Intoxication Manslaughter
McKinney Intoxication Manslaughter Defense Lawyer
Personalized Representation from a Former Prosecutor Who Has Handled 150+ Jury Trials
Accused of intoxication manslaughter? You may be in for a tough legal battle; Texas treats homicide charges very seriously. Having an experienced legal advocate on your side could make a key difference, however. It is important that you contact a defense attorney immediately after arrest or accusation, because the quicker you have an attorney on your case the more available evidence we have to work with to build your defense.
Attorney Chris Fredericks is an assertive trial lawyer who has been defending clients for 16 years. He has handled more than 150 jury trials and over 300 bench trials, and he will perform a personalized legal analysis of your case to work out an effective, winning strategy. Additionally, as a former prosecutor, he knows the prosecution’s game plan and how they will build their case against you. Let him work on your defense from start to finish and get you out of your legal mess as soon as possible.
Schedule a free consultation online to get started on your defense today.
What Constitutes Intoxication Manslaughter?
Texas law has defined homicide involving drunk or intoxicated driving as intoxication manslaughter, perhaps known in other states as “DUI manslaughter.” An intoxication manslaughter charge may be brought when a person:
- takes in a dangerous amount of substances (e.g., drinking, taking illegal drugs, taking prescription
medication); - operates a motor vehicle; and
- causes a crash that kills someone.
The victim of an intoxication manslaughter case may be a passenger in the vehicle, an occupant of another vehicle, or a pedestrian.
In the context of the law, “intoxication” is defined as being so drunk or high so as to lose the ability to use their normal mental or physical abilities or otherwise having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or more.
Note that intoxication manslaughter requires that the offender was voluntarily intoxicated; if they were unknowingly given a drug that resulted in their intoxication, they are not at fault for the resulting death by intoxication. (It is still a crime of intoxication manslaughter, however, if a person willingly takes a drug they thought would not result in dangerous intoxication.)
Penalties Upon Conviction
Homicide is one of the most serious crimes handled by the law. As a result, intoxication manslaughter is associated with severe penalties spanning prison time and fines, among others. In particular, Texas charges intoxication manslaughter as a second degree felony punishable by:
- 2-20 years’ imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence;
- $10,000 in fines;
- at least 240 hours of community service;
- possible license suspension.
The consequences of an intoxication manslaughter charge could extend to the long term. Conviction could leave a serious mark on a person’s criminal record, ruin their reputation, and take away their driving privileges for the foreseeable future. It is never wise to drink and drive, and the penalties for doing so should be caution enough. However, if you are in a situation involving an intoxication manslaughter charge, it is critical that you act fast to look for a lawyer.
The Law Office of Chris Fredericks has significant experience with intoxication manslaughter defense and jury trials. With 16 years of defense experience and over a decade of prosecutorial experience, Attorney Chris Fredericks is more than prepared to build a unique defense for you against your intoxication manslaughter charges.
Schedule your free initial consultation with the Law Office of Chris Fredericks online to discuss your legal options immediately.