Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Mesquite If you have been charged with a crime, you need to think carefully about who you choose to represent you as your case moves forward. Your freedom may be at stake, and a criminal conviction can also lead to additional consequences, such as fines, losing your right to vote or own a gun, difficulty obtaining credit, trouble finding a job, having to register as a sex offender, and more. The right criminal defense attorney can make all the difference between whether you spend the next few years in jail or not.

The Mesquite criminal defense lawyers of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter have spent more than ten years fighting for the rights of defendants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As a former Dallas County prosecutor, founding attorney Mark T. Lassiter knows the strategies police and prosecutors use against defendants, and our team can use that experience to help protect you. Our Mesquite criminal defense attorneys have handled many different kinds of cases, from drug and weapons crimes to violent crimes and sex offenses.

It is best to start building your defense as soon as possible after being charged with a crime. Call (214) 845-7007 or visit our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.

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Why You Need a Mesquite Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal law is a complicated subject, and without someone who has legal training to represent you, you are at the mercy of police and prosecutors. They may appear friendly, but there are all sorts of tricks prosecutors and police can use to make you say or do something that puts your freedom in jeopardy. Your lawyer’s job is to protect your rights, make sure you are treated fairly, and help you avoid the worst possible outcome in your case.

We understand why some people might be reluctant to hire a defense attorney. You may think hiring a lawyer makes you look guilty, or you could be worried about how much hiring a lawyer costs. But when your freedom is at stake, you need to protect yourself, and working with a criminal defense attorney is the best step you can take to do that.

Why Hire Our Firm?

There are many criminal defense lawyers in Mesquite and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but some of the things that set our firm apart are:

Our experience – When you have been charged with a crime, it is helpful to have some idea of what the prosecution’s strategy might be so you can come up with an effective plan of your own. Our firm’s founding attorney, Mark T. Lassiter, is a former Dallas County prosecutor with in-depth knowledge of how police and prosecutors think and try to trick defendants.
Our results – The best way to judge a lawyer is by their results, and we have a proven track record of keeping our clients out of jail, either by having the charges against them dismissed or negotiating with prosecutors for a reduced sentence.
Our professional awards – Our firm is well-respected within the Texas legal community, and we have been recognized multiple times for the high quality of our legal representation. Among our many honors, we have been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers in their list of the Top 100 lawyers.
Our customer service – We know that being charged with a crime is a terrifying experience, and we want to help you through it as best we can. We are available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you have, and you can count on us to treat you with dignity, respect, and compassion throughout your case.

Criminal Cases We Handle in Mesquite

Some of the criminal cases we handle at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter include:

DUI/Alcohol offenses – Being convicted of drunk driving, operating a boat while impaired, or similar offenses can land you in jail, cost you your driving privileges, and lead to heavy fines. We can make sure any evidence in a DUI case is properly obtained and tested, as well as negotiate for a reduced sentence if necessary.
Weapons crimes – Carrying a gun in the wrong places, owning a gun illegally, or using a weapon during the commission of a crime can lead to substantial jail time and other penalties. Our team can protect your rights throughout the case and work to keep the penalties against you to a minimum.
Drug crimes – While some states have loosened their drug laws in recent years, drug crimes in Texas still carry hefty penalties. This is especially true for those accused of offenses that go beyond simple possession to more serious charges like drug trafficking.
Sex crimes – Being accused of a sex crime is particularly scary because a conviction could mean having to register as a sexual offender. Our criminal defense lawyers can help protect your reputation, your freedom, and your rights if you have been accused of a sex offense.
Theft/robbery – Property crimes carry severe penalties in Texas, particularly if you use a deadly weapon during the crime. If you have been accused of robbery or theft, talk to a lawyer right away.
Violent crimes – Prosecutors often look to make examples of those accused of assault, murder, and other violent crimes. This makes it all the more important to hire a lawyer who can stand between you and the authorities, as well as make sure you are treated fairly throughout the case.

What to Do If You Are Accused of a Crime in Mesquite, TX

Criminal defense There are three things to remember if you have been arrested or accused of a crime:

Say as little as possible – You have the right to remain silent for a reason, as police and prosecutors can take anything you say to them and use it against you. After being arrested, do not say anything to police or prosecutors except to speak with an attorney.
Cooperate with police, within certain limits – While you should say nothing to the police if you have been accused of a crime, you should also cooperate within reason. Fighting back or getting angry with an officer will not help you at all, so keep calm and do not give any indication that you are resisting arrest.
Call a lawyer immediately – Without a lawyer to mediate between you and the authorities, you are at extreme risk of saying or doing something that could send you to jail for a long time. If you have been arrested, ask to speak to a lawyer before you do anything else, then stay silent.

Contact a Mesquite Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

If you are facing criminal charges in Mesquite, TX, you have no time to lose if you want to protect yourself from police and prosecutors. The criminal defense team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter is ready to start working for you right away, so call (214) 845-7007 or visit our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.

TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

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