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Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Who Prosecuted for the State First

Need a criminal defense lawyer in El Paso or San Antonio? Every lawyer at West Texas Trial Lawyers prosecuted cases for the State of Texas before defending them. We handle state and federal criminal cases across Texas. Calls are answered 24/7. Your first consultation is free and confidential.

Call (915) 279-0000 in El Paso or (210) 401-1000 in San Antonio. Payment plans are available.

7,000+

Criminal cases handled

4.9★

El Paso Google rating

5.0★

San Antonio Google rating

Charged with a crime in Texas? Start with these three answers.

What penalties am I facing?

It depends on the class of the charge. Texas Penal Code §§12.21–12.35 set the ranges, from a fine-only Class C misdemeanor (up to $500, §12.23) to a first-degree felony (5 to 99 years or life, §12.32). Your class depends on the statute, the facts alleged, and any prior record. The full table is on our page explaining how a Texas criminal case works.

How much will a criminal defense lawyer cost?

Your first consultation is free and confidential. After that, the fee depends on the charge, the county, and whether the case is headed to trial. Payment plans are available. Ask about the fee during your free consultation.

Can my case be dismissed?

Sometimes, yes. In Texas, a dismissal is a one-page motion signed by a prosecutor who has decided the case cannot be proven. Getting there means finding the weak points in the State's evidence early. Our number one goal in every case is a dismissal. That is a goal, not a promise. No lawyer can promise an outcome.

Calling for a family member? You don't need to know everything.

If someone you love was just arrested, have these four things ready if you can:

    1. Their full legal name
    2. Their date of birth
    3. The county where the charge was filed
    4. The charge, if you know it


Missing one? Call anyway. We answer 24/7, in English or Spanish.

If police want to talk to you or your family member: don’t explain, and don’t try to make a deal. Say you want your lawyer. Then call us.

Results our clients have reported

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
Result: Dismissed
Family violence + criminal mischief
Result: Dismissed in 6 months
DUI
Result: Dismissed
Two aggravated-assault cases
Result: Sentences reduced to time served
Family violence + probation violation
Result: Dismissed in 2 months
Misdemeanor + felony charges (both cases)
Result: Dismissed

As reported by clients in public Google reviews. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

See what these results mean on our case results page.

Why hire a criminal defense lawyer in El Paso who used to prosecute?

Because they have sat on the other side of the table. A former prosecutor knows how the State builds a case and where the evidence tends to break. It is not a promise of any result. It is an inside view of the process.

Tom Silver

Adam Setra, founding attorney

Adam Setra is a former El Paso County prosecutor with the 34th Judicial District Attorney's Office, which covers El Paso, Hudspeth, and Culberson counties. He is admitted in all four federal districts of Texas and the District of New Mexico. He was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in {{FIRM: year(s) of Super Lawyers Rising Stars selection}}. Read Adam Setra's bio.

Tom Silver

Salah George Alhanna, trial attorney

Salah George Alhanna spent seven years as a Texas prosecutor ({{FIRM: which DA office(s) Alhanna served in}}). Born and raised in El Paso, he attended El Paso High School, UTEP, and SMU Dedman School of Law. He led the criminal defense practice at the Alhanna Law Firm before joining West Texas Trial Lawyers in 2026. Read Salah George Alhanna's bio.

The DA's office is already working on the case

From the moment of arrest, the State starts building its file. The sooner a defense lawyer is involved, the more of that process we can answer.

01

The offense report

The officer’s report becomes the State’s first version of events. If you gave a recorded statement in custody, CCP art. 38.22 controls whether it can be used.

02

Magistration

A person arrested in Texas must be brought before a magistrate within 48 hours (CCP art. 15.17). The magistrate gives legal warnings and sets bail.

03

The charging decision

Prosecutors decide whether to file, reduce, or refuse the charge. Felonies go to a grand jury {{VERIFY: felony indictment requirement and grand jury no-bill process, CCP ch. 20A}}.

04

Discovery

Under CCP art. 39.14, the Michael Morton Act, the State must produce offense reports, statements, and other evidence “as soon as practicable after receiving a timely request.”

05

Trial posture

We prepare each case as if it will be tried to a jury. A case built for trial gives a client real options.

Criminal charges we defend in Texas

We handle misdemeanors and felonies in state court and federal charges in the Western District of Texas. Start with our Texas criminal defense overview, or go straight to your charge.

A person in a suit points at a contract with a pen. A gavel, miniature houses, and scales of justice are on the table.
DWI and DUI defense

A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor (Penal Code §49.04(b)). You have 15 days from notice to request an ALR hearing, per the Texas DPS ALR program.

A person in a suit signs a document on a desk with a gavel, scales of justice, and law books.
Assault and family violence charges
An allegation of impeding breathing can make assault a third-degree felony (§22.01(b)(2)).
A wooden gavel rests on a table in front of law books and scales of justice in a dimly lit setting.
Drug crime defense
Fentanyl possession under Health & Safety Code §481.115 is a felony at every weight.
Three individuals in formal attire review divorce documents at a table with a Lady Justice statue in the center.
Sex crimes defense
Sexual assault is a second-degree felony (§22.011).
A man and woman in business attire sit at a desk discussing papers. An American flag is visible in the background.
Federal criminal defense
Border-related cases such as illegal reentry (8 U.S.C. §1326).
A judge in a courtroom is holding a gavel above a wooden desk with an American flag visible in the background.
Homicide and murder defense
Murder is a first-degree felony (§19.02).
Three individuals in formal attire review divorce documents at a table with a Lady Justice statue in the center.
White collar crime defense
Theft and fraud, from state value tiers (§31.03(e)) to federal wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §1343).
A man and woman in business attire sit at a desk discussing papers. An American flag is visible in the background.
Car accident injury claims
We also handle some serious-injury crash cases (two-year filing deadline, CPRC §16.003).

Two offices: El Paso and San Antonio

Office hours: {{FIRM: office hours per office — must match Google Business Profile}}. Calls are answered 24/7. We also serve {{FIRM: confirm counties/cities served beyond El Paso and Bexar counties}}.

El Paso criminal defense office

Nearby courts: the El Paso County Courthouse at 500 E. San Antonio Ave. {{VERIFY: confirm El Paso County criminal courts address}} and the Albert Armendariz, Sr. U.S. Courthouse at 525 Magoffin Ave. for federal cases. State felonies here are prosecuted by the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

San Antonio criminal defense attorney office

Nearby courts: Bexar County criminal courts at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center, 300 Dolorosa, and the U.S. Courthouse at 262 W. Nueva St. for federal cases. State cases here are prosecuted by the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.

Le atendemos completamente en español

Usted o su familiar puede hablar con nosotros completamente en español, las 24 horas. Visite nuestra página de abogado criminalista en El Paso para más información.

Frequently asked questions about hiring a Texas criminal defense lawyer

The cost depends on the charge, the county, and whether the case goes to trial. At West Texas Trial Lawyers, the first consultation is free and confidential, and payment plans are available. Ask about the fee during that consultation so you can make an informed decision before hiring anyone.

Yes. West Texas Trial Lawyers offers a free, confidential first consultation at our El Paso office at 1005 North Mesa, by phone at (915) 279-0000, or at our San Antonio office at (210) 401-1000. Calls are answered 24/7, so you can reach us the night of an arrest. Full service is available in Spanish.

For most people facing a Texas charge, yes. Even a Class B misdemeanor carries up to 180 days in jail under Penal Code §12.22, and a conviction can follow you for years. A lawyer can request the State's evidence under CCP art. 39.14, spot weaknesses, and pursue dismissal, a reduced charge, or trial. No lawyer can promise a result.

Do not explain and do not try to make a deal. Politely say you want your lawyer, then stop talking and call one. Statements you make can become part of the State's case, and Texas law sets specific rules for when recorded custodial statements can be used (CCP art. 38.22). A short call to a lawyer first protects your options.

As soon as possible. A person arrested in Texas must see a magistrate within 48 hours under CCP art. 15.17, and prosecutors start reviewing the case right away. Some deadlines are short, like the 15-day window to request an ALR hearing after a DWI arrest.

Yes. West Texas Trial Lawyers has offices in El Paso and San Antonio and handles state and federal criminal cases across Texas. In San Antonio, state cases are heard at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center, and federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Call our San Antonio office at (210) 401-1000.

Yes. Both El Paso and San Antonio are divisions of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and we defend federal cases there. Adam Setra is admitted in all four federal districts of Texas and the District of New Mexico. Federal cases move differently, starting with a detention hearing under 18 U.S.C. §3142.

Talk to a former prosecutor today

The State is already preparing its case. Start preparing yours. Your first consultation is free and confidential, calls are answered 24/7, and we speak Spanish.

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