Felony Evading Dismissal Preserved After Appeal

Trial counsel J.P. Cedillo, Malachi Ledbetter, and Stephanie Pimentel secured a trial-day dismissal of a felony Evading Arrest charge in Waller County after identifying a defect in the State’s indictment—after the jury had already been empaneled and jeopardy had attached. When the State attempted to re-file the charge, Attorney Ledbetter successfully argued a Motion to Quash the new indictment on double-jeopardy grounds. The State appealed to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, but today we received word that the trial court’s judgment would stand. The dismissal is secure. Our client finally won—and it took beating Waller County three times to make it final.

Felony Assault Charge Dismissed Before Trial

Our client was facing a felony Assault–Impeding Breath charge with exceptionally serious sentencing exposure. Because of his prior record, a conviction could have carried a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison. We prepared the case for trial and challenged the State’s ability to prove the allegation. With trial approaching, the case was dismissed, eliminating the risk of a potentially decades-long prison sentence. Client was extremely thankful and glad he trusted the advice of lead counsel J.P. Cedillo. 

DWI 2nd Dismissed on the Eve of Trial

Our client faced a DWI 2nd charge stemming from a 2020 case that remained pending for years. We believed he had a strong defense to the alleged conduct and prepared the case for trial. On the eve of trial, after reviewing the evidence, the State chose to dismiss the charge. Our client was relieved to finally put the case behind him and move forward with his life.

Suppression Granted — DWI Dismissed

Attorneys Malachi Ledbetter and Stephanie Pimentel, with J.P. Cedillo assisting, secured dismissal of a DWI > .15 case after the Court granted the Defense’s motion to Suppress during trial. The result was especially important for our client, a DACA recipient, whose future in the United States could have been significantly affected by a criminal conviction.