What is the Role of the Criminal Lawyer?

When you have been charged with a crime in Texas, whether it is a minor drug possession charge or a significant sexual assault charge, you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer with a proven record of success.

Gathering Evidence, Raising Defenses

A defense attorney can help you gather evidence that tells your side of the story, and then use that evidence to raise defenses on your behalf. Possible defenses include:

• Illegal search and seizure: Did the police officers act appropriately when searching your person, vehicle or home? Did they have your permission, a proper search warrant or probable cause to search your vehicle? If the answer is “no” to either of these questions, your constitutional rights may have been violated. Any evidence obtained during an illegal search and seizure is subject to dismissal.
• Illegal warrants: Police officers must have your consent or a proper search warrant to search your home. In some cases, officers will say they have a proper warrant when they do not. In other cases, the warrant may have inaccuracies that make it invalid. Your criminal defense lawyer can evaluate your warrant to determine if the search was legal.
• Reasonable doubt: Prosecutors must prove you committed the alleged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. There are many ways to defeat this standard. For example, if there is evidence that your accuser was motivated to lie about the crime due to a child custody dispute, your defense lawyer may be able to use that evidence to prove there is reasonable doubt you committed the crime.
• Entrapment: Did a police officer or investigator induce you to commit the crime? This is called entrapment and can lead to a dismissal of your charges. Entrapment is frequently used as a defense in internet and drug crime cases.
• Improper interrogation and violation of Miranda rights: Investigators, police officers, prosecutors and even school teachers and counselors can ask the wrong questions. For example, it is possible to frame a question in a way that leads an alleged victim to answer “yes” when the honest answer is “no.” Police may also interrogate a suspect without reading the suspect his or her Miranda rights. Evidence showing that improper interrogation occurred can stop a case from moving forward.

With more than 32 years of legal experience, Patrick Hancock has a thorough knowledge of the defenses available to criminal defendants and how to use them to get results.

Representing You Throughout Your Case

The criminal defense process is much different from what is portrayed on some TV shows and movies. Many cases are handled behind-the-scenes and never make it to a jury trial. Criminal investigation, preliminary hearing/grand jury proceeding, arraignment, discovery/evidence gathering, witness depositions, plea bargaining — these are all stages of what can be a lengthy process before you reach trial.

Patrick Hancock is an experienced trial attorney, but he is also prepared to fight for you at every stage in the process. In many cases, he has been able to get his clients’ charges reduced or dismissed in the early stages of a criminal case, making trial unnecessary.

Defending You in Court

If your case ends up in court, Patrick Hancock has true courtroom experience. He knows what evidence makes a jury second-guess prosecutors and has been able to win acquittals in capital murder, murder, sexual assault, DWI, drug possession and other serious Texas criminal law cases.

There are very specific rules in the state and federal legal systems that dictate how each case should be presented in court. Patrick Hancock knows these rules and will properly admit evidence during trial and effectively examine and cross-examine witnesses on your behalf.

Patrick L. Hancock, Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in San Antonio

During Patrick Hancock’s more than 32 years of criminal law experience, he has built a solid reputation as a strong advocate for clients facing criminal charges. He has a record of success negotiating dismissals and winning “not guilty” verdicts for clients throughout Texas. To put his experience on your side, call the Law Offices of Patrick L. Hancock at 210-223-8844 or send an email.