Posted on October 08, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Discovering that your child has been accused of a sex crime while in college is shocking for most parents. These allegations carry serious consequences, including criminal charges, potential prison time, and impacts on a young adult’s education and future opportunities. You likely have urgent questions about what this means for your child’s future. 

A good attorney can help with many of these problems. At The Crowder Law Firm, P.C., our Plano, TX sex crimes defense attorney handles very serious sex crime cases and has a proven record of over 300 not guilty verdicts and acquittals. We offer free consultations to review your child’s situation and explain the steps you can take.

What Should I Do First if My Son is Accused of a Sex Crime?

The first step is to remain calm and avoid acting impulsively. Do not allow your child to speak to police, school officials, or anyone connected to the allegation without consulting an attorney. Anything they say can be used in the investigation or in court.

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 Posted on September 30, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Texas is known to have strong self-defense protections, especially when firearms are involved. If you are facing a gun-related charge, Texas’s "Stand Your Ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws may affect your case. These rules are often misunderstood, but when applied correctly, they can sometimes provide a powerful defense. A Plano, TX weapons charge defense lawyer at The Crowder Law Firm, P.C. can explain how these laws work, when they apply, and how they may be used in your case.

What Is Texas’s "Stand Your Ground" Law?

In the past, Texas law required people to retreat, if possible, before using deadly force. That changed in 2007 when the state expanded self-defense rights. Under Texas Penal Code § 9.32, you do not have to retreat if you are in a place you are allowed to be, as long as you did not start the fight and were not committing a crime. If you reasonably believe deadly force is needed to protect yourself from death, serious injury, or certain violent crimes, you may stand your ground.

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 Posted on September 25, 2025 in Criminal Defense

If you have been arrested or even just questioned by police, you may already feel the walls closing in. Police officers are trained to make you feel like talking is your only choice. But if you talk to police without a lawyer, you put yourself at serious risk.

Every word you say can be twisted, taken out of context, or used against you in court. Even if you are innocent, nervous answers or poorly chosen words can make it harder to defend yourself. That is why the smartest thing you can do when facing serious charges is to stay calm and silent, and call an experienced Collin County criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Why Talking Without a Lawyer Is Dangerous

Police are not your friends when you are under investigation. Their job is to gather evidence that can lead to charges and convictions. They may act friendly or say they "just want to hear your side." What they really want is information they can use against you.

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 Posted on August 06, 2025 in Criminal Defense

In the state of Texas, prostitution laws (Texas Penal Code Title 9, Section 43.02) target more than street-based transactions that offer sex for money. In some cases, "non-traditional" relationships where one person provides financial support, housing, or expensive gifts in exchange for ongoing intimacy can come under legal scrutiny. These arrangements are often known as being "kept," or having a "sugar daddy" (or sugar mama).

This type of arrangement can blur the legal lines between the crime of prostitution and a consensual adult arrangement. If you find yourself being charged with prostitution for having a less-than-traditional arrangement, you must speak to a highly experienced Plano, TX criminal defense lawyer. The fallout from a prostitution conviction can be significant, both immediately and for the foreseeable future.

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 Posted on July 24, 2025 in Federal Crimes

While federal agents listening to your phone calls and reading your texts may sound like something out of a spy movie, in Texas federal cases, it is a very real possibility if you are under investigation. The government can and does use wiretap warrants to monitor communications in investigations involving drugs, fraud, organized crime, and other federal crimes.

If you have ever wondered whether the federal government is listening to your conversations, it is essential to understand the process and your rights. An experienced Texas federal crimes lawyer can help determine whether a wiretap is on your phone, and, if so, help you mitigate potential charges in some cases.

What is a Federal Wiretap Warrant and When Can It Be Used?

The definition of a federal wiretap warrant can be found in Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. The agencies most likely to be involved in wiretap investigations in Texas include the DEA, FBI, and ATF. There are differences between state and federal wiretap authority. Federal laws establish the baseline privacy protections for all wire, oral, and electronic communications. Texas, and many other states, are "one-party" consent regarding recording conversations, meaning an individual can record a conversation if they are a participant, or if one participant consents.  

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 Posted on July 18, 2025 in Criminal Defense

While not all inappropriate behavior or even public nudity results in criminal charges, in Texas, certain acts can quickly cross the legal line into indecent exposure. Although indecent exposure could stem from a prank taken too far, or even a misunderstanding, if you have been charged with indecent exposure, it is no laughing matter. A conviction for indecent exposure can have serious consequences, including, in some cases, mandated sex offender registration.

So, when does a moment of poor judgment become a criminal act? Under Texas Penal Code Section 21.08, the key legal elements of indecent exposure include the exposure of one’s genitals with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. The law also requires that another person witnessed the exposure and found it offensive or alarming. A Plano, TX criminal defense attorney can build a strong defense on your behalf to avoid a conviction that could adversely affect the rest of your life.

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 Posted on July 11, 2025 in Criminal Defense

In the state of Texas, those convicted of certain sex offenses, especially sex offenses against children, must legally register as sex offenders under the Sex Offender Registration Program. The sex offender registry is not optional, and failure to comply comes with serious legal consequences. Something as simple as forgetting to update a home address or more serious issues, such as skipping annual verification or willfully avoiding registration, can trigger felony charges, extended registration periods, and even prison time.

If you are facing charges of failing to register or another type of sex offender registry issue, it can be beneficial to know what the law requires and what penalties you face. Having an experienced Plano, TX criminal defense lawyer to walk you through the process can be an invaluable resource.  A strong legal defense can potentially keep you out of prison, so it is important that you not wait to "see what happens."

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 Posted on July 04, 2025 in Federal Crimes

Being charged with a federal crime is serious in its own right, but if you are already on state or federal probation or parole, the consequences can multiply quickly. A new arrest can trigger a probation or parole violation that could send you back to jail even before your new charges are resolved.

It is essential to understand how these overlapping legal issues are addressed in federal court, what the government must prove, and how an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you navigate the complexities. Now is not the time to try to handle your legal issues on your own; call a knowledgeable Plano, TX criminal defense attorney who is skilled in handling federal charges.

Why are New Federal Charges While on Probation or Parole so Serious?

A key condition of probation and parole is the requirement to obey the law and refrain from committing further offenses. Committing a new crime directly violates these terms. In many instances, committing a new criminal offense while on parole or probation can be serious enough to warrant revocation. Revocation means the person can be sent back to prison to serve all or part of his or her original sentence that was suspended through probation or parole.

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 Posted on June 27, 2025 in Criminal Defense

A Jacksonville, TX man was recently convicted of sex trafficking teens, leading to a sentence of life in federal prison. The 28-year-old man received seven life sentences on June 18th after being convicted of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. The teenage girls were recruited via social media and deceived by promises of money for modeling.

The girls were then placed in hotels in the Tyler, TX area, and sex advertisements were placed on the internet. Some of the victims were as young as 13 years old. Sex trafficking charges in the state are among the most serious accusations a person can face. These charges carry severe criminal penalties, as well as lengthy prison sentences and mandatory sex offender registration.

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 Posted on June 20, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Facing sex crime charges in the state of Texas can be overwhelming. The penalties for a conviction include lengthy prison sentences, sex offender registration, and a permanent criminal record. However, in some cases, a trial is not the only path forward, and if you can avoid a trial, you will also avoid much of the ugliness that accompanies sex crime trials.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys commonly engage in plea negotiations in an effort to resolve charges without ever going to court. If you are facing sex crime charges, a well-negotiated plea deal may reduce your penalties or perhaps even reclassify your offense. In some cases, charges can be dismissed entirely. When you have an experienced Plano, TX criminal defense attorney who is highly skilled in plea bargaining, you could end up with a much better outcome.

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