Houston Legal Blog

Texas man facing multiple charges for possession of drugs

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Drug Offenses on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

Getting pulled over by police can immediately cause a person to feel stressed. Unfortunately, a simple traffic stop could turn into a more serious situation if authorities suspect that the driver has committed other violations. For instance, if an officer suspects a driver of being under the influence of drugs or in possession of drugs, serious charges could result.

It was recently reported that one man in Texas was taken into custody under similar circumstances. Apparently, police witnessed the man making an illegal turn, and as a result, the officer conducted a traffic stop. After approaching the vehicle, the officer reportedly smelled marijuana. As a result, the officer conducted a search of the vehicle. In the trunk, the officer allegedly found black tar heroin, marijuana, Xanax and other pills.

Cell-site tracking information: Do police need a warrant?

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Criminal law on Saturday, October 13, 2018.

Remember back to when mobile phones required a glove box or center console in the car? Today, these mini computers fit in our pockets and go almost everywhere with us. Cellular phones are rarely even used for calls anymore.

AdobeStock_132889507.cell location.jpeg

The law, however, does not move at the speed of technology. For years, law enforcement agencies - federal DEA agents to local police - have asked phone carriers for cell tower records to find out where possible suspects have been. The U.S. Supreme Court in the Carpenter v. U.S. case weighed in on the issue. And it said, yes, a warrant is required to support these requests.

Texas woman faces murder charge, claims boyfriend robbed her

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Violent Crimes on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

There are many cases in which individuals may carry out actions because they felt they had no other choice. Unfortunately, these actions may not always be entirely legal, and in some instances, they may even be violent. If so, a person could face charges for murder if another person is killed due to that individual's actions.

One woman in Texas was recently arrested and charged in the death of a 36-year-old man. Reports stated that the woman had been driving an SUV and allegedly chasing the man as he rode on a motorcycle. The man -- who was reported as the woman's boyfriend -- purportedly yelled for help and wanted witnesses to call the police. The SUV eventually caught up with the motorcycle and hit it, causing the man to crash and suffer injuries.

Parents may struggle to talk to kids about divorce, child custody

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

Many Texas residents likely hate breaking bad news to their kids. As a result, when the decision to divorce was made, many parents undoubtedly struggled to find the best way to talk to their kids about the ending marriage and about possible child custody arrangements. If so, they are not alone as this is a difficulty many parents face.

If parents want to take the best approach to the conversation as they can, they may want to consider breaking the news together and answering any questions the kids might have. However, if there will be too much tension for the parents to be together, having each parent talk to the kids one-on-one may be a wiser decision. Of course, it is also prudent to make sure that the decision to divorce is final before bringing up the topic with the kids in order to avoid confusion and unnecessary upset.

Prenups may help with property division in Texas

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

Some people may think that talking about divorce will jinx their marriages, even before the exchanging of vows takes place. However, discussing a prenuptial agreement does not have to mean that discontent is inevitable. If this type of document is not created, especially by those with considerable wealth, it is possible that the property division process could become complicated in the event that divorce does take place.

It was recently reported that singer Justin Bieber chose not to create a prenup with Hailey Baldwin, whom he reportedly recently married. The report also stated that a considerable difference in net worth exists between the two individuals, as Baldwin's reaches approximately $2 million while Bieber's is closer to $265 million. Of course, even if Texas residents do not relate to that amount of wealth, creating a prenuptial agreement would still be wise.

Texas man accused of animal abuse after alleged incident with cow

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Animal Cruelty Charges on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

Many people have strong feelings when it comes to animals. As a result, there are laws in place that could lead to criminal charges for cruelty if a person is suspected of treating an animal in a manner that leads to its suffering. When an individual does face charges for animal abuse, it is important that he or she understands the allegations and how to address them.

One man in Texas will undoubtedly want to make sure he fully understands his predicament after recently being taken into custody. Reports stated that police saw a video in which the man allegedly used a truck to drag a black cow by the neck. It was unclear how police obtained the video, but they did reportedly speak to the individual who recorded the purported incident.

Co-parenting to support a child's psychological wellbeing

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Monday, September 17, 2018.

Divorce rates in the U.S. hover around 50 percent, which means many kids grow up between two homes. And research has established links between divorce and psychological problems including anxiety and depression.

AdobeStock_220708334.copareting crop.jpeg

While divorce or separation is not necessarily the cause of mental illness, the way a family deals with transition can be. Co-parenting has a profound impact on children's mental health. In this post, we discuss how to avoid mixing emotions about the end of your relationship and parenting during transition and beyond.

Man and woman charged with cocaine, other drug possession

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Drug Offenses on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

When individuals face criminal charges, they often have a desire to defend themselves. However, rather than jumping into a defense soon after the arrest, parties may want to remember that there is a time and a place to present their defenses. If people are facing charges relating to cocaine or other drug possession, it may be in their best interests to understand their legal options.

Two individuals in Texas may have different approaches to the charges that were recently brought against them. Reports stated that authorities suspect the man and woman of criminal drug activity after apparent interactions with undercover police officers. For an unknown reason, authorities stopped the vehicle occupied by the man and woman. At the time of the stop, the individuals allegedly tossed two containers from the car. Authorities located the packages, which purportedly contained methamphetamine and marijuana.

Child custody can play a role at back-to-school time

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

It is common for parents to worry about the well-being of their children. This sense of worry may be particularly high after divorce. Texas parents certainly want to make sure that child custody arrangements do not interfere with their kids' school performance, but it can be a difficult situation to navigate, especially when the marriage only recently came to an end.

There are many factors that parents will need to consider when sending kids back to school. Because finances are often tight after a divorce, it is common for parents to wonder who will pay for certain expenses. Certainly, child support may play a role in paying for basic needs, but that does not mean that the custodial parent has to pay for all of the school supplies, new clothes and items for special events. Therefore, parents may want to get together to discuss who will pay for what.

Young man accused of involvement in Texas drive-by shooting

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Violent Crimes on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

When individuals reach the age of a majority, they must face the same criminal legal proceedings as any other adult who has been charged with a crime. Even though the person may still be a teenager, he or she must take the situation seriously and determine what courses of action may help when it comes to defending against charges. When an individual has been accused of involvement in a drive-by shooting, a meaningful criminal defense could make all the difference.

It was recently reported that a young man in Texas was taken into custody due to authorities believing that he participated in a drive-by shooting. Apparently, the alleged shooting took place last month when a vehicle drove by a home and shots were fired. There were multiple people inside the home at the time of the incident, but no injuries resulted.