Texas Felony Defense

A felony conviction can mean years in prison and a lifetime of restrictions on your rights. If you have been charged with a felony in Dallas or anywhere in Texas, you need an experienced advocate.

In Texas, a felony is the most serious category of criminal offense. Convictions carry stiff penalties, including state prison time, substantial fines, and the permanent loss of certain civil rights. Bret W. Schmidt has spent more than 25 years defending Texans against felony charges of every kind.

01

How Texas classifies felonies

Texas law divides felonies into five degrees, each carrying different sentencing ranges. Knowing exactly what you are charged with, and the maximum exposure, is the first step in building a strategic defense.

  • Capital felony: life without parole or the death penalty.
  • First-degree felony: 5 to 99 years (or life) in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
  • Second-degree felony: 2 to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
  • Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
  • State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and up to a $10,000 fine.
02

Felony charges Bret defends

Felony work is the heart of this firm’s practice. Whether the case involves drugs, violence, white-collar conduct, or alleged sex offenses, the approach is the same: investigate every fact, challenge every weak piece of evidence, and protect the client’s record at every stage.

  • Drug possession, distribution, and manufacturing
  • Aggravated assault and family violence
  • Robbery, burglary, and theft over $2,500
  • DWI (third or subsequent, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter)
  • Murder and manslaughter
  • Sex offenses and online solicitation
  • White-collar offenses including fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering
  • Weapons charges and unlawful possession of a firearm
03

What a felony conviction really costs

The sentence is only part of the story. A felony record follows you long after any time served. It restricts where you can live, what jobs you can hold, whether you can vote or own a firearm, and how you are treated by everyone from landlords to lenders.

Protecting your future means fighting the charge from day one. Pre-indictment work, suppression motions, plea negotiations, and trial advocacy all matter, and timing matters even more.

04

Why experience matters here

Felony cases turn on details: how police executed a search warrant, whether a confession was voluntary, whether a witness identification was reliable, whether the lab handled evidence properly. Bret has been in Texas courtrooms since 1996. He knows how local prosecutors build their cases and how to find the cracks.

If you are facing a felony charge, do not talk to law enforcement before you talk to an attorney. Call (214) 526-1100 today to schedule a confidential consultation.

Reviews & Ratings

Trusted by clients across Texas.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.9 / 5 Google · 54 reviews
Avvo Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney
DCDLA Member Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Assoc.
Bret is an amazing attorney and a great person. He has helped me and my family in so many ways. Not only is he a great lawyer but he truly cares about the people he works with.
Nicholas M. Google review
This guy is the BEST! He is so helpful, HONEST and dependable. Bret Schmidt is an outstanding attorney. The justice system is intimidating, but if you need help from an honest person and great lawyer, Bret is the best one out there.
Emily M. Google review
If I could give Mr. Schmidt a 6 star review I would. He has been my attorney for years, and has always gone the extra mile in his representation. He has concern and empathy for his clients, unlike the majority of criminal lawyers.
James O. Google review
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Contact Dallas Attorney Bret W. Schmidt today.

When you work with attorney Bret W. Schmidt, you can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have an experienced criminal law attorney advocating for your best interests. As your attorney, he will take the time to get to know you, answer your questions and help you understand the criminal justice process. When you choose the Law Office of Bret W. Schmidt, you are more than just a client number.

If you or someone close to you needs a Dallas criminal defense or civil asset forfeiture attorney, schedule an initial consultation by calling the Law Office of Bret W. Schmidt today.