https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/ Criminal defense guides for Collin County and North Texas, from Kent Starr in McKinney. en-us Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/felony-evading-motor-vehicle-texas-penal-code-3804/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/felony-evading-motor-vehicle-texas-penal-code-3804/ Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Some online sources describe vehicle evading as a state jail felony. Texas appellate decisions hold that using a motor vehicle while fleeing is a third degree felony, generally punishable by 2 to 10 years. Why the statute can appear to say otherwise. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/violation-of-protective-order-texas-consent-not-defense/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/violation-of-protective-order-texas-consent-not-defense/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Violating a protective order is a crime in Texas, even if the protected person invites contact. Learn about penalties, arrest rules, and defense strategies. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/deferred-adjudication-sex-offender-registration-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/deferred-adjudication-sex-offender-registration-texas/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT In a Texas sex offense case, deferred adjudication still counts for sex offender registration, and the duty to register can outlast supervision by years. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/sex-offense-bond-conditions-protective-orders-collin-county/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/sex-offense-bond-conditions-protective-orders-collin-county/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT After a sex offense arrest in Texas, bond conditions and protective orders can control where you live and who you contact. How each one works and ends. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-good-samaritan-law-overdose-911/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-good-samaritan-law-overdose-911/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Texas Good Samaritan Law can protect you from certain drug charges if you call 911 for an overdose. Learn about the Jessica Sosa Act and quantity limits. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-sex-crime-law-changes-september-2025/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-sex-crime-law-changes-september-2025/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Four of the bills that changed Texas sex offense law on September 1, 2025: what changed, and why the date of the alleged offense decides which law applies. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-proposition-3-bail-denial/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-proposition-3-bail-denial/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Texas Proposition 3 added Section 11d. For nine felony charges, bail must be denied if the State carries its burden at a hearing. Here is the list of nine. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-theft-charge-employment-background-check/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-theft-charge-employment-background-check/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT How a Texas theft charge reaches hiring and state licensing: moral turpitude, Occupations Code Chapter 53, FCRA seven-year limits, and the evaluation letter. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/stalking-harassment-charges-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/stalking-harassment-charges-texas/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Facing stalking or harassment charges in Texas? What Penal Code 42.07 and 42.072 actually say, the real penalties, and how these cases are defended. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/fake-lawyer-scam-tarrant-county/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/fake-lawyer-scam-tarrant-county/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A Tarrant County man was sentenced to 10 years for impersonating a lawyer to scam jail inmates. Learn how to protect your family from bail bond scams. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/intoxication-assault-manslaughter-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/intoxication-assault-manslaughter-texas/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter are serious felonies in Texas. Learn the penalties, the 2025 law changes, and how these cases are defended. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/theft-of-a-firearm-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/theft-of-a-firearm-texas/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Theft of a firearm is a state jail felony in Texas regardless of value. Learn about penalties, enhancements, and defense strategies from an experienced attorney. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-weapons-charge-ltc-license-consequences/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-weapons-charge-ltc-license-consequences/ Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Charged with a weapons offense in Collin County? How DPS suspends a Texas License to Carry under Gov. Code 411.187, and how the justice court hearing works. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/prohibited-sexual-conduct-texas-life-sentence/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/prohibited-sexual-conduct-texas-life-sentence/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Princeton man sentenced to life for prohibited sexual conduct with a relative. Learn about Texas Penal Code 25.02 penalties and defense strategies. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/which-collin-county-court-hears-your-case/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/which-collin-county-court-hears-your-case/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Collin County has 15 district courts and 7 courts at law at 2100 Bloomdale in McKinney. Here is which one hears your case and how it gets there. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/family-violence-charge-background-check-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/family-violence-charge-background-check-texas/ Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT How a Texas family violence arrest or charge reaches a background check, arrest vs conviction reporting, the FCRA 7-year rule, and how to check your record. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/dwi-vs-dui-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/dwi-vs-dui-in-texas/ Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT DWI and DUI are different charges in Texas. DWI is the Penal Code offense at any age. DUI applies only to drivers under 21, with zero tolerance. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/collin-county-pretrial-diversion/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/collin-county-pretrial-diversion/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT How Collin County's pretrial diversion program works, who may qualify, and how a completed diversion can lead to a dismissal and expunction of your record. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/threatening-to-disclose-intimate-photos-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/threatening-to-disclose-intimate-photos-texas/ Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Threatening to disclose intimate photos to obtain sexual favors or money is a crime in Texas. Learn about Penal Code 21.16 and your rights. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/drug-charge-collin-college-student/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/drug-charge-collin-college-student/ Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Charged with drug possession at Collin College? What it really means for financial aid, campus discipline, and your Collin County criminal case. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/collin-county-detention-facility-bond-process/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/collin-county-detention-facility-bond-process/ Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT How bond is set after a Collin County arrest: the Article 15.17 magistrate hearing at the McKinney jail, bond types, the schedule, and conditions. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/dwi-collin-county-texas-nursing-license/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/dwi-collin-county-texas-nursing-license/ Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT A Collin County DWI does not automatically cost you your Texas nursing license, but you likely must disclose it. How the Board of Nursing reviews a DWI. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/first-court-hearing-mckinney/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/first-court-hearing-mckinney/ Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT What to expect at your first court date in McKinney: what the judge does, why almost everyone pleads not guilty to start, and what to do before you walk in. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/bail-bond-scams-protect-your-family/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/bail-bond-scams-protect-your-family/ Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Scammers are targeting Collin County families after an arrest, demanding bail money by phone. Learn the red flags and how to protect your money. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/engaging-in-organized-criminal-activity-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/engaging-in-organized-criminal-activity-texas/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Facing an organized crime charge under Texas Penal Code 71.02? This serious offense carries enhanced penalties. Call Starr Law for a free consultation. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/are-thc-edibles-a-felony-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/are-thc-edibles-a-felony-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT In Texas, THC oil, wax, vapes, and edibles are Penalty Group 2 felonies, not misdemeanor marijuana. Even a few gummies can be charged as a felony. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/can-you-refuse-a-breathalyzer-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/can-you-refuse-a-breathalyzer-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Refusing a breath test in Texas can lead to a license suspension. Learn why the ALR notice and hearing deadline matter, separate from the criminal charge. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/deferred-adjudication-vs-probation-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/deferred-adjudication-vs-probation-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Deferred adjudication means no guilty finding and a dismissal if you finish; regular probation follows a conviction. Both are Texas community supervision. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/do-you-have-to-talk-to-the-police-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/do-you-have-to-talk-to-the-police-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Do you have to talk to the police in Texas? No. What Miranda actually covers, how to invoke your right to remain silent, and what to do during a stop. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/how-long-can-they-hold-you-in-jail-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/how-long-can-they-hold-you-in-jail-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT In Texas you must see a magistrate within 48 hours of arrest, who sets bond. If the State is not ready for trial, you may have a right to release. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/how-much-does-a-criminal-defense-lawyer-cost-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/how-much-does-a-criminal-defense-lawyer-cost-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Texas? What drives the fee, flat fee vs. hourly, what to ask before you hire, and why the first call is free. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-a-terroristic-threat-a-crime-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-a-terroristic-threat-a-crime-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Yes. A threat of violence meant to put someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury is a crime under Texas Penal Code Section 22.07, from Class B misdemeanor to felony. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-assault-a-felony-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-assault-a-felony-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Simple assault in Texas is usually a Class A misdemeanor. It becomes a felony with choking, family-violence priors, certain victims, or aggravated facts. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-theft-a-felony-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-theft-a-felony-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Theft becomes a felony in Texas at $2,500. Below that it is a misdemeanor. Some items, like a firearm, are a felony regardless of value. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/order-of-nondisclosure-texas-eligibility/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/order-of-nondisclosure-texas-eligibility/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT An order of nondisclosure seals a Texas criminal record from public view. Who qualifies, the waiting periods, and offenses that are not eligible. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-grand-jury-and-the-pre-indictment-window/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-grand-jury-and-the-pre-indictment-window/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT What is a Texas grand jury, and what is the pre-indictment window? How indictment works, true bill vs. no bill, and why the time before charges matters. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/what-happens-when-a-minor-is-arrested-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/what-happens-when-a-minor-is-arrested-in-texas/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT What happens when a minor is arrested in Texas? How juvenile court works, detention hearings, certification to adult court, and what parents should do first. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/arrested-in-collin-county-first-48-hours/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/arrested-in-collin-county-first-48-hours/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT What happens in the first 48 hours after a Collin County arrest: booking, the McKinney jail, seeing a magistrate, how bond is set, and the early decisions that matter. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/criminal-charges-immigration-consequences-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/criminal-charges-immigration-consequences-texas/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT A general overview of how a Texas criminal charge can affect a non-citizen's immigration status, and why to consult an immigration attorney too. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/dwi-cdl-disqualification-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/dwi-cdl-disqualification-texas/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT A DWI or drug charge can disqualify a Texas CDL for a year or more under federal rules, even in a personal vehicle. Here is how it works. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/es-arrestado-condado-collin-primeras-48-horas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/es-arrestado-condado-collin-primeras-48-horas/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Qué pasa en las primeras 48 horas tras un arresto en el condado de Collin: el registro, el magistrado, la fianza y las decisiones que importan. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/es-dwi-delito-grave-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/es-dwi-delito-grave-texas/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT En Texas un DWI casi siempre es un delito menor. Se vuelve delito grave en un tercer cargo, con un menor en el auto, o si hay heridos o muertos. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-a-dwi-a-felony-in-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/is-a-dwi-a-felony-in-texas/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT In Texas a DWI is usually a misdemeanor, but it becomes a felony for a third offense, a child passenger, or a crash that injures or kills someone. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/professional-license-criminal-charge-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/professional-license-criminal-charge-texas/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT A criminal charge can put a Texas professional license at risk, but Occupations Code Chapter 53 limits when a board can act. What licensees should know. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/legal-age-of-consent-texas/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/legal-age-of-consent-texas/ Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Texas sets the age of consent at 17, with a close-in-age defense. Facing an allegation where age is the issue? Kent Starr defends these cases in Collin County. Free, confidential consult. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/pornography-computer-police-see/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/pornography-computer-police-see/ Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Facing a child-pornography allegation in Texas? The state and federal charges, the penalties, and your rights if your devices are searched or you are questioned. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/how-to-clear-your-criminal-record-in-texas-a-step-by-step-guide-to-expunctions/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/how-to-clear-your-criminal-record-in-texas-a-step-by-step-guide-to-expunctions/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Learn the complete process for expunging your criminal record in Texas. Step-by-step guide covering eligibility, filing procedures, court requirements, and what happens after expunction. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-traffic-and-moving-violations-defense-strategies-and-consequences/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/texas-traffic-and-moving-violations-defense-strategies-and-consequences/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Comprehensive guide to Texas traffic violations, including common offenses, penalties, defense strategies, and how moving violations affect your driving record and insurance rates. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/understanding-probation-violations-in-texas-your-rights-and-options/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/understanding-probation-violations-in-texas-your-rights-and-options/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT What happens if you violate probation in Texas? Learn the revocation process, the penalties a judge can impose, and how to defend the allegation. https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/indictment-vs-information-texas-felony-misdemeanor/ https://criminaldefenseattorneymckinney.com/blog/indictment-vs-information-texas-felony-misdemeanor/ Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT You have been arrested. The police filed a report. You went before a magistrate judge. Now you are waiting. You hear people talk about “indictments” and