As an experienced Dallas Texas Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Assistant District Attorney, Ward Maedgen is skilled at obtaining favorable results for clients within the following areas:

Felony Crimes
Drug and Narcotics Crimes
Domestic Violence
Misdemeanors
Drunk Driving/DUI
White Collar Crime
Sex Crimes
Homicide
Traffic Offenses
Gun Violations
Internet Crime
Investigations
Juvenile Law

Attorney Ward Maedgen is an experienced negotiator and a successful defense trial attorney. He has a strong record of success representing both adults and juveniles in numerous bench and jury trials. When you contact my office, you won’t be passed off to a paralegal, as with some larger firms. If I agree to represent you, I will handle your case personally.

If you have been accused of a crime, the decisions you make now can literally affect the rest of your life. The strength of your defense should be assessed by an attorney who fully understands the unique facts of your case and who knows how the law applies to your circumstances. Only then can you make the critical decisions that will protect your future. As a skilled Dallas, Texas Criminal Defense Attorney, Attorney Ward Maedgen has a wide range of experience helping people make these important decisions.

An arrest occurs when a police officer armed with an arrest warrant utters the words "you're under arrest," or when a police officer significantly restrains your freedom of motion. The restraint must be more than a mere detention on the street. Although in most situations the police will take you to the police station for booking (photographs and fingerprinting), it is also possible for an officer to arrest and book you at the crime scene, and then release you when you give a written promise to appear in court at a later time. After the police arrest you, they will often question you in order to find out more about the crime, your role in it and whether there may be other suspects. There are several Constitutional protections that you may invoke during police interrogations. One is to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to inform you of your rights and give you legal council.

Juvenile Cases

The purpose of Dallas' juvenile justice system is to protect society more effectively by attempting to rehabilitate, not just punish, children who commit crimes. Children in Texas are persons under age 18. Juvenile courts in Texas work with law enforcement, prosecution and defense attorneys. The courts will try to ensure that the child learns from his or her experience and returns to the community as a productive citizen, without having suffered permanent harm.

Children who are referred to the juvenile court have many of the same rights as an adult charged with a crime. You and your family should understand those rights. The following questions and answers provide you with specific information and procedures for you to follow. . . IF YOUR CHILD IS ARRESTED.

If your child is brought in for questioning, should he or she cooperate with law enforcement?

Yes and No. A good general rule is to tell your child that if taken to the police station as a suspect, he or she should be cooperative, but not answer questions about particular offenses until you are there to help. Anyone taking a child into custody must try to notify the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Texas law says a child can be questioned outside the presence of his or her parents. However, in deciding whether a confession will be admitted as evidence against the child, the judge will consider whether the child fully understands his or her constitutional rights, and whether the parents should have been present to advise the child.

Children do have the right to consult an defense attorney before making a statement or answering questions, but in cases of minor offenses, it may not be necessary. However, if your child is charged with a major crime, such as a very serious property offense or a crime against a person, for which he or she could be tried as an adult, or if your child is currently under any type of court supervision, you and your child should certainly consult with a criminal defense attorney before speaking to the police.

Your child can be taken to the county jail and held for up to six hours to be fingerprinted and photographed upon a reasonable belief that he or she has committed a crime. These records should be kept separately, are not available to the public, and should be destroyed at specific points in time or by court order. The police are then required to release your child to you or another responsible adult relative.

Can your child be put in jail?

No, unless your child has previously been tried and convicted in adult court, or is being transferred to adult court for the first time. If your child is held in jail, he or she must be separated from adult inmates by sight and sound.

Your child can be placed in "detention care" pending a court hearing. If your child will be detained, a reasonable effort must be made to notify you. A child may not be detained for more than 24 hours without a hearing before a judge to determine the need for continued detention.

If the police charge your child, what procedures follow?

Information concerning the charges will be furnished to the state attorney for review. A counselor will contact you and your child and arrange a conference to discuss the charge and your child's background. Your child should refrain from answering questions about involvement in the actual crime, because this conversation can be used in court in many instances. In many parts of Texas, less serious offenses are handled by diverting the child from the formal judicial process into programs designed to remedy the situation without the need for court action. You should inquire about these programs.

As you can see, what looks simple gets pretty complex. As your defense attorney I will insist that all information be provided and that you and I walk through all this information as we discuss and proceed on your case. Call us today for a Free Consultation.
 

               Dallas / North Texas Criminal Defense Attorney

         "Board Certified - Criminal Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization"