Student Athletes Get Off Easy: Athletic Suspension

Fort Worth, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/10/2015 -- In early September, 2015, two Texas Christian University (TCU) university students - Michael Rea Tuana, a defensive lineman, and Andre Petties-Wilson, a wide receiver, were involved in a physical altercation. Allegedly, the two football players beat up fellow students (the exact number of how many students was not released), and stole beer. As of October, however, charges have been dropped, and the two are no longer facing criminal penalties.

The Crime: Robbery and Bodily Injury

According to news reports, the two football players were at a party on the night of the fourth of September when, for whatever reason, they were asked to leave. Rather than doing just that, a physical altercation ensued. One of the victims of the attack reported that he and his friends were "attacked" at about 11:30 that night, and then the two football players made off with a case of beer. There are also reports that Tuana broke a window of the house he was asked to leave. A redacted arrest warrant affidavit issued against Petties-Wilson and Tuana reads that one of the victims was found in a fetal position on the ground while the two football players continued to hit and kick him.

As a side note, Petties-Wilson is only 19 years old - not yet the legal age for drinking. Furthermore, Petties-Wilson and Tuana gave a different account of the incident, claiming that they decided to leave the party on their own and that Tuana saw his friend being attacked by three males prior to engaging in physical assault.

The Charges

Prior to having charges against them dropped, the two football players were facing serious consequences; both were charged with robbery with bodily injury. In Texas, this is a second-degree felony, which is punishable by a prison term of not less than two years but not more than 20, and a fine of not more than $10,000 (Source: http://www.criminalattorneyfortworth.com). Upon being charged, the two young men were held in the Fort Worth County Jail with a bail of $15,000 pending against each.

Why Were Charged Dropped?

Apparently, charges against the two football players were dropped when the victims made the decision not to press charges. While the young men will not face criminal charges, they have been temporarily suspended from the TCU football programs for rules violations.

The offenses are not the first for the university; other football team members have also faced criminal charges and team suspensions for drug possession and DWI offenses in recent years.

Being charged with a crime--and convicted of one--at such a young age can be devastating. When facing criminal charges, know that you have the right to seek the counsel of an experienced Fort Worth criminal defense attorney; doing so is within your best interest.

Contact Brandon Fulgham for media opportunities at (817) 877-3030 or http://www.criminalattorneyfortworth.com/contact/.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The legislation would have made it illegal to photograph a police officer with 25 feet.

Fort Worth, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/21/2015 -- In March of 2013, an interesting bill was introduced to the Texas legislature. House Bill (HB) 2918 would have made filming a police officer, or taking a police officer's photograph, a crime if done within 25 feet. Introduced by house republican Jason Villalba, the bill raised eyebrows across the state. In April 2015, Villalba announced that he was placing the bill on the backburner for the time being.

The Language of the Bill

The language of the bill specifically read that a person would be prohibited from, "filming, recording, photographing, or documenting the officer within 25 feet," and that that would extend to 100 feet if "carrying a handgun." Failure to comply with the 25 feet or 100 feet rule would be a class B misdemeanor. A class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, and a jail term not to exceed 180 days in Texas. There would seem to be a fine line between exercising your right to photograph a police officer and interfering with a peace officer's public duties. Interference with public duties (Sec. 38.15.) is explained more in detail here: http://www.criminalattorneyfortworth.com/interference-with-public-duties/.

The media and reporters would have been exempt from the stipulations of the bill.

The Status of House Bill 2918

Despite Villalba's passionate belief that the bill would protect police officers, Villalbla recently announced that he would be scrapping the bill for now. The decision came after an array of negative commentary about the bill, particularly from civil rights groups.

What's more, the bill also was introduced at a time when police departments in other states across the nation were making big moves to protect citizens' rights to document police activity. Police departments in Los Angeles recently agreed to train its police officers about the right of citizens to document police, and a police department in Atlanta, Georgia recently had federal sanctions imposed for its violation of a woman's civil right to photograph police, as well as its failure to make policy changes.

It is unlikely that the legislation will be reintroduced in the near future – citizens will still maintain the right to document the activity of police officers throughout the state.

When Civil Rights Become Crimes

Attempting to limit citizens' civil rights is dangerous and scary. If convicted of a crime that was a civil rights violation, or if civil rights were violated during the arrest, action needs to be sought immediately. Any person who has been charged with a crime, or who has had their civil rights infringed upon, should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

About THE FULGHAM LAW FIRM P.C.
THE FULGHAM LAW FIRM P.C. is a criminal defense firm that has earned an outstanding reputation as an advocated for the accused. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, our criminal defense attorneys specialize in a variety of defense types. For media inquires, contact us at 817-877-3030

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

An elderly man and his wife were found dead in their home early on the morning of March 17, 2015

Fort Worth, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2015 -- On the morning of March 17, 2015, police officers arrived at a Fort Worth home to investigate the shooting of a 73-year-old man and his 76-year-old wife. Their adult daughter found their two bodies in their bedroom at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, after going to their house to check on them. The daughter had placed a call to her parents the night before without receiving an answer. No one else lived in the house with the couple. It is still unknown whether previous instances of domestic violence occurred in the home.

Murder-Suicide Suspected by Police

According to the police, the crime scene appears to be the result of a murder-suicide. The police suspect that the murder-suicide was initiated by the man, who killed his wife first before killing himself. Their daughter has told police that the woman suffered from dementia, while the man was battling depression. Paramedics had been called on Monday when the woman suffered a fall and was unable to get up on her own. At this point, a motive for the murders-suicide is unknown, and police have told reporters that the investigation is still ongoing.

Family Violence on the Rise in Texas

Sadly, the murder-suicide isn't all that unique to the state of Texas—instead, police throughout the state report high number of domestic violence, typically against women.

Read more about family violence in Fort Worth here:
http://www.criminalattorneyfortworth.com/family-violence/

Of all the counties in Texas, Dallas has the highest number of women killed by intimate partners each year as reported by Dallas News. In 2013, 119 women throughout the state died at the hands of a current or former partner. And in 2014, there were 29 domestic homicide victims in the counties of Dallas, Collin, Rockwell, and Denton counties alone. In Tarrant County, there were 11 domestic homicides in 2013. 75 percent of the 119 victims in 2013 were killed at home; only 18 percent were killed in a public place. What's more, a husband or current boyfriend killed 82 percent, and the majority of the women killed were shot. As stated above, it is currently unknown whether or not the March 17, 2015 murder-suicide was a joint plan, or if the man planned the attack on his own.

Reducing Family Violence in the State

There is no doubt that something needs to be done to address the growing number of domestic violence cases in the state. Victims of domestic and family violence should contact authorities immediately for help.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Jesse Mathew Caught on Beach & Facing Federal Charges in Galveston, Texas

Fort Worth, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/26/2014 -- After an anonymous tip to police on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Jesse Mathew was found and arrested on the Bolivar Peninsula beach in Galveston County. Officials believe he may have been camping there for days before he was recognized and reported.

When police initially questioned Matthew, he gave a false name. But when Galveston police ran the license plates on the vehicle he was driving, they discovered it was registered to the fugitive Jesse Matthew and arrested him on failure to identify charges: http://www.criminalattorneyfortworth.com/fail-to-id.shtml

When brought before the judge on Thursday afternoon, Matthew was charged with being a fugitive from justice, and abduction with intent to defile.

Mathew waived his right to fight extradition to Georgia. He is being kept in isolation to protect him from other prisoners.

Investigators are not sure why Mathew was in Texas, but it is believed that he may have family members in the area. Mathew has retained the service of a criminal defense attorney and does not wish to speak with anyone.

Matthew appeared confused, asking several questions when the judge read him his rights and he was asked him to sign papers. The judge thoroughly explained each charge after the questions.

About Hannah Graham
Hannah Graham is still missing and was last seen about two weeks ago in Charlottesville, Virginia at a restaurant and bar. Surveillance video at the restaurant and through town shows her speaking to Mathew, capturing the last few moments anyone before she disappeared.

Police are asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hannah Graham, or with background and personal information about Jesse Mathew to come forward.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The state's new Michael Morton Act is designed to raise awareness of the importance of sharing evidence, but recently it has also implemented new costs.

Fort Worth, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/09/2014 -- The Michael Morton Act, created to prevent wrongful convictions by district attorney, was named after an Austin man who was imprisoned for nearly 25 years after wrongful conviction of his wife's murder.This new implementation is also driving up evidence costs as prosecutors will have to hire more people and invest in better ways to go through evidence.

The Michael Morton Act requires all Texas prosecutors to release "exculpatory" evidence- information that could prove the defendant's innocence- to defense attorneys. This results in an increase in copying costs and document storage and delivery, a concern for Texas prosecutors and law enforcement agencies as these burgeoning costs could result in a financial burden for smaller agencies.

This recent Act went into effect this year, three years after Morton was released from prison. After his release, a court found the prosecutor in his case intentionally withheld information that could have prevented his wrongful conviction. This new law was created to prevent similar situations.

Many people make mistakes under the stress of arrest, regardless of being wrongfully charged. Brandon Fulgham, a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney notes that, "Most people give permission to searches or else cooperate because they think they will get credit for being cooperative." In the past, law enforcement might choose not to jail a person because they are cooperating so that the officer can obtain harmful facts regardless if the person invoked their right to a legal representative. Before the Michael Morton Act was created, anything a person said to an officer of the law that proved their innocence might have been kept by the prosecution and not shared with the defense attorney. Due to the Act, all police records, interrogations, and interviews must be turned over, creating a costly but fair legal process.

About Brandon Fulgham
Brandon Fulgham is a former Tarrant and Collin County prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney. Mr. Fulgham knows how to fight government prosecutors and win. If you have been charged with a felony, misdemeanor, DWI or federal criminal charge in the Fort Worth, TX area, call today for a free consultation at (817) 877-3030.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm