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.

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.

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

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

Or here:

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

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.

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.

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/

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

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/

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/

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

According to recent statistics, the crime rate for Nueces County is slightly higher than the average crime rate for a county of that size in the United States. Nueces County is also in the 39th percentile for safety, which means that 61% of counties are safer and 39% of them are more dangerous. But, this analysis only applies to its proper boundaries. The annual crime rate for Nueces County is 39.26 per 1,000 residents, and people typically consider the south part of the county to be the safest. If you live in the northern neighborhoods, you have a 1 in 15 chance of being the victim of a crime. But, you have a 1 in 46 chance if you live in the south side.

More crime-related issues show up in certain places (such as airports, parks, and schools). Because of the large number of people in those places and the low-population areas that exist nearby, major airports always look like high-crime locations. Parks and designated recreational areas also have the same problem. But, out of the 355,697 people who live in Nueces County, few of them live near these areas. Crime rates in the county may appear higher in those places, because they get a lot of visitors. This can be true even for parks that are considered safe. Crimes typically occur where people congregate, whether they live there or not. That’s why you need to look at the broader picture by analyzing nearby destinations where people may be visiting.

Overall Crime Rates in Nueces County

Here are the individual rates for violent crimes in Nueces County:

• 2.787 assaults per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 1.077 robberies per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 0.5237 rapes per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 0.0375 murders per 1,000 residents in a standard year.

There are a total of 4.425 violent crimes being committed per 1,000 residents in a standard year (compared to 26.2 per 1,000 residents in 2017). Here are the individual property crime rates for Nueces County:

• 12.70 thefts per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 3.062 vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 5.179 burglaries per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 0.1368 arsons per 1,000 residents in a standard year.

There are a total of 21.07 property crimes being committed per 1,000 residents in a standard year (compared to 46.1 per 1,000 residents in 2017). The individual rates for other crimes for Nueces County are as follows:

• 0.1305 kidnappings per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 5.750 drug crimes committed per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 7.166 acts of vandalism committed per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 0.6879 acts of identity theft committed per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 0.0256 acts of animal cruelty committed per 1,000 residents in a standard year.

Compared to its surrounding counties, the crime rate for Nueces County is lower. But, it’s still less safe than other counties of the same size.

Overall Crime Rates for the City of Corpus Christi

Here are the individual rates for violent crimes in the City of Corpus Christi:

• 0.11 murders per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 0.73 rapes per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 1.52 robberies per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 6.53 assaults per 1,000 residents in a standard year.

You have a 1 in 113 chance of being the victim of a violent crimes if you live in Corpus Christi. Here are the individual rates for property crimes in the City of Corpus Christi:

• 6.46 burglaries per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 24.70 thefts per 1,000 residents in a standard year.
• 2.79 motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents in a standard year.

You have a 1 in 29 chance of being the victim of a property crime if you live in Corpus Christi. It’s also considered to be safer than 6% of U.S. cities.

Best Criminal Defense Attorney in Corpus Christi for Defending Your Case!

If you’re looking for a criminal defense lawyer in Corpus Christi that will fight for you and your rights, Gale Law Group has a team of people that can help. If you’re being accused of any kind of criminal offense, you don’t want to go in alone. You need to have a qualified attorney by your side — someone who will make sure your rights are being protected. Feel free to get in touch with us, so you can find out more about how we can help you with your case!