The Experience You Need. The Results You Deserve. The Reputation You Can Trust.
Together, Attorneys Jerry and Trent Loftin and their legal team bring more than 130 years of combined legal experience to the table. Our firm has a long history of providing clients, individuals, families, and businesses throughout the Fort Worth, Texas area with reliable, exceptional legal counsel.
No case is too big, no matter is too complex. Rather than seeing a legal problem, we strive to use our extensive experience, critical thinking skills, and legal savvy to create long-term solutions for our clients. The result? We achieve an undisputed record of victories throughout Texas courts and a commitment to clients that goes unmatched throughout the legal community.
If you would like to speak with us about your
civil matter or legal issue, contact us today.
Request a
free initial consultation or call our Fort Worth office directly at (817) 429-2000.
Named Top Attorneys in Fort Worth
When it comes to your choice in legal representation, you deserve to work with a team of qualified lawyers who will understand the gravity of your situation, comprehend the risks associated with your case, and provide the legal advice you need. As a reflection of our firm’s abilities, both Jerry and Trent Loftin have been named Top Attorneys in Fort Worth by Fort Worth Magazine.
In addition, as trusted legal authorities in our community and state, both Jerry and Trent have been called upon to provide legal commentary for local and national media outlets. And if you’d like to see any reviews or testimonials from our clients, just ask.
Facing NEW Criminal Charges? Choose a Firm that Fights to Win.
The hand of the law can be heavy—and this is especially true of the criminal justice system. Many times, prosecutors strive to push for the harshest penalties possible, despite the accused person keeping a clean record or never having a previous run-in with the law.
The Fort Worth criminal defense lawyers at Jerry Loftin & Associates know what tactics the police and district attorney’s office will use to build a case against you. We also know how to tear their cases apart. Very often it only takes one mistake on the police officer’s part to cast doubt on the validity of charges against you.
After decades of successfully defending clients accused of criminal behavior, we excel at uncovering these mistakes, so you can avoid going to trial, spending time in jail, or paying exorbitant fines. Again, we are in it to win and will do whatever it takes, within the scope of the law, to secure your freedom.
For more information about how we can help you,
contact us at (817) 429-2000.
YOU HAVE RIGHTS!
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR LIBERTY AND ACHIEVE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR YOUR CRIMINAL CASE
Without a doubt, your liberty is at stake in every type of criminal case, whether you were pulled over for a traffic violation or accused of murder. Unfortunately, many people who are arrested for crimes, unwittingly compromise their cases by saying or doing something that puts their liberty at risk.
Never forget, you DO have a right to due process when charged with a crime. You also have a right to not say things that may incriminate you and have your case heard by a jury of your peers. These rights are afforded to all citizens of this country by the U.S. Constitution.
FIVE THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN ACCUSED OF A CRIME
No. 1: Panic. We get it, being accused of a crime that could result in fines and imprisonment is serious and scary. However, you do yourself no good by expecting the worst. A skilled criminal defense attorney can take many steps to get charges reduced or dropped, so before you panic, listen to what your lawyer has to say. If you get in trouble in Tarrant County, contact us. We answer our phones 24 hours a day.
No. 2: Reveal too much to the police. Despite the fact we were all taught to respect authority when we were kids, that doesn’t mean you have to be forthcoming with police. When they pull you over or arrest you, it’s their job to build a case against you. They are trained to ask questions in a manner that will prompt you to say things that will incriminate you. Again, you do have a right to refuse to answer questions from law enforcement and request to speak with an attorney. Be polite but keep your mouth shut.
No. 3: Answer questions without an attorney present. You have a Constitutional right to hire an attorney and have that attorney present during police questioning. Our Fort Worth criminal attorneys know what questions law enforcement will ask to trick an accused criminal into admitting guilt, and we can guide you on what questions to answer and how.
No. 4: Forget you’re being watched (and listened to). You should always be careful of what you say and do when you’re in police custody. Your activities are likely being recorded at every moment, whether it’s with an officer’s bodycam, video recording inside a squad car, video inside of a holding cell or interrogation room, or when you make a phone call from jail. You’re always being watched and recorded, except when speaking with your attorney. Any evidence collected may be used against you, so be cautious.
No. 5: Hire a Fort Worth criminal lawyer without a proven track record. If your life and liberty are on the line, don’t put your future at risk by hiring any attorney who will take your case. You deserve the best! Experience matters. With tens of thousands of criminal cases under our belts, you can trust the criminal lawyers at Jerry Loftin & Associates to put forth the best defense possible to help you win your case.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU HIRE OUR FORT WORTH CRIMINAL LAWYERS
At Jerry Loftin & Associates, we would be honored if you placed your first call for help to our Tarrant County criminal lawyers office. We answer our phones 24 hours a day and are one of the few Fort Worth law firms that doubles as a bail bonds agency. An attorney from our firm can come meet you at jail, help you prepare for your bail bond hearing, represent you at the hearing, and post bail.
Once we secure your release from jail, the hard work begins. Our relationships with clients all start with thorough case reviews. We analyze your case as it currently stands, discuss the evidence at hand, and explain the charges you’re facing—along with potential outcomes. Should you decide to retain our firm, we will start to take necessary steps to uncover any additional evidence related to your case.
After we gather evidence, our team will develop the strategy we believe will secure the best possible outcome for your case. Our goal is to crack holes in the police and prosecutor’s case, so we can convince the DA to reduce charges against you or dismiss the case.
While the vast majority of criminal cases are settled out of court, we will get locked, loaded, and make all preparations necessary to go to trial. When you hire our criminal lawyers Tarrant County we’ll be there by your side when you need us.
Our criminal lawyers can help you in a number of ways. Some of the legal services our team can provide include:
- Bail bonds services.
- Represent you during police interrogations.
- Educate you so you can learn about legal options available and what penalties you might expect.
- Thoroughly research your case (interview witnesses, visit the crime scene, look for evidence that police mishandled your case, look for audio and video evidence that supports your version of events, etc.).
- Determine if your rights were violated in any way, which may result in charges being dropped (police didn’t read you your rights, didn’t allow you to speak with an attorney when asked, etc.).
- Develop a criminal case strategy that aligns with your goals.
- Handle negotiations with the prosecution (plea bargain, get charges dropped, argue for reduced penalties, have case dismissed, etc.).
- Represent you in court as your criminal defense lawyer Fort Worth.
- Ensure that proper steps are taken to expunge any dropped charges from your records.
WHEN TO HIRE A FORT WORTH CRIMINAL LAWYER
Our criminal defense attorneys have represented clients in practically every type of criminal case you can imagine. If you’re facing criminal charges, it’s critical to hire an attorney to represent you as soon as possible. If you don’t, you could end up facing stiffer penalties unnecessarily because you didn’t put forth a proper defense.
The state of Texas takes criminal violations very seriously, imposing some of the most severe penalties in the nation. If you have been accused of any of the following crimes in Texas be sure to hire an experienced criminal attorney ASAP.
Assault and battery crimes include offenses, such as simple assault, aggravated assault, sex crimes and crimes of domestic violence toward a family relation, partner or loved one. If you’re accused of assault you could face up to first degree felony charges, along with associated penalties.
Homicide refers to an incident where one party takes the life of another party, whether the act was intentional or not. Not all homicides are considered crimes, and your attorney may be able to prove that the death occurred accidentally or due to an act of self-defense. On the flip side, the prosecution needs to prove willful intent to commit homicide or negligence that resulted in death in order to press criminal homicide charges. In Texas, you could face a maximum penalty of execution if found guilty of capital murder.
Marijuana possession charges can result in serious penalties in Texas, so it’s critical to hire an experienced marijuana defense attorney Fort Worth, to defend you right away. Even if you believe the amount in your possession was minor, unwittingly found yourself in the company of someone else in possession of marijuana, or brought edible marijuana products in from another state—your liberty could be at risk. Marijuana charges could range from misdemeanor to felony levels, depending on the amount of the drug possessed and whether the police can prove an intent to traffic or sell the drug.
Drug crimes aren’t taken lightly in the Texas. In fact, drug offenses are among the most harshly prosecuted crimes in the state, with severe penalties including hefty fines and up to life in prison. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law due to a state or federal drug offense (possession of a controlled substance and/or drug paraphernalia, trafficking, manufacturing, etc.), hire a drug attorney Tarrant County ASAP, and never answer questions from police without your attorney present. Keep in mind, possession of any type of controlled substance does NOT mean ownership. It refers to the care, custody, control, or management of an illegal drug, so your being in the same room as a controlled substance could get you in deep water.
DWI or DUI—driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence—can result in severe penalties, which escalate for repeat offenders. In Texas, a DWI (over 21 years of age) could cause you to lose your license, and face up to 10 years in jail and $10,000 in fines. DUI offenders (21 years of age and younger) may face up to $500 in fines, suspended license, community service, and required completion of an alcohol education program. If you’ve been pulled over for drinking and driving, contact a Fort Worth DWI attorney right away and politely refuse to answer questions from police in the meantime. It’s important to note that the police can charge you with a DWI or DUI even if you don’t register a .08 BAC. If the police believe you were driving impaired because you lost normal control of your mental or physical faculties after consuming alcohol or drugs, they can arrest you for DWI or DUI in Texas.
Fraud and financial crimes are offenses where a party intentionally and deceitfully takes possession of money or information from another party for their own personal gain. These white collar crimes may include forgery, embezzlement, falsification of documents, wire fraud, credit card or debit card fraud, and insurance fraud, among others. If you find yourself accused of fraud or a financial crime, ask to speak with a Fort Worth criminal defense lawyer and politely refuse to answer questions from police. The penalties for fraud and financial white collar crimes increase along with the value of the money or information illegally obtained, with penalties of up to 99 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
A theft crime is defined in the Texas Penal Code as an offense where a person “unlawfully appropriates property with intent to deprive the owner of property.” Shoplifting, stealing property from an employer, theft of trade secrets, and raiding granny’s jewelry box, could all be considered as theft crimes, among others. In Texas, you can be charged with misdemeanor theft (commonly referred to as petty theft) with fines of $50 for a low-level, Class C misdemeanor and felony theft (also known as grand theft and grand larceny) with first-degree felony fines up to $200,000 and prison time up to 99 years.
Weapon offenses can result in very serious penalties in Texas, despite what you may think. As explained in Texas Penal Code Chapter 46, there are certain weapons the state has deemed as prohibited under all circumstances, including brass knuckles, armor-piercing ammunition, firearm silencers, machine guns, and zip guns. Most other weapons can be legally owned and carried in Texas, as long as you carry them on your own property. You can also get a permit to legally carry other weapons outside your property, like a handgun, large knife, club, and others, as long as you follow laws pertaining to those weapons. For example, the state prohibits unlawful carrying of weapons in certain places, like those that serve alcohol. You must also abide by rules set by public and private entities as to whether they allow weapons on their premises.
HOW TEXAS PENALIZES CRIMINAL OFFENSES
When you have been charged with a crime in Texas, you could face fines, imprisonment, probation, and other penalties. The penalties will be handed down based on the type and severity of the crime, with lesser crimes being charged as misdemeanors and more severe crimes bringing felony charges.
Keep in mind, an experienced Fort Worth criminal defense attorney knows what steps to take to convince the prosecutor to reduce charges from a felony to a misdemeanor or have the charges dropped completely and get your case dismissed. At Jerry Loftin & Associates, our goal is to win your case—we hate losing—and we have one of the best records for winning criminal cases among all Tarrant County criminal lawyers.
Here’s the bottom line: We’ll do everything in our power to keep you out of jail and help you avoid paying costly fines. Should you be convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime in Texas, here are the penalties you can generally expect according to the Texas Penal Code:
PENALTIES FOR FELONY OFFENSES IN TEXAS
CAPITAL FELONY: If you are convicted of capital murder in Texas, you could face a maximum penalty of execution.
FIRST-DEGREE FELONY: If you are convicted of theft of property valued at $200,000 and above, or aggravated sexual assault, you could face a maximum penalty of 5-99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
SECOND-DEGREE FELONY: If you are convicted of theft of property valued at $100,000 and above but less than $200,000, aggravated assault, or reckless injury of a child, you could face a maximum penalty of 2-20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
THIRD-DEGREE FELONY: If you are convicted of theft of property valued at $20,000 and above but less than $100,000, or a drive by shooting with no injury, you could face a maximum penalty of 2-10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
STATE JAIL FELONY: If you are convicted of theft of property valued at $1,500 and above but less than $20,000, or credit card or debit card abuse, you could face a maximum penalty of 180 days to 2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
PENALTIES FOR MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES IN TEXAS
CLASS A MISDEMEANOR: If you are convicted of burglary, theft of property valued at $500 and above but less than $1,500, theft of cable services, or stalking without causing bodily injury, you could face a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison and a $4,000 fine.
CLASS B MISDEMEANOR: If you are convicted of theft of property valued at $20 and above but less than $500, DWI, possession of up to 4 ounces of marijuana, or making terroristic threats, you could face a maximum penalty of 180 days in prison and a $2,000 fine.
CLASS C MISDEMEANOR: If you are convicted of theft of property valued at less than $20, assault without bodily injury, producing or selling term papers or reports for others to use, or attending a dog fight, you could face a maximum penalty of $500 in fines.
We will fight vigilantly to protect your rights.
For more information about how we can help you, contact us at (817) 429-2000.