Have you or a loved one been charged with homicide in McKinney, TX? Your entire future could be at stake, and these complex cases demand immediate attention from experienced legal professionals. Call Texas Defense Firm at (972) 369-0577 to find out how we can help.
Our McKinney criminal defense attorneys are ready to support you, bringing extensive legal experience to the table. We have handled some of the toughest criminal charges a person can face, including homicide.
We know how much is on the line and how to defend your rights against aggressive prosecution tactics. Call us to schedule a consultation with a McKinney homicide lawyer.
Why Choose Texas Defense Firm if You’re Arrested For Homicide in McKinney, TX?
Being charged with homicide in McKinney, Texas, is a life-changing crisis that demands serious attention right away.
Here’s why you should put your trust in Texas Defense Firm:
- Our McKinney criminal defense lawyers have more than 200 years of combined legal experience.
- We answer the phone day or night, every day of the week. We’re always here for you.
- Our lawyers have been voted some of McKinney’s best criminal defense attorneys, earning respect from clients, judges, and even prosecutors.
- We take on state and federal cases so that we can help no matter the circumstances.
With your future on the line because of homicide charges, you need reliable legal help as soon as possible. Call us to speak with a McKinney homicide attorney.
Overview of Homicide in Texas
Homicide in Texas is a broad legal term that covers several different offenses. These crimes all involve the loss of human life, but the charge and the potential punishment depend on what specifically happened and what was in the accused’s mind at the time.
Capital Murder
This is the most serious homicide charge and comes with heavier consequences. Capital murder charges apply when the killing happens with certain aggravating factors present, like murdering more than one person, killing someone during another felony (robbery, arson, sexual assault, or kidnapping), killing for payment, or if the victim is a child under 10 or a public servant such as a police officer.
Murder
Someone can be charged with murder if they intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another person. Even if death wasn’t the direct goal, you can face murder charges if you intended to cause serious bodily injury and someone still dies, or if a death occurs while you are committing or trying to commit certain felonies (sometimes called felony murder).
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is charged when a death results from reckless conduct rather than intentional harm. That means the person accused didn’t mean to kill, but their risky actions, like texting while driving or driving intoxicated, caused someone’s death.
Criminally Negligent Homicide
This charge applies when a person’s lack of caution causes a death, but with less awareness than reckless behavior. To be found guilty, the person must have caused another’s death by failing to recognize a substantial risk that a reasonable person would have noticed.
Understanding the specific charges you could face is important, as they play a huge role in determining the best defense.
What Are the Penalties for Homicide in McKinney, Texas?
Penalties for homicide in Texas vary widely depending on the circumstances, type of charge, and any specific aggravating factors involved. Below is an overview of what you could be facing:
Capital Murder
If convicted of capital murder, a defendant faces the harshest penalties in the Texas legal system. Punishment can be life in prison without the possibility of parole or, in especially severe cases, the death penalty.
Murder (1st Degree Felony)
First-degree murder convictions come with severe consequences, carrying a sentence of 5 to 99 years or even life in prison, along with fines up to $10,000. In cases where the killing happened in the heat of “sudden passion” from an adequate cause, the charge and punishment may be lowered to a second-degree felony.
Manslaughter (2nd Degree Felony)
A conviction for manslaughter brings 2 to 20 years behind bars and a maximum $10,000 fine. Manslaughter recognizes that a death occurred because of reckless conduct rather than murderous intent.
Criminally Negligent Homicide (State Jail Felony)
Criminally negligent homicide is a lower-level charge and carries 180 days up to 2 years in a state jail facility.
Other Consequences
You could face other consequences in addition to prison time and fines.
Loss of Gun Rights
Once convicted of a felony, you may permanently lose the right to own, possess, or use firearms under both Texas and federal law. This restriction applies for life, no matter how long ago your conviction occurred, and can never be restored in most cases, according to federal law.
Voting Restrictions
You also lose the right to vote while imprisoned or under community supervision (like parole or probation). Once you complete your sentence, you should regain this right.
Employment Barriers
Finding a job after a homicide conviction is extremely challenging. Employers are allowed to run background checks and often will pass over applicants with a violent felony on their record, regardless of skills, experience, or time passed since release. Certain professions, like those involving childcare, education, or government, will likely be off the table forever.
Housing Problems
Serious felony convictions can really hurt your housing search. Most landlords screen tenants with criminal background checks, and an offense involving violence can lead to automatic denial for apartments and rentals, forcing you to rely on unstable or temporary living situations.
Immigration Issues
If you’re not a U.S. citizen, a homicide conviction nearly always results in automatic deportation proceedings or makes you permanently ineligible to become a citizen or legal resident. You may lose the chance to ever return to the United States. These devastating consequences make it critical to speak with a criminal defense lawyer immediately.
With sentences this serious, anyone charged with a homicide-related offense in Texas should immediately seek the help of an experienced defense attorney.
What Defenses Can Be Raised if I’m Arrested for Homicide?
If you’re facing homicide charges in Texas, having a strong defense is crucial. The right approach depends on the facts, the evidence, and what can reasonably be proven in court. Here are some of the most common homicide defenses:
Self-Defense or Defense of Others
You have the legal right to defend yourself or someone else if you genuinely believed danger was immediate and deadly. If it can be shown that your response was necessary to save your own life or protect someone close to you, homicide charges could be dismissed or you could be found not guilty at trial.
Accident or Lack of Intent
Not every tragedy is a crime; sometimes a death happens by accident or without any intent to hurt anyone. If evidence shows you didn’t mean for someone to get hurt and acted without malice, what may look like murder to police might only qualify as negligent homicide or could even lead to all charges being dropped.
Insufficient Evidence
Every person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If the state can’t prove you caused the death, your attorney can push for a dismissal or an acquittal by showing there is reasonable doubt about what really happened.
Heat of Sudden Passion
When a person loses control in response to a sudden and intense emotional shock, like walking in on an affair, the law recognizes this is different from a planned killing. In cases like these, a murder charge might be lowered from murder to manslaughter, meaning a lighter punishment and a huge difference for your future.
Mental Health or Insanity Defense
Sometimes, tragic events happen because of severe mental health issues, such as not knowing right from wrong or being unable to control your actions during a crisis. Raising an insanity or diminished capacity defense can mean treatment and help instead of prison, or might lead to conviction for a less serious charge.
Plea Agreements
Your attorney can sometimes work out a plea deal, which involves admitting to something less severe to avoid the harshest penalties. This can make a life-changing difference, like reducing a murder charge to manslaughter and sparing you from a life sentence or even the death penalty.
No matter the facts, the most important thing you can do is choose a defense team that knows what they’re doing in these serious cases. This gives you hope for a second chance.
Contact Our McKinney Homicide Lawyers for Legal Assistance
When you’re facing homicide charges, everything in your life can feel uncertain and overwhelming. The quality of your legal defense is one of the most critical aspects of your case and can mean the difference between life in prison and a life of freedom.
Our attorneys will work to uncover every fact, challenge every flaw in the prosecution’s case, and make sure your side of the story is presented clearly and powerfully. Contact Texas Defense Firm for an initial consultation with a McKinney homicide attorney.