Montgomery County, Texas Board Certified DWI & Criminal Defense Attorney

Board Certified Attorney in Montgomery County, TX

Have you been arrested for a DWI or other criminal offense in Montgomery County, Texas? If so, you want experienced legal representation to help guide you through the process. An experienced DWI defense and criminal defense lawyer will not only guide you but will aggressively advocate for your rights and defend you against the allegations made by the prosecution. Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. represents clients in Montgomery County who have been charged with a DWI, misdemeanor, or felony charge. Doug Murphy has been successfully committed to criminal defense for several decades and has made his name known in the prosecutor's office as a tireless and successful defense lawyer who never quits. Contact Doug Murphy today; the sooner you do, the sooner he can start protecting your rights and developing your defense.

DWI Defense

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Montgomery County is a serious offense. Out of all counties in Texas with a population greater than or equal to 500,000, Montgomery County has consistently – for the last five out of seven years – surpassed all other counties with regard to the number of DWI fatalities experienced in the county. As such, there are higher rates of charges of intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter in Montgomery County than there are in most other counties.

Because of these alarming statistics, Montgomery County law enforcement and the Montgomery County District Attorney are extremely aggressive in enforcing DWI laws. Montgomery County law enforcement officers receive specific DWI training from the Montgomery County district attorney's office. Accordingly, police are more alert and aggressive about seeking DWI drivers in Montgomery County. Police will utilize any legal justification for a traffic stop so that they can question you about drinking and driving or being potentially under the influence of drugs while driving. Police will request you perform field sobriety tests and request you to submit to either a breath test or blood test. If you refuse to provide a breath or blood sample voluntarily, DWI officers will most likely seek and obtain a search warrant to take a sample of your blood without your consent. This is the new reality.

If you are arrested for a DWI, whether it is your first time, or you have prior DWI arrests, or whether you are arrested for a felony DWI, like DWI with a child passenger under 15, or a DWI associated with prescription drugs or illicit drugs, you need to retain a competent and skilled DWI lawyer with an extensive and successful trial record.

In Montgomery County, the system can be stacked against you. Police rush to judgment in their investigation. Many citizens on a jury inherently are inclined to trust the testimony of the police. Many otherwise law-abiding citizens who find themselves in the unfortunate position of being arrested for DWI are, therefore, also inclined to bargain for a plea deal, if possible, so that they can get the whole thing over with and start on with their lives again.

The problem is that your life will never be the same again if you are convicted of a DWI charge. You need an attorney like Doug Murphy, who has spent his entire career committed to successfully defending DWI and other criminal allegations. You need a lawyer like Doug Murphy, who has not only the experience and skilled in fighting for your rights and your freedom but who is also repeatedly able to convince and persuade juries where to find reasonable doubt against otherwise insurmountable evidence. Doug Murphy routinely demonstrates the know-how on strategic and winning defenses for his clients. Doug Murphy understands how jurors think; he knows how to introduce evidence, challenge the state's evidence, frame legal arguments designed to neutralize and mitigate the prosecution, and demonstrate reasonable doubt. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., we are committed to a comprehensive and aggressive defense that defeats the State's case against you.

Criminal Defense

If you have been charged with a crime, whether by mistake or with reason, it is important to remember that you are not guilty – unless a jury finds you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. You have the right to a jury trial. The prosecution has the burden to prove all the elements of the alleged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If the state cannot prove any elements of the crime, a judge will instruct the jury that is required to find you not guilty as a matter of law. This is why hiring a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in the law and trying criminal cases before a jury is so important.

A criminal charge often carries two contradictory objectives: (1) not to be convicted and sentenced and (2) not to be judged by peers. Crimes like drug possession or prostitution are good examples of this dichotomy. For instance, if illicit drugs are found on your person, you will face a drug possession charge. You want to fight the charge because you do not want to end up in jail. Fighting the charge, however, may indicate you must go to trial, and that means you must confront a jury of your peers who likely already made a judgment about you due to the charge itself. Thus, going to trial means you already face an uphill battle, which brings you back to the point when you want to deal for a lesser charge rather than confront adversity.

But to sign off on a plea deal is to commit yourself to a conviction – even if it is a lesser crime – and that means a sentence – even if it is a lesser sentence. It also means a criminal record.

Fighting the charge and going to trial means facing uncertainty, which can be difficult, but for the guidance of an experienced, aggressive, and strategic criminal defense attorney like Doug Murphy.

Collateral Consequences

There are serious collateral consequences to a DWI or criminal conviction, especially if it is a felony conviction. In addition to the standard incarceration, steep fines, and – if it is a DWI offense – suspension of driver's license, you also must endure consequences imposed by society, which often have reverberating effects on your life. A conviction means a criminal record; for many convictions, like a DWI, you cannot have the record expunged, sealed, vacated, or otherwise removed. Any future background checks will likely reveal your criminal record, which can materialize into many frustrations for you and reduce your quality of life.

For instance, if you are convicted of a felony, your civil right to possess and use a firearm or vote will be stripped. On the other hand, regardless if you are convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, future or current employers may choose not to hire or continue with your employment. A DWI conviction directly impacts a person who requires a security clearance or special licensing, like a pilot, doctor, or nurse: a DWI or felony conviction could mean revocation, suspension, or restrictions placed on the security clearance or the professional license. You may be denied financial aid or admission if you have academic aspirations. If you want to rent in a pleasant and safe location, your application could be turned away. If it was a DWI conviction, your insurance premiums will go up. If it was a violent crime or DWI conviction, you could face problems with child custody. And so on.

There's a lot that can impact your life. The worst for some people is the impact a conviction has on their social or familial status. And in that sense alone, a criminal record matters long after the sentence has been successfully completed.

How to Fight a Criminal Charge

Fighting an allegation made against you is imperative if you are concerned about your and your family's future. It is in your better interest to fight a criminal charge. To do so, consider the following:

• Retain a Board Certified DWI lawyer. DWI cases are now some of the most complex and technical cases an attorney can handle because of the pseudo-science tactics employed by law enforcement. Fighting these phony tactics requires specific knowledge of fighting field sobriety exercises, breath tests, blood tests, accident reconstruction, and even DNA analysis in accident cases. One means to determine if your attorney has the appropriate qualification is to inquire if he or she is Board Certified by the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), and the only accredited DWI certification by the American Bar Association. Doug Murphy is certified by the NCDD as a Board Certified Specialist in DUI Defense Law. Doug Murphy also serves on the Board of Regents for the NCDD, as well as serving on the faculty, which is further testimony to his DWI defense abilities.
• Retain a Board Certified criminal defense lawyer. Some attorneys practice in all areas of the law; they may represent a personal injury case one day, but then turn around and defend an assault suspect the next day. If you are truly interested in fighting your criminal charge, you want someone who has spent their entire career dedicated to criminal defense. You want a lawyer who specializes in criminal defense, knows how the State operates and has insight into the court system and trial process. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in the state of Texas in the area of criminal defense. The certification process is rigorous and includes steep qualifications and an oral and written exam. Doug Murphy is also Board Certified in criminal defense. In fact, Doug Murphy is one of only two attorneys in Texas to be Board Certified in both DWI and criminal defense.
• Do not immediately entertain the prosecution's offer to plea. Some attorneys take cases with the primary intention to strike a deal with the prosecutor's office rather than prepare the case for trial. Prosecutors recognize plea lawyers when they walk into the courtroom. Lawyers who do not prepare the case for trial will never be able to find the issues that could end in a dismissal or provide a window of opportunity to prevail at trial. You need a lawyer who will work the case up extensively to know what your true options are before discussing or even considering a plea bargain offer. Before retaining a lawyer, make sure you know what his or her trial experience is so that you can be assured whether your lawyer has the experience and credentials to know what legal issues to look for that could be the difference between a dismissal or not guilty verdict, versus a conviction.

The Court System of Montgomery County

The Court system of Montgomery County is pretty extensive. Unlike some counties in Texas, whose populations are so small that there is one District Court to accommodate several counties, in Montgomery County, there are 7 District Courts alone. Of course, District Courts do not make up the entirety of the complex court system. There is a hierarchy to the court system, and your case will be assigned to one of these courts according to the charge, location of arrest, and/or who charged you – whether it was the Sheriff's Department or local police. Below is a compilation of the courts in Montgomery County and their corresponding jurisdictions.

County Courts at Law in Montgomery County

Class A and Class B misdemeanors are heard by three of the five county courts at law in Montgomery County. These county courts at law also have appellate jurisdiction over Justice of the Peace and municipal court cases. Although there are five county court at laws in Montgomery County, only the three Montgomery County Courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases:

Montgomery County District Courts

Felony cases are heard in the seven district courts in Montgomery County. You can go to the Montgomery County District Court website to look up information on your case via the searchable court docket.

Drug Court in Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Texas, has several courts with specific functions, one of which is a court specific to substance abuse and DWI cases; it is more akin to a program to help rehabilitate persons convicted of drug crimes or DWI and who have substance abuse issues. You must meet specific qualifications in order to participate in this program.

Montgomery County Drug Court

207 West Phillips, Suite 302
Conroe, Texas 77301
(936) 538-8107

Montgomery County Jail, Probation & Police Stations

If you have been convicted of a DWI or other criminal offense, you may be sentenced to a county jail or state prison.

Montgomery County Jail

1 Criminal Justice Drive
Conroe, Texas 77301
(936) 760-5870

Montgomery County Adult Probation

2245 North 1st Street
Conroe, Texas 77301
(936) 538-8200

Conroe Police Stations

Cut & Shoot Police Station

14391 TX-105
Cut and Shoot, Texas 77306
(936) 264-2173
Map & Directions

New Caney Police Stations

Magnolia Police Stations

Montgomery Police Stations

Shenandoah Police Station

Shenandoah Police Department
299551 I-45
Shenandoah, Texas 77381
(281) 367-8952

Splendora Police Station

Splendora Police Department

26090 FM 2090 Road
Splendora, Texas 77372
(281) 689-3448

Stagecoach Police Station

Stagecoach Police Department
16930 Boothill Road
Stagecoach, Texas 77355
(281) 259-9333

Willis Police Stations

Willis Police Department

200 South Bell Street
Willis, Texas 77378
(936) 856-4039

Representation by Jurisdiction

Doug Murphy, a veteran DWI and criminal defense trial attorney, represents clients throughout Montgomery County. His law firm is in Houston, Texas, but he regularly represents clients in Montgomery County and The Woodlands. Doug Murphy knows Montgomery County.

Montgomery County: Population, Cities & Towns

Montgomery County, Texas, is the state's 11th largest county according to population, which is about 678,000 people, according to the U.S. census in 2022. This population comprises of people with relatively mixed socioeconomic and racial or ethnic backgrounds. The population enjoys a comparatively good economy. The median household income is $69,021, but this fluctuates drastically depending on location within Montgomery County, which is overall much better than the State of Texas's median of $67,321. There are 179,587 households consisting of 2.87 persons. Per capita income averages about $37,638 for Montgomery County, which is also better than the overall average per capita income for Texas at $34,255.

Part of Montgomery County is connected to the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro area. Conroe is the largest populated city in Montgomery County, with over 101,000 residents. Conroe is also the county seat.

Cities and Towns of Montgomery County, TX

• Conroe
• Cut and Shoot
• Magnolia
• Montgomery
• New Caney
• Oak Ridge North
• Panorama Village
• Roman Forest
• Shenandoah
• Splendora
• Stagecoach
• The Woodlands
• Willis
• Woodbranch
• Woodloch

Experienced, Smart DWI Defense & Criminal Defense Lawyer in Montgomery County, Texas

If you have been charged with a DWI or another crime and want to fight the charge because you care about your future, you need to retain a DWI and criminal defense attorney committed to the same. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., you get commitment and results. Contact Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today at 713-229-8333.