Felony Attorney in San Antonio

Board Certified Criminal Defense for Bexar County’s Most Serious Charges

A felony charge is the most serious category of criminal offense in Texas. The consequences extend far beyond prison time and fines, and the decisions made in the first hours after an arrest or investigation can shape everything that follows. At The Locke Law Group, our felony defense team is led by Shannon Locke, Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Shannon is a former state prosecutor who knows how the Bexar County DA’s office builds felony cases because she built them. Our team also includes a former San Antonio police officer who understands from the inside how law enforcement conducts investigations and documents evidence. That combination is what we bring to every felony case we take in San Antonio.

Early intervention matters. Retaining counsel before charges are finalized, before a grand jury meets, or before critical evidence disappears gives us options that close with delay. We serve clients throughout San Antonio and Bexar County and offer a free case review to anyone facing felony-level exposure.

If you or someone you know is facing a felony charge in San Antonio, contact us now for a free case review. Our team is available 24/7. Call (210) 361-3113.

Why Our Credentials Matter in a Felony Case

Board Certification in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is held by a small percentage of Texas attorneys. Earning it requires documented professional experience, peer references from judges and fellow attorneys, advanced training, and passing a comprehensive written exam. It is a high professional recognition available to criminal defense attorneys in the state, and Shannon Locke holds that certification.

In a felony case, the margin for error is small. Shannon’s prosecution background gives us direct insight into how the Bexar County DA’s office evaluates and pursues serious charges. Our former police officer’s knowledge of investigative procedure lets us scrutinize how evidence was gathered and whether law enforcement followed the rules. Together, these perspectives let us identify weaknesses that a defense team without that background would be less likely to find.

The team’s credentials also include recognition by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, more than 50 years of combined legal experience, and bilingual representation in English and Spanish.

Felony Cases We Handle in San Antonio

We defend clients against felony-level charges across a wide range of criminal matters:

• Drug crimes: Possession, delivery, and manufacturing charges that carry felony exposure based on substance and quantity
• Violent crimes: Murder, homicide, manslaughter, and assault charges at the felony level
• Theft crimes: Robbery, burglary, and property crimes elevated to felony status by value or circumstance
• Sex crimes: Sexual assault and related offenses requiring aggressive, strategic defense
• White collar offenses: Embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud prosecuted at the felony level
• Federal criminal charges: Cases prosecuted by the U.S. government under separate procedural rules from state court
• Felony DWI: Charges elevated by prior convictions or serious bodily injury

Many charges that begin as misdemeanors can be elevated to felony status based on prior criminal history, the use of a weapon, the value of property involved, or the identity of the alleged victim. We assess every charge from the initial filing forward.

Texas Felony Classifications & Sentencing Ranges

Texas divides felonies into five categories. Where a charge falls determines what is at stake at sentencing.

• State Jail Felony: 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility; fine up to $10,000. Examples include certain property theft, check forgery, criminally negligent homicide, and DWI with an underage passenger.
• Third Degree Felony: 2 to 10 years in prison; fine up to $10,000. Examples include intoxication assault, stalking, tampering with evidence, and a third-offense DWI.
• Second Degree Felony: 2 to 20 years in prison; fine up to $10,000. Examples include aggravated assault, sexual assault, intoxication manslaughter, and arson.
• First Degree Felony: 5 to 99 years in prison; fine up to $10,000. Examples include aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, and aggravated kidnapping.
• Capital Felony: Life in prison without parole or death. Applies to capital murder.

Charge level isn’t fixed at arrest. Prior convictions, the use of a deadly weapon, or other aggravating factors can shift a charge up one or more categories before indictment. That’s precisely why early legal intervention is critical.

Consequences Beyond the Sentence

A felony conviction carries consequences that extend well past the length of any sentence. Under Texas and federal law, a conviction strips the right to possess or purchase a firearm. Voting rights are suspended while incarcerated, on parole, and on community supervision. A felony record creates significant barriers to employment, professional licensing, housing, and eligibility for federal benefits.

Texas Penal Code Section 12.42 adds another layer. A prior felony conviction can elevate the punishment range for a new felony by one degree, so a charge that would ordinarily be a third-degree felony is punished as a second-degree felony. Two prior convictions can trigger habitual offender provisions, resulting in a sentence of 25 years to life on a new charge. Understanding this exposure before negotiating any resolution isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Our Felony Defense Process in Bexar County

In Texas, a felony charge requires a grand jury indictment before the case proceeds to trial. That pre-indictment window is one of the most important periods in any felony case. When law enforcement is investigating someone before any arrest, we can present information to prosecutors or the grand jury that may prevent charges from being filed or elevated.

How Our Team’s Background Shapes the Defense

Shannon’s prosecution background is applied directly at this stage. Knowing how the Bexar County DA’s office evaluates a case allows us to anticipate its strategy and identify weaknesses before the state locks in its position. Our former San Antonio police officer evaluates whether the investigation, arrest, and evidence collection complied with constitutional requirements. Pretrial motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence can significantly weaken the prosecution’s case before trial begins.

Possible Defense Outcomes

Defense outcomes in felony cases can include dismissal, charge reduction, a negotiated plea to a lesser offense, or acquittal at trial. Every case is different, and we build a strategy around the facts of yours.

Record Relief Options After a Felony Charge in Texas

Not every felony arrest ends in conviction, and not every conviction leaves the record permanently visible. Expunction in Texas allows certain felony arrests to be erased from the record if the person was arrested but not charged, or if the charges were dismissed. For felonies, state law generally imposes a three-year waiting period from the date of arrest before a petition can be filed. Certain offenses, including murder, sexual assault, family violence offenses, and trafficking, are permanently ineligible for expunction. DWI convictions can’t be expunged, though a DWI arrest that doesn’t result in a conviction may qualify depending on how the case was resolved.

Where expunction isn’t available, a petition for non-disclosure may seal the record from public view while allowing government agencies continued access. Eligibility for either remedy depends on the specific charge, the outcome of the case, and the individual’s criminal history. We can evaluate your situation and explain which options apply.

Speak with a San Antonio Felony Lawyer Today

Felony charges move quickly, and the choices made early in a case have lasting consequences. The Locke Law Group offers free case reviews, 24/7 availability, flexible payment options, and representation in both English and Spanish. Whether you’re facing a state jail felony or a first-degree charge, we’re ready to help you understand your options and build a defense.

Contact The Locke Law Group now to schedule your free case review. Call (210) 361-3113.