Defendants in the Dallas Metroplex area may potentially be eligible for adult drug treatment court proceedings instead of a traditional criminal trial. Seeking adjudication in the Texas adult drug treatment courts can be a beneficial option for those whose addiction problem has led to criminal charges.

Adults struggling with substance abuse disorders are at greater risk of criminal prosecution than the general public. Along with charges for drug possession and distribution, the side effects of chemical dependence or withdrawal can lead to impulsive decision-making that includes many different kinds of criminal activity. Theft offenses, for example, have a strong association with chemical dependence, as people may steal either the substance that they abuse or resources so that they can acquire that substance.

Generally speaking, adult drug court is only available to those accused of nonviolent criminal offenses. Defendants seeking adjudication in the adult treatment courts must also undergo an assessment that validates their claim of struggling with a substance abuse disorder. The adult treatment courts focus on addressing the addiction that contributes to criminal activity rather than just punishing those who have violated the law.

Those facing first-time charges, and those with only minor criminal records, could be eligible for adjudication in the treatment courts instead of traditional prosecution. The goal is to help the defendant overcome their addiction problem through structured support and accountability. Drug court proceedings require that defendants fulfill numerous requirements, including:

• Drug and alcohol education courses

• Group recovery meetings

• Individual therapy sessions

• Randomized drug screening

• Regular attendance of specialized court proceedings overseen by the same judge

• Stable housing and employment

The entire process can easily take 18-24 months, sometimes longer, which can be burdensome to some. However, the prospective benefits of the adult drug treatment courts include avoiding a standard criminal conviction and bypassing the various criminal penalties that the courts could impose. 

Those accused of drug crimes or offenses related to substance abuse should discuss their charges with a Texas criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible.

Grob and & Associates Law Firm PC represents North Texas residents accused of drug crimes and other criminal offenses. Please call 972-777-5701 or contact us online to discuss your legal options. Our offices are in Rockwall and Wylie.  

The legislation passed in 2025 addresses many different areas of concern. One provision upgrades the classification of DWI cases where the motorist’s blood-alcohol concentration is .15 percent or higher to a Class A misdemeanor. This level of intoxication is well above the .08 percent standard that is used in most cases for per se drunk-driving charges. With the change, someone convicted of an extreme DWI faces up to one year in jail and a maximum $4,000 fine. 

Senate Bill 826 also shifts other specific drunk-driving crimes into a higher sentencing category. Operating a vehicle in a school zone while the reduced speed limit applies, is now a state jail felony. Likewise, it is now a state jail felony when someone is convicted of DWI for the second time. Incarceration for people found guilty in these cases can range from 180 days to two years. 

As DWI penalties get tougher, prosecutorial leverage increases. It is more important than ever to hire a skillful criminal defense lawyer if you’ve been accused of driving under the influence. Where a guilty plea might have been a reasonable decision in the past, the new legal framework might compel you to fight the allegations. 

There are many potential defenses in a DWI case. Overzealous law enforcement officers might have stopped your car without a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity or arrested you without probable cause. Police could have administered field sobriety tests incorrectly, or misinterpreted something innocuous as an indicator of intoxication. Even breath and blood tests can be mishandled in a way that destroys the validity of their results. 

Our experienced attorneys at Grob & Associates Law Firm PC represent clients in drunk-driving cases and other criminal defense matters from our North Texas offices in Rockwall and Wylie. To schedule a consultation, call us at 972-777-5701 or contact us online.

A decision from the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals more than 30 years ago prevents counties and municipalities from utilizing checkpoints during the holidays or at any other time of year. In Holt v. Texas, the defendant driver was arrested at a sobriety checkpoint created by the Arlington Police Department. 

Over a three-hour period, each of the 341 drivers who passed through the location was stopped and questioned by law enforcement officers. The Arlington Police Department had developed a procedure for questioning and examining the motorists. This authority had been granted to the department’s chief by the city council. Ms. Holt was one of 10 drivers arrested. 

Arlington authorities relied on a U.S. Supreme Court decision approving a checkpoint procedure established by the State of Michigan. This case noted that while there is a strong interest in keeping intoxicated motorists off the road, it must be balanced against an individual’s right to privacy. Since then, courts and many state legislatures have adopted procedures aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of roadblocks while minimizing the intrusion on drivers. Some ways to do this include picking checkpoint locations based on crash data, supervisory review of procedures, limited detention time, neutral selection criteria, conspicuous signage and advance public notice.

Despite Arlington’s efforts, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said that the city’s checkpoint did not meet the Supreme Court’s standard. While the Michigan case involved a statewide procedure approved by the courts, the Arlington’s Police Department developed the DWI roadblock procedure on its own. The decision allows for the creation of a statewide checkpoint policy like the one enacted in Michigan, but more than three decades later, none has been developed, so Holt still stands to prevent cities and counties from creating their own roadblock rules. 

Even without random stops, there are many ways for authorities to step up enforcement of drunk-driving laws during the holiday season, including increased patrols. Police can stop a vehicle if they have a reasonable, articulable suspicion of DWI or some other illegal activity. 

Grob & Associates Law Firm PC defends North Texas residents accused of drunk driving, as well as other crimes. To schedule a consultation reagrding your legal rights, please call 972-777-5701 or contact us online. Our offices are in Rockwall and Wylie. 

In June, the state enacted SB1300, a bill sponsored by State Senator Pete Flores, among others. Sen Flores attributes more than $20 million in annual sales tax revenue losses to large-scale theft operations, and retail groups say the amount taken from stores exceeds $400 million. The updated law lists four types of activity that qualify as organized retail theft:

• When two or more people work in concert to deprive a retailer of merchandise

• When someone appropriates merchandise from a retailer on at least two occasions in a 180-day period

• When someone who did not personally steal goods benefits from organized retail theft carried out by others

• When two or more people work in concert to overwhelm security in order steal goods

Harsher sentences put into place by the law are as follows:

• Property at issue valued at less than $100 — Upgrade from a Class C to a Class B misdemeanor, making incarceration possible even for theft of the most inexpensive merchandise. 

• Property at issue valued between $100 and $750 — Upgrade from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor, increasing maximum penalty from a $2,000 fine and 180 days in jail to $4,000 and one year. 

• Property at issue valued between $750 and $2,000 — Upgrade from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. This would not only make a convicted defendant a felon, but also could result in a $10,000 fine and two years behind bars. 

Similarly, existing felony charges would all be increased by one level for cases involving larger amounts. 

The new laws, along with the media attention given to shoplifting incidents, raise the possibility that authorities will stretch to bring organized retail theft charges. There is a great deal of room for interpretation when assessing whether two people acted in concert or overwhelmed security. If you are accused of organized retail theft or another offense, an experienced criminal defense attorney can review the facts and find the flaws in the prosecution’s case. 

Grob & Associates Law Firm PC defends North Texas residents accused of felony and misdemeanor theft offenses, as well as other crimes. To schedule a consultation to discuss your legal rights, please call 972-777-5701 or contact us online. Our offices are in Rockwall and Wylie.