Midland Felony Crimes Lawyer

State & Federal Felony Defense in Midland & Lubbock, Texas

A felony charge puts everything at stake: your freedom, your career, your civil rights, and your future. From the moment of arrest, the decisions you make shape how your case unfolds. Eckman Law Firm, PLLC represents people facing felony charges at both the state and federal level, and our two-attorney structure means your case is examined from multiple angles before a strategy takes shape.

We’ve represented thousands of criminal cases, including more than 400 federal offenses. Attorney Aaron Eckman holds separate federal court licenses in the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Attorney Victoria Eckman is licensed in the Western and Northern Districts of Texas. When a Midland County felony charge carries federal exposure (as drug and firearms cases in the Permian Basin often do), we’re equipped to defend it on both tracks.

When you retain us, both attorneys review your case from the start, examining how the search was conducted, how evidence was seized, and how your statement was taken. If the facts need developing, we can hire a private investigator. That preparation begins at the free consultation.

What Crimes Are Considered Felonies in Texas?

Texas felony charges cover a wide range of offense types. The degree of the charge and the specific facts of your case determine the penalties you face, which is why getting representation in place quickly matters. The prosecution begins building its case the moment charges are filed.

Examples of felony crimes we defend include:

• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Domestic violence/family violence
• Assault with a deadly weapon
• Theft
• Robbery
• White collar crimes
• Drug crimes
• Sex crimes
• Arson
• Identity theft
• Felony DWI

Felony Degrees & Penalties Under the Texas Penal Code

Texas law defines five felony classifications, each with its own sentencing range. A conviction at any level can also strip your right to vote and limit your right to bear arms under Texas and federal law. These consequences follow you long after any period of confinement ends.

The five degrees of felony in Texas and their penalties are:

• State Jail Felony: 180 days to 2 years in state jail, maximum $10,000 fine
• Third Degree Felony: 2 to 10 years in prison, maximum $10,000 fine
• Second Degree Felony: 2 to 20 years in prison, maximum $10,000 fine
• First Degree Felony: 5 to 99 years or life in prison, maximum $10,000 fine
• Capital Felony: Life in prison or the death penalty

Consequences That Outlast the Sentence

The criminal penalties above are only part of what a felony conviction costs. Background checks surface felony records for employers, landlords, and licensing boards. Licensed professions in Texas, including healthcare, law, education, and financial services, can deny or revoke licensure based on a felony record. Federal benefits eligibility may also be affected. For non-citizens, certain felony convictions can trigger removal proceedings.

A conviction doesn’t have to be the end of the road. Texas law permits expunction of certain dismissed or acquitted charges and non-disclosure for some deferred adjudication outcomes, though not every felony qualifies. We handle expunctions and non-disclosures for clients whose cases meet the legal requirements, which can limit the public visibility of a record after a case resolves.

Your Constitutional Rights During a Felony Investigation

The rights that protect you during a felony investigation are only as useful as the attorney enforcing them. Here is what you’re entitled to at every stage:

• The Right to Remain Silent: You aren’t required to answer law enforcement questions without an attorney present. Exercising this right isn’t an admission of guilt.
• The Right to Counsel: You have the right to an attorney from interrogation through trial and any appeal.
• The Right to a Fair Trial: You’re entitled to a jury trial and to present evidence in your defense.
• The Right to Appeal: A conviction isn’t necessarily final. You have the right to challenge it before a higher court.
• The Right to Be Informed: You have the right to know the charges against you and the evidence the prosecution intends to use.

We review every felony case we accept for constitutional violations, including how the search was conducted, how evidence was seized, and how any statements were obtained. Evidence gathered in violation of the Fourth or Fifth Amendment can sometimes be suppressed. This can directly limit what the prosecution can use at trial.

How Felony Cases Move Through Midland County Courts

Felony cases in Midland County are heard in the state district courts, which include the 124th, 238th, 318th, 385th, and 441st Judicial District Courts. Before a case can go to trial, the prosecution must present evidence to a grand jury, which is a panel that evaluates whether probable cause supports the charge. If the grand jury finds sufficient cause, it returns an indictment. If it doesn’t, the charge is no-billed and the case doesn’t proceed. Felony arraignments take place every Friday at 8:30 a.m., with Midland County District Judges alternating on a regular schedule.

After indictment, the case moves through pre-trial hearings and, if charges aren’t resolved through negotiation or dismissal, to jury or bench trial. Each stage creates opportunities: to challenge how evidence was gathered, to contest the legal sufficiency of the charge, or to negotiate a resolution that may minimize the consequences. Our experience in Midland’s district courts and Aaron Eckman’s background in both state and federal proceedings mean we know how these cases are likely to move and where the leverage points are.

Why Midland Residents Retain Us for Felony Defense

Aaron E. Eckman and Victoria Eckman bring 15 years of combined legal experience and complementary backgrounds to every felony case: Victoria’s work as a federal law clerk and Aaron’s experience as a misdemeanor prosecutor. That combination shapes how we read both the prosecution’s case and the court’s likely approach to it.

Felony Case Results

Our prior felony results include a 1st Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Minor no-billed by the grand jury, a 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon dismissed, a 2nd Degree Felony Assault dismissed, a 2nd Degree Felony Robbery dismissed, and a 3rd Degree Felony Theft dismissed. Past outcomes in specific cases don’t guarantee the same result in any future matter.

Federal Credentials & Investigative Resources

For Midland County cases with federal exposure, Aaron Eckman’s licenses in three federal districts and his standing before the Fifth Circuit mean we can handle both tracks without referring you elsewhere. We’ve represented more than 400 federal offenses across those jurisdictions. When the facts require it, we can retain a private investigator to develop evidence for negotiation, trial preparation, or mitigation.

If you’re facing felony charges in Midland or the surrounding area, don’t wait to get counsel in place. The earlier we examine your case, the more options may be available.