otherwise be at work. You may lose additional work time attending any classes, appointments, and probation that are required as part of the resolution of your DWI case. If you lose your job or if you were in the process of looking for a job when you were arrested for DWI, that DWI may make the jobs you want harder to get. You might also encounter difficulties in applying to college or applying for public or private benefits, programs, and even housing. Your DWI arrest may even place a strain on the relationships that are most important to you.
If you consider the financial and personal costs associated with a DWI arrest, you may conclude that it’s simply not worth it to drive after you have had even one drink. If you are already facing the costs of a DWI arrest, do not let the cost of attorneys’ fees prevent you from aligning yourself with someone who can help you walk through your DWI case in pursuit of the best possible resolution. A Texas DWI defense attorney can help you protect your liberty, your family, your freedom, and other things that are important to you. Call Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, at (903) 753-7499.
One of the most common reactions to a DWI arrest is surprise. Many DWI defendants report feeling surprised that they were arrested for DWI because they did not think that they were drunk. It’s possible that you might be as surprised as those unlucky drivers were to learn that the law enforcement officers who patrol Texas roadways are not only looking for drivers who are drunk. They are looking for drivers who have been drinking. You can be arrested for DWI if an officer suspects that you have been drinking, whether you are drunk or not.
In addition to the surprise that accompanies the occurrence of a DWI arrest, many DWI defendants find themselves surprised by how quickly the costs of a DWI arrest add up. You’ll need to post bail, and you’ll have to pay any fees involved in towing and impounding your vehicle. Losing your driver’s license forces you to seek alternative methods of transportation to all of the places that you usually go to, and that often involves paying someone to take you there. There are court costs associated with DWI cases, and you’ll more than likely have to pay attorneys’ fees unless you qualify for the services of a public defender. Even if you do qualify for public defender services, you may choose to retain a private attorney to represent you in your DWI case, which costs money. Additionally, the resolution of your DWI case may include the payment of a fine. Many DWI defendants in Texas report incurring costs of between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars throughout their DWI case.
In addition to the monetary costs of a DWI arrest, the personal cost of drinking and driving is high. Many people have hectic lives, and a DWI arrest can add many tasks and burdens to the list of responsibilities and activities you already have on your plate. Meeting with an attorney and going to court takes time, and it is often time that you would otherwise be at work. You may lose additional work time attending any classes, appointments, and probation that are required as part of the resolution of your DWI case. If you lose your job or if you were in the process of looking for a job when you were arrested for DWI, that DWI may make the jobs you want harder to get. You might also encounter difficulties in applying to college or applying for public or private benefits, programs, and even housing. Your DWI arrest may even place a strain on the relationships that are most important to you.
If you consider the financial and personal costs associated with a DWI arrest, you may conclude that it’s simply not worth it to drive after you have had even one drink. If you are already facing the costs of a DWI arrest, do not let the cost of attorneys’ fees prevent you from aligning yourself with someone who can help you walk through your DWI case in pursuit of the best possible resolution. A Texas DWI defense attorney can help you protect your liberty, your family, your freedom, and other things that are important to you. Call Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, at (903) 753-7499.
Texas crime labs recently partnered with Sam Houston University to develop a lab test to analyze the THC content of plant material or oil. The test is an important step forward following the legalization of hemp in Texas. The test enables authorities to determine whether a sample of oil or plant material is legal hemp, with a THC content of 0.3%, or illegal marijuana, with a THC content above 0.3%. However, the test has come too late for some defendants. Some individuals have already been penalized wrongfully for hemp use, sale, or possession after being arrested on suspicion of possessing, using, or selling marijuana. While the TCH test is helpful, it is not instantaneous, like the breathalyzer tests often used to screen drivers suspected of driving drunk. Defendants in hemp and marijuana cases face the possibility of detention while their substance sample is analyzed.
One man has already paid a steep price for possessing and transporting hemp. On December 6, as Aneudy Gonzalez was driving a rental truck full of hemp from California to New York, he was pulled over outside of Amarillo, Texas. The officer who made the traffic stop arrested Gonzalez and sent him to prison on federal drug charges. During the traffic stop, Gonzalez told the officer that he was a contract driver transporting hemp from California to New York. He also showed the officer a lab report that indicated that the THC content of his cargo was within the legal limit. The officer who arrested Gonzalez claims that he relied on his training and experience in determining that he believed the plant material in the truck was marijuana.
Gonzalez spent a month in jail, facing federal drug trafficking charges that could have kept him behind prison bars and away from his family for the rest of his life. During the month he was incarcerated, Aneudy Gonzalez missed out on celebrating Christmas with family, including his children. Fortunately, Gonzalez was released from jail earlier this month, after test results from the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) crime lab in Dallas confirmed that the 3,350 pounds of plant material he was hauling in the rental truck is legal hemp. Federal prosecutors have requested that the charges against Gonzalez be dismissed. The truck and its cargo of hemp are to be returned. Attorneys for Gonzalez plan to pursue a civil lawsuit in connection with his arrest and incarceration.
The state of Texas has legalized hemp. The state also claims that it does not want to interfere with the interstate commerce of hemp. Unfortunately, the officers who are responsible for enforcing criminal penalties for marijuana sale, use, and possession sometimes mistakenly arrest and charge individuals who are in possession of hemp. A Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you set the record straight in your hemp case. To learn more about how a Texas criminal defense attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.