Violent Crime Attorney in Manvel

Brazoria County Criminal Defense Backed by Prosecutorial Experience

When you’re charged with a violent crime in Manvel, the attorney you hire shapes everything that follows. At Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez, founding attorney Steve Gonzalez brings a perspective most defense attorneys can’t: He served as a Brazoria County Assistant District Attorney from 1997 to 2000 before moving into criminal defense. That background means he knows how local prosecutors evaluate evidence, build cases, and decide when to negotiate. Our team, including associate attorney Kristina King, brings over 32 years of combined experience and has guided more than 5,000 clients through the Texas criminal justice system.

We serve clients across Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, and Fort Bend Counties and handle violent crime cases at every stage, from the initial bond hearing through trial.

How We Build Your Defense

No two violent crime cases are the same, and we don’t treat them that way. Before any hearing or negotiation, our attorneys review every piece of available evidence: police reports, 911 recordings, body camera footage, photographs, medical records, and written or recorded statements. What we find in that material often determines the direction of the defense.

Self-defense is one of the most significant justifications in violent crime cases. Under Texas law, a person who used force against an imminent threat of harm to themselves or another may have a legally recognized defense. Whether that justification applies, and how to present it effectively, depends entirely on the specific facts. We also handle domestic violence charges, where evidence review and context are especially critical to a fair outcome. Our firm offers services in both English and Spanish, so language is never a barrier to effective representation.

Violent Crime Charges We Defend in Manvel

Violent crime is a broad category under the Texas Penal Code, covering offenses that range widely in severity and potential punishment. We defend clients against the following charges:

• Assault: The most common violent crime charge in Texas, assault is typically charged as a Class A misdemeanor but can be elevated to a felony depending on factors such as the relationship between the parties or whether a deadly weapon was used.
• Aggravated Assault: Applies when serious bodily injury is caused or a deadly weapon is used, typically charged as a second-degree felony but elevatable to first-degree under conditions such as family violence involving a weapon.
• Domestic Violence: Assault or aggravated assault charges arising within a family or household relationship, carrying their own set of legal consequences and procedural considerations.
• Kidnapping: Charges involving the unlawful restraint or abduction of another person.
• Manslaughter: Defined under Texas Penal Code Section 19.04(a) as causing death through reckless conduct, classified as a second-degree felony.
• Murder: Generally charged as a first-degree felony, though it can be reduced to a second-degree felony under certain circumstances, with capital murder applying in cases involving specific aggravating factors and carrying the most severe penalties.