The authorities are typically alerted to identity theft when someone notices a fraudulent transaction or claim made in their name. Identity theft may occur on a massive scale with no need for the victim and perpetrator ever to meet, as most instances of this kind of...
Some property crimes occur because an individual wishes to gain control over the resources that belong to another person. They see cash or medication, and they decide that they want those items enough to risk breaking the law. Many other times, however, theft has a...
While graffiti has only recently gained attention as an internationally recognized art form, it’s still illegal in many places. Texas is one such place that prohibits graffiti. Making any marking or drawing on another person’s property can lead to criminal charges in...
The recipe for Coca-Cola’s syrup. KFC’s 11 secret herbs and spices. WD-40’s formulation. The algorithm to Google’s search engine. The New York Times’ methodology to pick a book for its bestseller list. What do these things have in common? They’re all trade secrets,...
Each year, many people are convicted because of eyewitness testimony. Or, in the case of those who take a plea deal because of the threat of that testimony. While many convictions based on eyewitness accounts are valid, some definitely are not. Reports show that...
If someone pleads not guilty to a criminal charge, the case will proceed to court. Yet, this rarely happens as most cases are settled by plea deal. Estimates reckon less than 3% of state cases make it to court in Texas and 89.5% of federal cases are settled by plea...
Say that you have an encounter with someone that turns into an argument. Words are exchanged, and you’re not even fully sure what you said, but you end up getting arrested for assault. Perhaps the police were called. You do not understand how you could be charged with...
Sending and receiving items through regular mail might sound like an ancient practice to some, but it remains relevant even when things like email and text messaging exist. In fact, the mail is still used to send important documents and letters to those who can’t be...
In Texas, your house is your castle, so you should be able to protect it when you need to. Under the state's Castle Doctrine, people may use deadly force, like shooting a gun, to defend their property, themselves or someone else. Because deadly force can cause death...
Most people who are arrested for drug crimes in Texas are charged with state law violations instead of federal law. However, federal law also prohibits manufacturing, possessing and selling controlled substances; state and federal law sometimes overlap. Whether state...
