Asset Forfeiture in Drug Crime Cases How Property Is Seized in Texas and When You Can Get It Back If you’ve been arrested for a drug offense in Texas, the consequences don’t just stop at jail time or fines. You could also lose your car, cash, home, or other property—even if you’re never [...]
Search and Seizure Laws in Drug Cases Your Legal Protections During Stops, Arrests, and Searches in Texas If you’re facing a drug charge in Texas, the first question your defense attorney will ask isn’t “What did they find?”—it’s “How did they find it?” That’s because under the U.S. Constitution and Texas law, you have powerful [...]
Enhancements for Repeat Offenders in Drug Cases Habitual Offender Laws and Consequences in Texas If you've already been convicted of a drug offense in Texas, any new charge puts you in a far more dangerous position. That’s because under Texas law, repeat drug offenders face enhanced penalties—and in some cases, those enhancements can [...]
David Smith Law Firm, PLLC Named Finalist in the Houston Chronicle Best of the Best 2025 for DWI Defense We are deeply honored and absolutely thrilled to share that David Smith Law Firm, PLLC has been named a finalist in the Houston Chronicle’s 2025 “Best of the Best” Awards—in the category of DWI [...]
Federal vs. Texas Drug Laws: Key Differences When Drug Charges Escalate to the Federal Level If you've been arrested for a drug offense in Texas, your first concern is probably whether you're facing state or federal charges. And that’s a smart question—because the difference between Texas drug law and federal drug law can mean the [...]
What Makes a Drug Crime a Felony in Texas? Understanding Thresholds and Aggravating Factors When it comes to drug offenses in Texas, not all charges are created equal. A small amount of marijuana might land you with a misdemeanor, while the same weight of a different substance could get you a felony and a potential [...]
Victory in the Courtroom: Honored to Be Recognized for a Trial Setting Dismissal I’m proud and deeply honored to share that I was recently recognized by ShowMeTheJustice.com for earning a trial setting dismissal in Cause Number 2535752, a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) case out of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 10. This recognition [...]
How Texas Classifies Drugs by Penalty Group A Beginner’s Guide to Penalty Groups 1–4 and Related Charges If you or someone you love is facing a drug charge in Texas, one of the first things the court will look at is which Penalty Group the substance falls under. These penalty groups are the foundation of [...]
Drug Schedules in Texas Explained A Beginner’s Guide to Schedule I–V Substances and Their Legal Significance When it comes to drug laws in Texas, one of the most important things to understand is how the law categorizes controlled substances. Every illegal drug—or even legally prescribed medication with abuse potential—is classified into a “schedule.” [...]
Texas Controlled Substances Act: What You Should Know A Beginner’s Guide to Key Drug-Related Laws in Texas If you've heard the phrase “Controlled Substances Act” and felt overwhelmed by legal jargon—you’re not alone. Texas drug laws are strict, complicated, and packed with penalties that can turn a small mistake into a life-changing conviction. [...]
Driving with Drugs in Your Car: What You Need to Know Vehicle-Related Drug Charges and Searches in Texas Getting pulled over in Texas is stressful enough—but if police find drugs in your vehicle, that traffic stop can quickly turn into a life-altering arrest. Whether it's a single pill in the glove box or a trunk [...]
Conspiracy Charges in Drug Crime Cases When You're Charged for a Plan, Not an Act In Texas, you don’t need to be caught with drugs in your possession—or even physically present when a drug transaction takes place—to face serious criminal charges. If law enforcement believes you were part of a plan to commit a drug-related [...]
Drug-Free Zone Enhancements in Texas Increased Penalties for Offenses Near Schools, Parks, and Other Protected Areas In Texas, getting caught with drugs is serious—but where you’re caught can make your situation much worse. If you’re arrested for a drug offense near certain protected areas, like a school, daycare, or park, prosecutors can apply “drug-free zone” [...]
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia What Counts and How It’s Penalized in Texas While most people think of drug charges in terms of illegal substances, Texas law also makes it a crime to possess or distribute drug paraphernalia—the tools and materials associated with using, making, or distributing drugs. It’s one of the most commonly charged (and [...]
Prescription Drug Fraud in Texas How Fraudulent Prescriptions Can Lead to Criminal Charges Prescription drug abuse and fraud are increasingly on law enforcement’s radar—not just in federal investigations, but right here in Texas courtrooms. Many people mistakenly believe that prescription drug charges are less serious than cases involving street drugs. The reality? Prescription drug fraud [...]
Earning a Trial Setting Dismissal in a DWI Case I’m proud to share that I was recently listed by Show Me The Justice for earning a trial setting dismissal for my client in Cause Number 2534680 for the offense of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). While being listed therein is not the end-goal, this recognition is [...]
Drug Trafficking and Distribution Charges Texas vs. Federal Drug Trafficking Crimes—What You Need to Know If you’re facing drug trafficking or distribution charges in Texas, you’re not dealing with your average possession case. Trafficking and distribution are among the most serious drug offenses under both state and federal law—often carrying mandatory prison sentences, six-figure fines, [...]
Texas is on the verge of dramatically shifting its stance on cannabis-related products. Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), which bans the sale and possession of consumable THC products—including those derived from federally legal hemp—has now passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature. All eyes are now on Governor Greg Abbott, whose signature would make the [...]
Drug Manufacturing Charges in Houston What Counts as Manufacturing and How It's Prosecuted in Texas Drug manufacturing isn’t just something you see in movies about meth labs or cartel operations. In Texas—and especially in Houston—drug manufacturing charges are surprisingly common and incredibly serious. If you’re caught producing, preparing, or even possessing equipment used to make [...]
Possession with Intent to Distribute in Texas What Elevates a Simple Possession Charge If you’re charged with drug possession in Texas, the stakes are high—but when the charge includes “intent to distribute,” things get much more serious. A simple possession case might result in probation or drug treatment, but a possession with intent charge often [...]
