Texas felony charges carry consequences that reach far beyond the sentence. A Board Certified criminal defense attorney — and former federal prosecutor — gives you the inside knowledge your case demands.
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Felony Defense
A felony conviction carries consequences that extend well beyond the sentence itself — loss of the right to vote, restrictions on firearm ownership, professional license consequences, and a permanent criminal record that appears on background checks. The defense decisions made early in a felony case shape every outcome that follows.
Texas Felony Classifications
Texas categorizes felonies from State Jail through first degree, with capital felonies carrying the most severe penalties. The classification determines the potential sentence range and often the conditions under which probation, deferred adjudication, or parole are available.
- State Jail Felony — 180 days to 2 years (state jail), up to $10,000 fine
- Third Degree Felony — 2 to 10 years, up to $10,000 fine
- Second Degree Felony — 2 to 20 years, up to $10,000 fine
- First Degree Felony — 5 to 99 years or life, up to $10,000 fine
- Capital Felony — life without parole or death
Enhancement allegations — prior convictions, use of a deadly weapon, or conduct involving certain victims — can raise the applicable punishment range significantly.
Common Felony Charges in Houston
Chapell Law handles the full range of felony matters in Harris County and throughout Texas, including:
- Assault causing serious bodily injury, aggravated assault
- Drug possession, manufacture, and delivery charges
- Robbery and aggravated robbery
- Theft, fraud, and financial crimes
- Burglary of a habitation or building
- Sexual assault and related offenses
- Weapons charges
- Family violence felonies
- Federal felony charges in the Southern District of Texas
What the Defense Process Involves
Felony cases are resolved through dismissal, plea, or trial — and the path taken depends on decisions made at every stage, from the initial review of the evidence to grand jury proceedings to pretrial motions. Rushing past these stages without careful evaluation is how winnable cases become bad outcomes.
Brent Chapell reviews the charging documents, evaluates the strength of the state's evidence, identifies any constitutional issues in how evidence was obtained, and develops a defense strategy that reflects the actual facts of the case. He appears at every proceeding that matters — from arraignment through trial, if that is where the case goes.
The Role of Deferred Adjudication
Many felony cases are resolved through deferred adjudication — a form of probation in which, upon successful completion, a conviction is not entered. This can be an important outcome for clients concerned about the collateral consequences of conviction. However, deferred adjudication carries its own conditions and risks, and it is not available for every offense or every client.
Whether deferred adjudication is the right path depends on the specific charge, the client's history, the evidence, and long-term consequences that a plea may not make immediately obvious. These are exactly the kinds of questions that need to be answered before any decision is made.
Harris County Courts and the Houston Federal System
Brent Chapell practiced in Harris County courts as a prosecutor and has continued to practice there as defense counsel. He knows the courts, the process, and how cases are handled in this jurisdiction. He also handles federal felony matters in the Southern District of Texas, where federal prosecutors operate under a different set of rules and resources than their state counterparts.
DIRECT REPRESENTATION ON SERIOUS CHARGES.
Brent Chapell personally handles every felony matter — reviewing the evidence, developing the strategy, and appearing at the proceedings that matter. The consultation is confidential.
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