Gale Law Group
525 Clifford Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
361.808.4444
  1. Nueces County hires law firms for employment matters after medical examiner’s office arrests

    caller times

    The Nueces County Attorney’s Office has retained two law firms to handle employment matters following a months-long criminal probe into the medical examiner’s office that has resulted in three arrests.

    County Attorney Jenny Dorsey last week said her office has retained Corpus Christi attorney Tonya Webber of Porter, Rogers, Dahlman & Gordon and San Antonio law firm Branscomb Law to handle such matters.

    Read the full story here


  2. What are the Tests You Might Face When You’re Pulled Over for a DUI?

    According to Texas Law, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) and driving while you’re intoxicated (DWI) are both considered to be misdemeanor offenses. If you’re suspected of either of them, a law enforcement officer will most likely administer a chemical test to see if there’s any alcohol or other substances in your system at the time of your DUI arrest in Texas. This test can be done in three different ways — a breath test, a blood test, or a urine test. All of them will prove if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher by showing the presence of drugs and/or alcohol in your body. All of these tests will allow the officer to determine if you should be arrested and charged with a DUI or DWI.

    sobriety test

    The Breath Analysis

    The breath test uses a machine called a “breathalyzer” that’s usually administered during traffic stops, and it’s probably the most common type of alcohol test being used in DWI cases. To take a breath test, you just blow into the machine while it determines the amount of alcohol in your breath. This figure is measured by a percentage, but it does have one flaw. While breath tests are easier for law enforcement officers to perform during traffic stops, they’re not as accurate as blood tests.

    When you’re pulled over by a cop, he or she will ask you to take a breathalyzer test if they believe you may be drunk. You don’t have to consent to a breathalyzer test, but there will be consequences if you don’t submit to chemical testing. A warrant for a blood test will be issued both quickly and easily, which makes them legally allowed to take your blood. At this point, refusing to submit will result in more consequences. That’s why they always say, “Blow, Don’t Bleed.”

    The Blood Test

    The legal standard for intoxication in the State of Texas is having a BAC of 0.08% or more, which can be measured by a breath or blood test. While breath tests are more common, they’re much less accurate than blood tests. To measure how much alcohol is in your blood, they will take 100 milliliters from your body and put it through a process known as “gas chromatography” to find out if your BAC is over the legal limit. You can refuse to take a blood test, but it’s not recommended because doing so can cause the state to suspend your license. They can also use your refusal as evidence in future prosecutions.

    They will most likely get a warrant for a blood test, so they can make you submit to chemical testing. That’s why it’s better to take the blood test if you’re asked. Submitting to a blood test at the time of your DWI arrest in Texas is the last thing you want to do. Not only is it invasive and unpleasant, but it’s also much harder to fight in court. Both blood and breath tests have their flaws, but contesting the results of a blood test will take a lot more work and expertise because the jury is more likely to believe the results.

    The Urine Test

    Also called “urinalysis,” a urine test is only used if the officer believes that the driver is under the influence of drugs or other controlled substances. But, they’re usually considered to be the least reliable of the three chemical tastes used in DWI cases. If a driver is pulled over because the officer suspects that he or she is under the influence of drugs and the urine test shows the presence of an illegal drug, it won’t necessarily prove that this person was driving under the influence. Because drugs will stay in a person’s system for a much longer period of time than alcohol, the results of a urine test may be inconclusive. The driver may be sober at the time he or she took the test. Like all the other tests, you can legally refuse to take a urine test. But, there are consequences for doing so.

    If you have been charged with a DUI and you need a criminal defense attorney in Corpus Christi to help you with your case, be sure to get in touch with Gale Law Group. We have a team of experts who can help you come up with a solid defense, and they would be happy to speak with you about the specifics of your case.


  3. Former jail inmate suing Nueces County, corrections officer for 2019 assault

    The suit claims that the guard punched the inmate more than 20 times, resulting in the inmate being hospitalized for over three weeks.

    Read the full article here

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  4. Former inmates sue Nueces County, former jailer they allege assaulted them in jail

    Two people who were in custody at the Nueces County Jail in 2019 are suing the county and a corrections officer whom they accused of brutally assaulting them while they were inmates.

    Read the full article here:

    https://news.yahoo.com/former-inmates-sue-nueces-county-120027440.html

    yahoo news

    Or here:

    https://www.caller.com/story/news/2022/05/01/former-inmates-sue-nueces-county-corrections-officer-bobby-benavides/9554663002/

    caller times

  5. How Can You Post Bail for Someone in the Nueces County Jail?

    The term “bail” refers to the temporary release of someone who has been accused of committing a crime and is waiting for a trial. This is usually done on the condition that a sum of money paid in cash be held to make sure that he or she appears in court on the assigned date. Once you have been booked and filed for arrest, a custody and bail hearing will be scheduled (usually within 48 hours). During this hearing, the judge may decide to issue a bail or bond amount. This is a refundable sum of cash that’s paid to the court and is meant to give you an incentive to attend every single court hearing for which you have been scheduled.

    bail bonds

    Who Can Post Bail for a Defendant at the Nueces County Jail

    Anyone over the age of 18 with a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Some of the accepted forms of ID include the following:

    • Driver’s license.
    • Passport.
    • Motor vehicle issued ID.

    In many cases, defendants can post their own cash bail from the Nueces County Jail if they have the resources. Surety bonds are typically arranged through a state-licensed bail bond firm by a third-party. Juveniles can only be bailed or bonded by a parent or legal guardian.

    How to Post Bail or Bond in Nueces County

    Because Nueces County and the State of Texas can change their bail bond procedures at any time, it’s always a good idea to call the Nueces County Jail or the court once the person being arrested has been booked. You can visit their respective websites to find the appropriate phone numbers. Then, you need to ask them the following questions:

    • Is the defendant eligible for a bail or bond?
    • What is the amount of the bail or bond?
    • Where do I go to pay it?
    • Are there any days or times when I’m not able to post bail?
    • What forms of payment are allowed?
    • If I can pay by credit card, which ones are accepted?
    • Can I pay with property or some other form of collateral?
    • Can I pay with surety bonds?
    • Do I have to use a bail or bond agent?

    If you feel like the bail is too high and would like to get it reduced, you will need to contact a lawyer or the defendant’s public defender to have it looked more closely.

    Posting Bail with Cash at the Nueces County Jail

    With this option, you can post bail for the full amount in cash, with a cashier’s check, or with a money order. But, you will not be able to pay with a personal check. Depending on the crime, the amount of the bail can be anywhere from $100 to upwards of $75,000. To pay a cash bond, go to the Nueces County Jail or to the court where the hearing took place. But, if you go to the jail directly, it will make the release process go more quickly. Any bail paperwork that goes through the court will have to be sent to the jail. Cashier’s checks and money orders can be made out to the Nueces County Jail where the defendant is being held, but the payment is usually sent to the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office or to the Nueces County Court.

    Posting a Private or Surety Bond for Someone at the Nueces County Jail

    If you don’t have the full bond amount, you have the option of getting what’s called a private or surety bond. This is an agreement that’s made with a bail agent or bondsman, who will post the full bail amount. In exchange, the defendant and/or cosigner will pay a premium to the bail agent (which can be 10-15% of the bail amount).  A bail agent will also require some kind of collateral (such as a lien on a home, a car, or jewelry). This makes sure that the bail agent has some type of compensation for the full bail amount in case the defendant skips bail or doesn’t appear in court.

    Posting a Property Bond for Someone at the Nueces County Jail

    If you own land in Nueces County, you might be able to post a property bond. Any land in Nueces County can be used as collateral if you want to bail someone out, but all the owners need to be present to sign the bond. To find out if you can use a property outside of Nueces County as collateral, you can call a criminal defense lawyer in Corpus Christi or a local bond agent for more information.

    If you have been arrested and are looking for the best criminal defense attorney in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Gale Law Group.


  6. Chief medical examiner resigns; interim appointed amid criminal investigation

    One week after he was arrested as a result of a months-long investigation into his office, Nueces County commissioners voted to accept Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Adel Shaker’s resignation effective Wednesday.

    Read the full story: 

    https://www.caller.com/story/news/2022/04/20/chief-medical-examiner-resigns-interim-appointed-amid-investigation/7368067001/

    caller times

  7. Commissioners vote to accept Shaker resignation Tuesday

    Nueces County commissioners voted to accept chief medical examiner Dr. Adel Shaker’s resignation effective Wednesday.

    Former chief medical examiner Dr. Ray Fernandez will serve as interim until a permanent replacement for Shaker is hired.

    Read the full article:

    https://www.kristv.com/news/6-investigates/commissioners-vote-to-accept-shaker-resignation

    kris 6 news

  8. Affidavit: Shaker, county employees knew former deputy medical examiner was not licensed

    Nueces County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Adel Shaker, who this week was criminally charged as a result of a months-long criminal probe into his office, lied to county staff his former deputy chief medical examiner was licensed to practice in Texas, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

    Read the full story:

    https://www.caller.com/story/news/2022/04/14/affidavit-dr-shaker-knew-former-medical-examiner-not-licensed/7321538001/

    caller times

  9. Nueces County commissioners make offer to second applicant for chief medical examiner

    The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office, which for months has contended with a criminal probe into its chief and deputy medical examiners, could soon have a new leader.

    The Nueces County Commissioners Court on Wednesday unanimously moved to offer the top position to Dr. Timothy Fagen.

    Read the full story:

    https://www.caller.com/story/news/2022/04/13/nueces-county-commissioners-make-new-offer-chief-medical-examiner/7309122001/

    caller times

  10. City of Taft employee placed on paid leave after accusing mayor of pulling a knife on him

    TAFT, Texas — The mayor of Taft, Texas, Randy Powell, is now under investigation by the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Department for allegedly pulling a knife on a City employee last Friday.

    3News learned Friday that Powell’s accuser, Taft Public Works Director Joe Sandoval, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation’s completion.

    Read the full story:

    https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/local/mayor-of-taft-put-on-administrative-leave/503-f7b86b77-ecfc-4d43-bedd-eb840319c2bf

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