Murder & Manslaughter Charges

Get Help from a Brazoria County Criminal Defense Attorney

Violent crimes are some of the most heavily-penalized offenses in Texas law, and none more so than murder or manslaughter charges. Murder and manslaughter are both types of homicide, which is the legal term for taking the life of another. While homicide can be justified, murder and manslaughter are the types of homicide which are not justified and are the result of the negligence, carelessness, or malice on behalf of the perpetrator.

It’s not uncommon for those facing murder or manslaughter charges to face immense penalties because of the nature of these offenses, and prosecutors often don’t shy away from pursuing the toughest possible punishments. That’s why you need a Brazoria County criminal defense attorney on your side when standing up to those prosecutors—to fight back and preserve your rights and best interests. At the Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez, we’re an experienced team who have handled a wide variety of violent crime cases, and may be able to assist you through these serious times. We understand the stress you’re going through, and we’re committed to standing up for you and representing you with the utmost professionalism and tact. Our results speak for themselves—our trial tested strategies have been successful time and time again, and we may be able to help you as well.

Call the Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez today at (832) 900-9867 for a case evaluation and let a skilled legal representative stand up for you!

Manslaughter

“Manslaughter” is the term for causing loss of life through “criminal negligence.” Found in Texas Penal Code Chapter 19.04(a), this offense is charged when someone’s reckless conduct or negligent actions cause the death of an individual. However, one important element of manslaughter is that the person accused must have knowingly neglected their duty of care or ignored the risk of their conduct in order to be convicted. Failing to recognize the danger is known as criminally negligent homicide, which is a different offense completely.

Manslaughter is a second degree felony in Texas, which could carry the following penalties:

• Between two and 20 years in prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines
• Possible driver’s license suspension
• Having a felony conviction on your record

Murder

Murder is knowingly and willfully causing loss of life, and is widely believed to be the most serious type of violent crime possible. The penalties for particularly serious murder cases in Texas can include the death penalty, which means you can’t afford to take your case lightly when so much is on the line. Our attorneys may be able to help you with your defense, which is often complex, multi-layered, and requires an immense amount of strategy and careful analysis of the evidence.

Texas law defines three types of murder:

• Second degree murder: Murder that occurs in the “heat of the moment,” or when a sudden passion of rage invokes violent behavior that causes loss of life. This can carry up to 20 years in prison plus a $10,000 fine.
• Pre-meditated murder: This is murder where the act was pre-meditated, and the act was committed knowingly and intentionally. This can also include death caused by conduct that was intended to cause severe bodily injury.
• Capital murder: This is the murder of an officer of the law or firefighter, murder in the commission of another offense like robbery or kidnapping, and murder-for-hire circumstances. It’s not uncommon for prosecutors to pursue the death penalty in these instances.

Don’t leave your case up to chance; retain the experienced defense abilities of an attorney from the Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez. Contact us online today.