CRIMINAL LAWYER IN VAN, TX

CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWYER IN VAN ZANDT COUNTY

Don’t place your life, your future, your family and everything you love in the hands of a lawyer who does not have the experience to defend you. With more than 25 years in the justice system of East Texas, Matt Bingham has the experience necessary to represent you whether you are charged with a misdemeanor theft or capital murder. When you need experienced and aggressive legal representation in Van, Texas, don't hesitate to contact The Law Offices of D. Matt Bingham, PLLC, for a consultation regarding your case.

HOMICIDE LAWYER VAN, TX

Homicide is when a person causes the death of another person. Whether a homicide is in fact criminal depends on the facts of each individual case.

Whether a criminal homicide is a capital murder, murder, manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide depends on the culpable mental of the person who caused the death of the other individual. For example, if a person intentionally takes the life of another individual without legal justification, the actor would most likely be charged with murder. If the person recklessly takes the life of another individual, the charge would most likely be manslaughter.

There are many areas a defense attorney must consider in defending these types of cases. Everything from the crime scene evidence, to ballistic evidence or the instrument used to allegedly cause the death, to one of the most important issues, which is the culpable mental state of a defendant when he caused the death of the other individual, if he did. This can be the difference between a first-degree murder conviction and a conviction for a lesser charge.

The lawyer should look closely at the evidence and law, as it relates to whether the person who caused the death, was justified in doing so. It is not always illegal to take the life of another person. If the actor caused the death, but did so in self-defense, he is not guilty of any crime.

Matt has successfully tried to a jury 25 murder, capital murder and death penalty cases. Matt has lectured other prosecutors on how to litigate capital murder cases at the Center for American and International Law, and successfully tried many of the highest profile cases in East Texas over the past 23 years.

If you are being investigated for, or are charged with, a criminal homicide case, you need an attorney experienced in handling these cases. Matt Bingham is a homicide lawyer in the Van, TX area who will thoroughly investigate your case, explore every defense strategy available, and aggressively defend you throughout the case. Read more about the different crimes, consequences, and defenses for homicide by clicking below.

VIOLENT CRIMES ATTORNEY VAN

Violent crimes are crimes such as misdemeanor assault, or felony aggravated assault, robbery, aggravated robbery, injury to a child and other felony offenses where injury is caused to another person or a deadly weapon is used or exhibited in the commission of the offense. Very often these crimes come down to one person’s word against the other. It could also be a case where the defendant has a legal basis to successfully urge the affirmative defense of self-defense.

Whatever the allegations may be, you need an experienced trial lawyer who has handled these types of cases. As a prosecutor and Elected District Attorney of Smith County, Texas, for 23 years, Matt has handled hundreds of these types of cases.

DRUG OFFENSES & DRUG CRIME LAWYER VAN, TX

Drug offenses are some of the most misunderstood crimes we see today. What is legal in one state is not legal in another. For example, with the easy accessibility of items, such as “dab” pens, teens and young adults don’t know that the possession of such items is a felony. Even though the “dabs” have a very small concentration of THC, the charge can be, and usually is, a felony because the total weight of the oil is what is considered for charging purposes under the law.

People who commit such crimes are not “bad” people or criminals, they are young people who now face felony charges because our society cannot universally decide on what is or is not illegal, and the internet has made these items easily accessible.

What is not always considered, is that many times the individuals arrested have an addiction that needs to be addressed. If this is not addressed, the individual cannot move forward and will find himself in trouble again. This is sometimes lost in the prosecution of drug related crimes. Part of a successful defense is trying to take the blinders off and help the prosecutors, judges and juries see there is more to a case and a defendant then someone who is charged with possession of a controlled substance.

However, these alleged crimes are very complex. Every piece of evidence should be evaluated carefully by your attorney to ensure that it was acquired legally, is presented fairly, and no essential evidence that could be used in your defense is overlooked. Learn more about the different types of drug crimes and possible defenses by clicking the link below.

DWI - DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED | DWI LAWYER VAN, TX

DWI cases are complex in that there are many legal facets to a DWI case. It is not as simple as whether you were drinking and driving. A defense lawyer must look at everything, including:

• The reason the cop pulled you over
• The administration of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
• The arrest
• The taking of a breath sample or warrant for your blood, if one was sought

The actual testing of the blood by DPS, if your blood was taken by law enforcement, pursuant to a warrant, has to be closely scrutinized along with all facets of the collection, storing and testing of the blood.

These cases can be successfully defended, depending on the facts of each case, but only if the lawyer you hire, looks closely at every step of your case to see if any evidence is suppressible because law enforcement did not follow the law or the protocol as set by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Click below to learn about the consequences of DWI conviction, the legal aspects to challenging a DWI charge.  Call Attorney Matt Bingham, DWI lawyer in Van.

THEFT ATTORNEY VAN, TX

If you've been arrested for a theft, you could be facing a fine for what, in some cases, may seem like a minor crime. That's because even stealing a $10 item is considered a Class C Misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a $500 fine. Whether a theft case is a class C misdemeanor or first-degree felony, depends on the value of the item or items stolen.

Another major consequence to a theft conviction is being labeled a thief because it is a crime of moral turpitude (a crime of inherent dishonesty). Being convicted of theft can have long term effects on being able to secure meaningful employment.

If you have been arrested for theft, Matt Bingham will meet with you, get to know you as a person, talk to you about the case, look at every aspect of the evidence and work hard to get the best resolution possible for your case.

FRAUD ATTORNEY VAN, TX

A person commits fraud by causing loss to another through some deceptive act. Many people confuse fraud with theft. While similar, these are two different crimes, with different elements. In some cases, a person could be charged with both out of the same transaction.

Click below to learn more about the difference between theft and fraud, possible punishments for fraud, and how your case will benefit from hiring an experienced defense lawyer.

ENDANGERING A CHILD | CHILD ENDANGERMENT LAWYER VAN

If you've been charged with endangering a child, it's essential to hire an attorney who has the experience and dedication to carefully scrutinize and challenge every detail of the prosecutors case. You need a highly experienced trial lawyer.

Having served as a prosecutor and elected District Attorney in Smith County for 23 years, Matt has tried over 150 felony jury trials, including 25 murder, capital murder and death penalty cases. Matt has successfully tried many of the highest profile criminal cases in East Texas over the past 23 years. Matt Bingham was a prosecutor for over 23 years. He knows how the prosecutor prepares for a case, what they are concerned about and what they are not.

It is an invaluable tool to have been a prosecutor handling the most complex and serious cases over the past 23 years, and then take that experience and knowledge and represent defendants being prosecuted. Matt Bingham will work hard, utilizing his experience and knowledge to develop a vigorous defense on your behalf.

SEX CRIMES | SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWYER VAN

In Texas, prosecutors do aggressively prosecute sex crimes. Not only can the punishments be very severe but they also require sex offender registration, even if a defendant receives deferred adjudication probation. Unfortunately, these crimes have some of the highest occurrences of people being falsely accused. Whether the motive is revenge, to gain advantage in a child custody or divorce case, it does happen.

Simply being charged with a sex crime, even without a conviction, is life altering. If you are being investigated for a sex crime, hire the most experienced criminal defense lawyer you can.

Law Enforcement will most likely contact you during the investigation and ask for you to give a statement. You should never give a statement to law enforcement without first contacting a lawyer. You have an absolute right to remain silent and not give a statement at all – you should use it, until you have retained a highly experienced lawyer to protect you and your rights. With every word you tell law enforcement your options narrow.

If you find yourself being investigated for or charged with a sex crime, you need to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Do your homework and hire the most experienced criminal defense lawyer you can. You are being accused by The State of Texas of an extremely serious crime. Your life, your family and your freedom are at stake. You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Smith County to investigate your case, challenge the prosecutor’s case and the allegations and develop a strong defense on your behalf.

Give Matt Bingham a call today to meet with a criminal attorney in Van, TX who can, and will, fight with you and for you!