Houston Legal Blog

Altercation leads to murder charge in Texas

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Violent Crimes on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

In certain situations, individuals may feel hopeless. They could think that there is no way out of a particular predicament and that they will have to contend with the negative consequences. Someone facing charges for murder may have such feelings, but before becoming resigned to a negative fate, the person may want to remember that options are available for defending against charges and for working toward positive outcomes.

Recent reports indicated that a man was taken into custody on a charge for murder in Texas. The incident from which the arrest stemmed took place in October when the man and another individual got into an altercation. It was unclear what caused the altercation, but the situation apparently became physical. The second man reportedly suffered significant trauma as a result, and he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

Texas college student facing drug charges after doom room search

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Drug Offenses on Monday, November 26, 2018.

Numerous people choose to go through many experiences while they are in college. They may try out new clubs, look into classes on various topics, make new friends or go on exhilarating trips. However, some individuals may choose to experiment with more harmful activities, and they could end up facing drug charges at a young age.

It was recently reported that a student at Texas A&M University was taken into custody on drug-related charges. Reports stated that a resident advisor noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room and reported the smell. As a result, campus police came to the dorm and conducted a search after reportedly obtaining a search warrant. Officers allegedly found marijuana, LSD, THC oil and drug paraphernalia.

Felony charges leveled after man allegedly shoots cat with BB gun

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Animal Cruelty Charges on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

A single decision can have lasting impacts on a person's life. In some cases, felony charges can result if the choice negatively affects another person or, in certain instances, animals. Animal cruelty charges can come with severe punishments if a conviction takes place, which is why it is important that accused parties understand their legal rights.

One man in Texas will certainly want to determine what defense strategies will work best for his case after recently being taken into custody. Reports stated that a witness saw a cat eating out of a bowl on an apartment balcony. The witness then allegedly heard a loud noise and saw the cat seize up. At this time, the witness also purportedly saw the man with an object in his hand.

When do family law and criminal law issues overlap?

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

The typical case is when accusations of domestic violence occur at the end of a relationship. Lies and deceit during the divorce process can also be the basis for criminal charges. In one case, a husband's attempt to falsify the value of a retirement account resulted in criminal theft charges.

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Contributions made to retirement accounts (pensions, 401(k) accounts, IRAs or deferred compensation accounts) during a marriage are community property in Texas. Determining the value of accounts may be as easy as reviewing an annual statement. Other times a soon-to-be-ex lies about the value of a nest egg or hides an account to keep more for himself or herself.

Manslaughter, assault charges filed after crash involving kids

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

In an instant, a mistake could change lives forever. Many people regret mistakes that resulted in the suffering of others, but they may still have to handle criminal charges if their errors in judgment had tragic outcomes. When a car accident results in a death, the driver considered at fault could face charges for manslaughter.

It was recently reported that a Texas father is currently facing charges for manslaughter and aggravated assault. According to reports, the father had apparently picked his 8-year-old and 5-year-old sons up from school and was speeding when they were involved in a crash. The father's vehicle crashed into a wrecker that was stopped at a traffic light and then collided with a tow truck. Authorities do not believe that either child was wearing a seatbelt.

Rushing divorce to beat alimony law change may not be wise

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.

With the year quickly coming to an end, many people are expecting changes within a few months. For some, those changes may include ending their marriages. Though divorce can often take a considerable amount of time, changes to alimony and tax laws will go into effect after the first of the year, and many Texas residents may be wanting to sever ties quickly.

Because the changes will result in a reversal of tax obligations in relation to alimony, many people want to get their divorces finalized by the end of the year. Parties who pay alimony currently have the ability to deduct their payments from their taxes, but after the new year, they will be responsible for paying taxes on those support payments. Of course, some individuals may not have the ability to open and close a divorce case in just a couple of months.

2 men charged with drug crimes in Texas

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Drug Offenses on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

There are a number of situations in which people may not fully know where to find answers for their questions. When it comes to facing criminal charges for drug crimes, individuals often need to find reliable information about their defense options. Fortunately, legal resources can often help.

Two men in Texas are currently facing serious legal predicaments that they will likely want help addressing. According to reports, each man had outstanding warrants, and somehow police located the men inside an SUV at an apartment complex. Authorities apparently tried to stop the vehicle, but the individuals drove away, which led to a short pursuit. The vehicle apparently came to a stop, but details regarding the event were few.

Some parents may dread child custody exchanges

On behalf of Tommy Mingledorff of Mingledorff Law posted in Family Law on Thursday, October 25, 2018.

Many Texas parents face difficult scenarios when it comes to dealing with their ex-spouses. Even if the child custody terms were agreeable for both parents, a considerable amount of contention could still exist. Because the children often go back and forth between parents, custody exchanges need to take place.

Unfortunately, these exchanges do not always go off without a hitch. In some cases, parents may have so much continued dislike for each other that an argument could arise any time they are together. If parents do have such contentious relationships, they may find it in their best interests and the best interests of the kids to possibly send a third party to conduct the exchange, such as a grandparent or close friend of the family.

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.

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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.