1. Law Office of Kerrisa Chelkowski
Focus Area: Criminal defense with mental health integration
Practice Areas: DUI/DWI, theft, embezzlement, bank fraud, drug crimes, violent crimes, assault, domestic violence, sex crimes
Background: Attorney Kerrisa Chelkowski is a former prosecutor who served in the district attorney’s office, giving her understanding of both sides of the courtroom. She takes a holistic approach to defense, working alongside mental health professionals and other support systems when necessary. Notable results include dismissal or probation on all but one count in a case involving bank fraud exceeding $150,000, and acquittal in a DUI case involving .189% BAC with positive narcotics test, multiple-vehicle accident, video evidence, and an incoherent client.
Location: San Antonio, Texas (serves clients throughout Texas)
Contact: (210) 879-6503 | https://www.defend-texas.com/
Consultation: Free and confidential case evaluation
2. Flanary Law Firm, PLLC
Focus Area: Criminal defense for state misdemeanor to federal felony charges
Practice Areas: Domestic violence, drug crimes, DWI, theft, sex crimes, violent crimes, white-collar crimes, juvenile crimes, federal charges
Background: The firm has over 30 years of combined experience defending Texans from criminal charges. The attorneys handle cases ranging from state misdemeanors to federal felonies and serve clients in San Antonio, Texas Hill Country, and Laredo. The firm is known for seeking case dismissals, reduced charges, or not-guilty verdicts rather than simply accepting plea offers.
Location: San Antonio, Texas (also serves Texas Hill Country and Laredo)
Contact: (210) 899-7566 | https://www.flanarylawfirm.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation available
3. Dunham & Jones
Focus Area: Criminal defense with focus on record clearing
Practice Areas: DWI, theft, drug charges, assault, domestic violence, sex crimes, violent crimes, federal crimes
Background: Dunham & Jones has received numerous accolades including being voted Best Law Firm by the Daily Texan, recognition by Time and Newsweek magazines, National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers designation for Paul Dunham (2014), Best Attorneys of America (2018-2019), and 10 Best in Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Attorneys (2015). The firm’s primary goal is case dismissal or reduction to enable arrest record, fingerprint, and mugshot removal from public records. Attorney Ivan Barrera is part of the San Antonio team.
Location: San Antonio, Texas (offices throughout Texas including Bexar County and San Antonio-New Braunfels area)
Contact: (210) 777-7777 | https://www.dunhamlaw.com/tx/san-antonio-criminal-attorneys/
Consultation: Free consultation with easy payment plans and no money down in most cases; available day, night, and weekends
4. Law Offices of Patrick L. Hancock
Focus Area: Criminal defense in state and federal courts
Practice Areas: DUI/DWI, drug crimes, assault, domestic violence, sex crimes, theft, white collar crimes, murder, federal crimes, appeals
Background: Patrick L. Hancock has over 32 years of criminal law experience in San Antonio. He has been listed among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Texas by The National Trial Lawyers and selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (continuously since 2006), U.S. News Best Law Firms, and S.A. Scene Magazine’s Best Lawyers in San Antonio. The firm is 100% devoted to criminal defense and emphasizes thorough preparation for all case stages including initial questioning, investigative work, plea negotiations, and trial.
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact: (210) 223-8844 | https://www.hancockcriminaldefense.com/
Consultation: Consultation time provided as needed for each client
5. Law Office of Roberto Ambrosino, PLLC
Focus Area: Criminal defense with emphasis on personal case handling
Practice Areas: DWI defense, drug crimes, assault, theft, domestic violence, sex crimes, violent crimes, federal crimes
Background: Attorney Roberto Ambrosino has 17 years of criminal law experience and personally handles every aspect of his clients’ cases rather than delegating to associate attorneys. He has been named a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by San Antonio Magazine and Scene in S.A. Magazine, and has been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers for six consecutive years (2018-2023), an honor awarded to only 2.5% of Texas attorneys. He has handled thousands of cases throughout his career.
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact: (210) 201-7622 | https://www.criminaldefensesa.com/
Consultation: Free criminal case evaluation
Criminal Defense Laws in Texas
Felony Classifications
Texas classifies felonies into five categories based on severity:
Capital Felony: Reserved for the most serious offenses including capital murder (murder of a peace officer, murder during commission of certain felonies, murder for hire, murder of a child under 10, or murder of multiple persons). Penalties include the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
First Degree Felony: Includes murder, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, and aggravated kidnapping. Penalties range from 5 to 99 years (or life) in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Second Degree Felony: Includes manslaughter, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Penalties range from 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Third Degree Felony: Includes intoxication assault, stalking, deadly conduct with a firearm, and theft of property valued $30,000-$150,000. Penalties range from 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
State Jail Felony: The least serious felony category, including theft of property valued $2,500-$30,000, credit card abuse, and some drug possession offenses. Penalties range from 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and fines up to $10,000.
Misdemeanor Classifications
Class A Misdemeanor: The most serious misdemeanor, including assault causing bodily injury, DWI (first offense), theft of property valued $750-$2,500, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Maximum penalty of 1 year in county jail and fines up to $4,000.
Class B Misdemeanor: Includes DWI (first offense with BAC under .15), theft of property valued $100-$750, possession of small amounts of marijuana, and criminal trespass. Maximum penalty of 180 days in county jail and fines up to $2,000.
Class C Misdemeanor: The least serious criminal offense in Texas, including theft of property under $100, disorderly conduct, and minor traffic violations. No jail time; maximum fine of $500.
Record Clearing Options
Expunction (Expungement): Texas allows expunction for arrests that did not result in conviction, including dismissals, acquittals, pardons, and certain completed deferred adjudication cases. Expunction completely destroys records so that the arrest legally never occurred. You can deny the arrest ever happened. Waiting periods vary: acquittals and pardons have no waiting period; class C misdemeanor dismissals require waiting the statute of limitations (2 years); higher-level dismissals require waiting the applicable statute of limitations (3 years for most misdemeanors, longer for felonies).
Order of Non-Disclosure (Sealing): Available for some offenses after successful completion of deferred adjudication community supervision. Records are sealed from public view but remain accessible to law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and certain licensing agencies. Waiting periods depend on the offense: immediate for some misdemeanors, 2 years for most misdemeanors, 5 years for felonies. Not available for offenses requiring sex offender registration, murder, aggravated kidnapping, human trafficking, family violence offenses, stalking, or crimes against children.
Petition-Based Non-Disclosure: For offenses not eligible for automatic non-disclosure, individuals may petition the court after satisfying waiting periods and demonstrating rehabilitation.
Board Certification
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys as specialists in Criminal Law after meeting rigorous requirements including substantial experience, peer references, continuing education, and passing a comprehensive examination. Only about 10% of criminal defense attorneys in Texas hold this certification, making it a significant credential when selecting representation.
Bail and Pretrial Release
Texas uses a combination of cash bail, surety bonds, and personal recognizance bonds. Judges consider the nature of the offense, defendant’s criminal history, financial resources, and community ties. Recent reforms have expanded pretrial release options for nonviolent offenses in some jurisdictions, though Bexar County still relies significantly on cash bail for many offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between expunction and non-disclosure in Bexar County courts?
Expunction completely destroys all records of an arrest as if it never happened, allowing you to legally deny the arrest occurred. Non-disclosure seals records from public view but they remain accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies. Expunction is available only for arrests without conviction (dismissals, acquittals, pardons), while non-disclosure is primarily available after successful completion of deferred adjudication probation. If you qualify for expunction, it provides more complete relief; non-disclosure is the alternative when expunction is not available.
How does Texas handle first-offense DWI charges in San Antonio?
A first-offense DWI in Texas is typically a Class B misdemeanor (or Class A if BAC was .15 or higher). Penalties for a Class B DWI conviction include 72 hours to 180 days in jail (increased to 6 days minimum if an open container was present), fines up to $2,000, driver’s license suspension of 90 days to 1 year, annual surcharges of $1,000 for three years, and possible ignition interlock device requirement. However, many first-offense defendants are offered deferred adjudication or pretrial intervention programs that can result in dismissal and potential non-disclosure of the record upon successful completion.
Can I get my mugshot removed after an arrest in San Antonio?
If your case results in dismissal, acquittal, or you complete certain deferred adjudication programs, you may be eligible for expunction, which requires all agencies including law enforcement to destroy records of the arrest. Once expunged, your mugshot should be removed from official databases. However, third-party websites that collect mugshots may require separate removal requests. If you only qualify for non-disclosure rather than expunction, your mugshot will be sealed from public access but not destroyed. Some commercial mugshot websites may not comply with non-disclosure orders, requiring additional legal action.
What should I expect at a magistrate hearing in Bexar County?
After arrest in Bexar County, you will appear before a magistrate judge within 24-48 hours. The magistrate will inform you of the charges, advise you of your constitutional rights, determine whether there was probable cause for the arrest, and set bail. This is not a trial or plea hearing. You should not discuss the facts of your case or make any statements beyond providing identification information. If you have hired an attorney, they may appear to argue for reasonable bail. If you cannot afford bail, your attorney can request a bail reduction hearing or argue for personal recognizance bond.
How does the Texas Board Certification in Criminal Law affect my case outcome?
Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists have demonstrated expertise through rigorous examination and peer review, representing approximately 10% of criminal defense attorneys in Texas. While certification does not guarantee any particular outcome, Board Certified attorneys have proven knowledge of Texas criminal law and procedure. Many of these attorneys have developed relationships with local prosecutors and judges through years of practice. When facing serious charges in Bexar County, working with a Board Certified specialist may provide advantages in case strategy, negotiation, and trial preparation that can influence outcomes.