McKinney Manslaughter Defense Lawyers

Accomplished Manslaughter Defense Attorney Representing Clients in McKinney, TX

When someone is accused of killing someone else, they could be charged with homicide. Murder offenses in which a person is accused of intentionally killing someone are among the most serious offenses addressed in criminal cases, especially when a person is charged with capital murder. However, some homicide offenses may involve unintentional or accidental deaths, and a person could be charged with manslaughter. This is also a serious offense that could lead to a lengthy prison sentence and other penalties.

Accusations that a person caused a death should be taken seriously, and even if they did not intend to kill anyone, the rest of their life may be affected by a conviction. At Texas Defense Firm, our attorneys can provide the representation needed to address these charges correctly. We can take steps to show that a person is innocent, or we may argue to have charges reduced based on the specific facts involved in a case. Regardless of the situation, we will fight to protect our client's rights and work to achieve an outcome that will minimize the impact of manslaughter accusations on their life.

We've Got Your Back

Proven Advocates Defending Your Rights

From a first-time misdemeanor to a high-stakes federal indictment, our attorneys build defense strategies matched to what you're actually facing. Give us a call at 972-369-0577 to schedule your free consultation.

Manslaughter Charges

The offense of manslaughter may apply in situations where a person is accused of recklessly causing someone's death. Recklessness involves an awareness of the potential risks of a person's actions and an understanding that their behavior could lead to death, as well as a disregard of these risks. Prosecutors must show that a person's actions were unjustifiable, that they consciously ignored potential risks, and that someone died as a result of their actions.

Situations that could potentially lead to manslaughter charges include driving at a high speed in a school zone, a residential area, or another location where pedestrians may be at risk of injury. These situations could lead to charges of vehicular manslaughter if a person allegedly struck and killed someone while driving recklessly. Manslaughter charges may also be based on accusations that someone was killed when a person fired a gun in a reckless manner, threw a dangerous object such as a rock or brick, or took other actions that led to someone's death.

Manslaughter is a separate offense from murder. While murder charges will involve claims that a person intentionally or knowingly caused someone's death, manslaughter charges may involve accidents or other situations where a person allegedly caused a death without any intent to cause injuries or other forms of harm.

Criminally Negligent Homicide

When a person's actions that led to someone's death may not be considered to be reckless, they could still face charges of criminally negligent homicide. Criminal negligence may involve a person's failure to recognize potential risks rather than consciously disregarding risks they should have known about. Criminally negligent homicide charges may apply if a person took actions that were different from what a reasonably careful person would have done in the same situation.

Some examples of situations where people may face charges of criminally negligent homicide include leaving a firearm loaded and accessible to a child who later causes a fatal accident, leaving a child unattended in a hot vehicle, or driving a vehicle that has a mechanical defect that the driver did not realize was dangerous. The line between recklessness and criminal negligence is not always clear, and issues related to a person's alleged state of mind may play a role in the outcome of a case.

Penalties for Manslaughter and Criminally Negligent Homicide

Manslaughter is usually charged as a second-degree felony, and a person who is convicted could be sentenced to between two and 20 years in prison. In certain situations involving deaths that occurred when a person allegedly caused damage to critical infrastructure, an offense could be charged as a first-degree felony. For example, a person accused of damaging phone lines or power lines and preventing someone from contacting emergency services may face serious manslaughter charges. Cases involving cyber attacks on hospitals, local power grids, or other infrastructure may also lead to more serious penalties.

Criminally negligent homicide is a state jail felony, and a conviction can lead to a sentence lasting from 180 days to two years. Because of the difference in the potential penalties for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, there are some situations where it may be beneficial for a person charged with manslaughter to negotiate to have charges reduced to criminally negligent homicide.

Defense Strategies in Manslaughter Cases

The distinction between recklessness and criminal negligence depends on a person's state of mind when an offense allegedly occurred. At Texas Defense Firm, our lawyers can work with clients to challenge accusations that they engaged in recklessness by disregarding known risks. We may take steps to show that a person was killed in an accident that could not have been avoided or because of unforeseeable events.

We may be able to work with accident reconstruction experts to make sure the circumstances surrounding a death are fully understood. We can determine whether a death may have been caused by a mechanical failure that was out of a person's control, or we may uncover medical evidence showing that a person died because of unrelated medical issues. By taking steps to show that a person was not responsible for someone's death and that they did not act recklessly or negligently, we can help defend against a conviction.

Contact Our McKinney Manslaughter Defense Lawyers

The penalties for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide can be serious, and a strong defense will be needed to help address these accusations and avoid a conviction. At Texas Defense Firm, we can provide effective legal representation while working to resolve criminal cases successfully so that our clients can put these difficult situations behind them. Contact our McKinney manslaughter attorneys at 972-369-0577 to schedule a free consultation.