If you have been arrested in Ennis, Waxahachie, Italy, Milford, Maypearl, Red Oak, Palmer, Ovilla, Bardwell or any other location in Ellis County, Texas you have an important decision to make. Who do you get to protect your freedom, your good name, and your liberty? This is a question whose answer may change the course of your life, forever.

Ellis County, Texas is the last remaining County in Texas that has a “closed file policy”. What that means is that it is different from all other counties in the State of Texas when dealing with criminal cases such as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Possession of a Controlled Substance, Assault and every other criminal case in Ellis County, Texas. In other counties in Texas, the criminal defense attorney/lawyer is generally able to look at the entire file of the prosecutor. This includes witness statements, police reports, and anything else of relevance to the criminal case. NOT IN ELLIS COUNTY. Everything that someone accused of a crime in Ellis County gets must be fought for. It takes an attorney who has spent their career fighting that fight for their clients to understand how to navigate these unfair waters and ensure that the client is protected and the defense of the case is thorough and fair.

When choosing a criminal defense lawyer/attorney in Ellis County, Texas you might want to consider the experience that lawyer or attorney has in fighting for what they are entitled to when defending their client’s freedom and reputation.

It is imperative that someone accused of a criminal act in Ennis, Waxahachie or any other town in Ellis County have an attorney or attorneys that are not afraid to fight for what is just, regardless of the archaic manner in which the Ellis County District Attorney protects and hides evidence.

You will want to consider if the attorney/lawyer and his team are fighters or not. If your attorney/lawyer is not a fighter, and is going to play nice when a fight is needed you will not end up with the justice you or your loved one, your son, your daughter deserve.

At Griffith & Associates we pride ourselves as attorneys and lawyers in Ellis County and throughout Texas who are not afraid to enter the fight for our client and continue the fight until the client receives the justice the Texas and Federal Constitution require. The Ellis County District Attorney may be trying to hide the ball but as long as the attorney defending you knows this and passionately and tirelessly fights to get to the truth with experience and tenacity justice can be obtained.

If the answer to the original question asked in this article is Griffith & Associates please rest assured that you have hired Ellis County criminal defense lawyers and attorneys who fight as a team and don’t back down or get bullied.

Mark Griffith,
Griffith & Associates
(Ellis County Criminal Defense Lawyer)

A Forgery charge in Ellis County, Texas can mean serious business. On any given docket before the 40th Judicial District Court you will often see someone charged with Forgery.

What is Forgery? Section 32.21 currently governs forgery charges in Texas, and can either be a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances involved. Although not all encompassing, the basic definition of Forgery is the criminal act of making, or altering, a written instrument for the purpose of fraud or deceit. 32.21(b) of the Texas Penal Code states that a person commits an offense if he forges a writing with intent to defraud or harm another.

Most of the forgery charges in Ellis County tend to be filed as felonies, and are charged as State Jail Felony offenses or Third (3rd) Degree Felonies. A State Jail Felony has a punishment range between 180 days to 2 years in a State Jail Facility, with a Third (3rd) Degree Felony has a punishment range between 2 to 10 years in a Texas prison. In a few situations, a forgery will be charged as a misdemeanor; however, this is rare in Ellis County.

For State Jail felony classifications, the prosecuting attorney would most likely allege that the defendant forged a writing that was a will, codicil, deed, deed of trust, mortgage, security instrument, security agreement, credit institution, or similar sight order for payment of money, contract release, or other commercial instrument.

People that are convicted of a forgery charge can have a difficult time finding a job, gaining certain housing, receiving certain licenses to work, and a whole host of other problems.

Since most forgery charges are classified as either a State Jail or 3rd Degree felony, it is vital that you seek an experienced criminal defense lawyer that understands the system in Ellis County, Texas. A criminal defense lawyer can bring forth facts that are favorable to your situation, such as whether you were the victim of identify theft. In turn, this information might impact the decision of the Ellis County prosecutor on whether to move forward with the charge or dismiss the matter.

If you have been arrested for Forgery, please feel free to contact Mark Griffith with Griffith & Associates, and we will be happy to discuss our team working with you to defend you against the charge of Forgery in Ellis County, or elsewhere in Texas, in hopes of clearing your name and keeping you out of jail.

Mark Griffith,
Griffith & Associates
(Ellis County Criminal Defense Lawyer)

An arrest for assault in Ellis County can be a difficult situation for any person, and a conviction for assault may impact your life for years to come.

The impact might be felt in attempting to get a job, renting an apartment, or cause you problems any number of areas of your life.

Assault charges in Texas can range from a misdemeanor to a felony. As such, the possible sentences can range from a fine to Life in prison depending on the type of assault you are charged with.

For example, an assault that is considered an offensive touching may only bring a fine. However, an assault against a family member could land you in the Ellis County Jail for up to one (1) year, plus a fine not to exceed $4,000. And if you find yourself charged with family violence for a second time then the Ellis County District Attorney's office may opt to enhance the charge to a State Jail Felony.

So, what is a person to do if arrested for assault in Ellis County, Texas?

Because the facts and circumstances of each case vary, it is advisable to contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after your arrest. Not only can an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help in advising you concerning what action to take, but also what action not to take after being arrested for an assault.

Also, a criminal defense lawyer can help you explore your options, such as whether an affidavit of non-prosecution might help your assault case be dismissed.

Mark Griffith, and his criminal defense team, have helped hundreds of people charged with assault, and bring over 10 years of experience in defending persons charged with crimes in Ellis County and throughout Texas.

If you have been arrested for an assault charge in Ellis County, and would like to speak with Griffith & Associates regarding defending you, please call or send us a message.

Mark Griffith,
Griffith & Associates
(Ellis County Criminal Defense Lawyer)

If you have been arrested for drugs in Ellis County, Texas, you need to consider hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer in the Ellis County area.

Texas law provides harsh penalties for drug charges, which can range up to Life in Prison depending on the issues at hand. An experienced criminal defense lawyer in Ellis County can help you in several ways and closely examine whether the drug charge is valid.

As a law firm focused on criminal defense in Ellis County, we take a hard look at whether the police had probable cause to arrest you. If there was a search, then questions on whether the search was valid come into play.

For example, if you did not consent to the search, and the police lacked a warrant, then it may be possible to have the drugs excluded from evidence. A judge will decide these types of questions, and a skilled criminal defense attorney can argue these issues on your behalf.

What are the possible punishments for a drug charge in Ellis County, Texas?

There are many factors that go into determining the punishment faced for a drug charge, which include the amount of controlled substance allegedly seized, whether the arrest was within a "Drug Free Zone," whether it was alleged that you were not only in possession of a controlled substance, but also whether delivery or manufacturing is alleged. In addition, factors such as whether you have any prior convictions can greatly impact the amount of punishment you face after a drug arrest.

Ellis County officials often enhance criminal charges with prior convictions. It may, or may not, be possible to convince the the Ellis County District Attorney to withdraw the enhancement paragraphs.

Drug arrests in Texas are a highly technical area of criminal law, and for that reason if you are arrested for a drug charge in Ellis County you need to consider hiring a law firm experienced in criminal law drug charges in Ellis County.

If you would like to speak with Mark Griffith, founder of Griffith & Associates, then please call the office directly or send us a message through our contact form.

We look forward to being your Ellis County Criminal Defense Lawyers!

When someone finds themselves arrested for a felony in Ellis County, Texas they often immediately seek a felony criminal defense lawyer.

So, what should you look for when hiring a felony lawyer?

The reality of the situation is that there are many different factors that come into play when hiring a criminal defense lawyer for your felony charge. These can include the level of experience the lawyer has to the cost of representation.

However, let's take a moment to look at a few of the factors you should consider when talking with a criminal defense lawyer about defending you on a felony charge in Ellis County.

One important factor is the level of experience the lawyer has, especially in that particular type of case.

Although all Texas lawyers are authorized to represent clients in just about every type of state case in Texas, it may not be wise to hire your real estate attorney to handle your felony assault case if all that attorney has only represented clients in real estate transactions.

Attorney Mark Griffith has defended individuals in a large variety of felony cases that range from a Possession of a Controlled Substance (commonly referred to as a PCS) to Capital Murder cases. As such, Griffith & Associates has a broad range of experience serving as criminal defense counsel for those arrested with felonies charges in Ellis County.

Another important factor is the style of criminal defense lawyer.

Some attorneys are not known to be fighters, while others are known for being very zealous in defending their clients.

Finally, and probably one of the most important factors in hiring a criminal defense lawyer to represent you in your felony charge in Ellis County (or anywhere in the State of Texas), is whether you work well with the criminal defense lawyer.

If you are facing something as serious as a felony charge in Ellis County that could forever impact your life, you need to hire the right criminal defense lawyer. One of the best ways to get to know a defense lawyer is to speak directly with the law firm.

If you have been arrested for a felony in Ellis County, Texas and would like to speak with criminal defense lawyer Mark Griffith at Griffith & Associates, please send a message by clicking here or call the law office directly at (972) 938-8343.

In Ellis County, and in all of Texas, crimes are classified in two primary ways, which are felony crimes and misdemeanor crimes.

The Texas Penal Code further classifies crimes in Texas within these two (2) primary classifications into misdemeanor and felonies with each having its own respective punishment ranges.

Of note, this is merely a general description of the classifications, and does not take into account hybrid charges, such as Reckless Driving or criminal enhancement paragraphs. A criminal defense lawyer in Ellis can assist you in determining whether you have any special issues with regard to the criminal indictment or information.

Within the misdemeanor classifications, a crime committed in Ellis County could be filed as a 1) Class C Misdemeanor; 2) a Class B Misdemeanor; or 3) a Class A Misdemeanor.

Within the felony classifications, a crime committed in Ellis County could be 1) a State Jail Felony; 2) a Third Degree Felony; 3) a Second Degree Felony; 4) a First Degree Felony; or 5) Capital Murder.

Each crime carries its own level of punishment. The punishment ranges are below.

Misdemeanors in Texas:

Class C – punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00
Class B – up to six (6) months in Ellis County Jail, plus a fine not to exceed $2,000
Class A – up to twelve (12) months in Ellis County Jail, plus a fine no more than $4,000

Felonies in Texas:

State Jail Felony – 180 days to 2 years in a State Jail Facility
3rd Degree Felony – 2 to 10 years in a Texas prison
2nd Degree Felony – 2 to 20 years in a Texas prison
1st Degree Felony – 5 years to 99 years or Life in a Texas prison
Capital Felony Offense – If the Ellis County District Attorney’s office seeks the death penalty then death or Life without parole. However, if the prosecutor is not requesting a death sentence then Life without parole.

Of note, fines generally do not exceed $10,000 for a felony.