February 11th, 2010
A new digital billboard located off of Highway 59 near the Bush Intercontinental Airport promises to help catch criminals in the Houston area. The billboard, a joint project between Clear Channel and Crime Stoppers, can be updated to show a dangerous criminal’s age and stats in seconds. The group is hoping this will result in more anonymous tips to police and, in turn, more arrests.
It is the first billboard of its kind in the area, but if it works, H0uston may see more of these technological crime stoppers popping up in the near future. The first criminal to be displayed on the billboards is the so-called “Reckless Robber,” wanted for a number of bank robberies.
Houston criminal attorneys say the billboard may be an effective tool to fight crime, but wonder about the security of the device. If it can be easily hacked, it may be more of a danger to citizens than a helpful tool.
To read more on the device, see the article on ABC News. Image Via igboo [Flickr]
Tags: advertising, billboards, crime stoppers, crime tools, tipsters
Posted in Legal News | No Comments »
February 5th, 2010
When R. Allen Stanford and other employees of his company were charged for their roles in a $7 billion ponzi scheme, their assets were immediately frozen. Unfortunately, this left the defendants with no available finances to hire a Houston criminal attorney, so a public defender was instead offered to them.
Because defense of white collar crimes can often add up fast, a judge calculated that the defense of these men will be worth a minimum of one million dollars. Rather than have tax payers spend their money on the matter, the judge has decided that the insurance company, Lloyd’s of London, will be responsible for footing the bill. A company policy states that they will be responsible for legal costs of directors and officers, but Lloyd’s has so far refused to pay for the legal bills on the grounds that the company believes they are guilty.
Judge Hittner rebuked their argument, saying it was “absurd because these circumstances are precisely why corporations procure D&O insurance on behalf of their directors and officers…it would contravene the very purpose of the policies — as well as the policy language itself — to require (the accused) to prove their innocence before being entitled to funds for their defense.”
To read more about the decision, see the article in the Houston Chronicle. Image via colinmford [Flickr].
Tags: attorney fees, crime defense, criminal defense, insurance, ponzi schemes, public defenders, white collar crimes
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February 1st, 2010
The news of Houston’s rape kit backlog has been widespread and public outrage at the delays has even resulted in the state bringing in independent researchers to help speed up the process. But now new reports have emerged saying the Houston PD is lagging on their forensic testing of gun evidence as well.
The Houston Chronicle has reported that over 300 guns are waiting to be tested as well. The lab director has defended her team by explaining that new staff members are on the way and that in a little over a year, robotics will help speed up the testing process even more. She says their current priorities are crimes that involved violence and crimes where suspects have already been identified.
Houston criminal lawyers seem to agree that while the backlog is disappointing, the police department has set its priorities right, as testing evidence in cases with suspects can help reduce the number of persons wrongly charged and arrested for crimes.
Image via Svadilfari [Flickr]
Tags: crime labs, evidence, forensics, guns, houston police
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January 21st, 2010
The city of Houston has approved a contract to process over 4,000 rape kits that have been currently backlogged. The contracts will go to four separate companies and cost the city $4.2 million dollars. The contracts will last three years and include two options for one-year extensions.
Unfortunately, the backlogs will have to wait a while, because only $475,000 has been allocated for this fiscal year. For now, the Houston Police Department is expected to prioritize their cases in order to process the most important and pressing matters first, particularly those where suspects have already been identified. Houston criminal attorneys say these are the most critical situations because they also may help release innocent suspects from wrongful accusations.
The huge backlog has been able to pile up as the police forensics department has been understaffed for some time.
To read more about the issue, see the article in the Houston Chronicle. Image via NobMouse [Flickr].
Tags: crime, crime labs, evidence, forensics, rape kits
Posted in Legal News | 1 Comment »
January 14th, 2010
Tuesday night the police raided three homes, resulting in 16 arrests and the seizure of $5,000 cash and over $10,000 worth of marijuana and other drugs, including ecstasy tablets. Sergeant James Williams said the raids were the result of a month-long investigation.
Those arrested include one person who is accused of being a major drug dealer in the Houston area. While only one pound of marijuana was seized, its value was exceptionally high because it is a high-grade hydroponic strain of the drug.
Everyone arrested for marijuana possession of less than one ounce is currently out on bail. Those who were charged with marijuana manufacture are being held in the Houston County jail. Whether or not they have selected their Houston criminal lawyers yet is unknown and the suspects have not been available for comment.
To read more about the raids, see the article on Macon.com. Image via Torben Bjorn Hansen [Flickr].
Tags: drugs, manufacturing, marijuana, police raids, possession
Posted in Local crimes | No Comments »
January 7th, 2010
For years, researchers have been working to determine whether or not the death penalty has any affect on crime rates. A new study from Houston State University claims they have been able to show that homicide rates drop significantly after the state has performed an execution. Their research indicates that at least 60 lives may have been saved in the state last year due to the 24 executions that took place over the course of the year. The declines in homicides seem to be between .5 and 2.5% for the month following an execution.
Researchers say this data is only valid in Texas, as the state is the only one to perform executions on a frequent enough basis to show statistically significant results. Skeptics are still wary of the data though and claim the results do not take other factors into account and that the number of executions is still not enough to provide accurate survey results. Houston criminal lawyers are among the many people to remain unconvinced of the positive effects of the death penalty. Proponents of the study claim that many people will deny the results solely because they oppose the punishment.
Six people are already scheduled to be executed this year, two just this week.
To read more about the findings, see the article in the Houston Chronicle. Image Via brdavids [Flickr].
Tags: capital punishment, crime, death penalty, punishments, statistics
Posted in Legal News | No Comments »
December 31st, 2009
We told you last week that Judge Donald Jackson was convicted of official oppression after offering a defendant a better Houston criminal attorney if she agreed to date him. Now Judge Jackson has decided to resign from his position after the scandal. Since the accusation arose, Jackson has remained on administrative suspension from his position.
He resigned on Tuesday, only a few days after the jury decision and two days before the sentence is scheduled to take place. He was sentenced to the maximum punishment for the charge, including 30 days in jail, 200 hours community service, two years probation, $4000 in fines and a legal course on ethics.
For now, he is still remaining free, as his conviction is under appeal.
To read more on the on-going story, see the article in the Houston Chronicle. Image Via hyku [Flickr].
Tags: bribery, judge jackson, judges, official oppression, resignation, scandals
Posted in Legal News | No Comments »
December 22nd, 2009
We covered the story of Judge Donald Jackson and the DWI defendant Ariana Venegas last week, when we told you that Venegas accused Jackson of offering her a better Houston criminal lawyer in exchange for her agreeing to become involved with him romantically.
On Friday, Jackson was officially found guilty of the crime of official oppression and was sentenced to two years probation, 200 hours of community service, $4,000 in fines and 25 hours of mandatory state-approved legal ethics courses. He remains on administrative suspension for the time being. The judge hearing the case seemed to be personally offended by Jackson’s actions, stating, “we are all tarnished by your stupidity.”
To read more, see the article in the Dallas Morning News. Image Via St A Sh [Flickr]
Tags: corruption, DWI, official oppression, seduction
Posted in Local crimes | 1 Comment »
December 17th, 2009
Ariana Venegas says that when she was accused of drunk driving, Judge Donald Jackson, told her he could ensure she would win her trial if she dated him –and would lose if she resisted. She claims she felt she had no choice but to comply.
“He told me that if I wasn’t going to get interested, that I would get convicted because he’s the judge,” she said, tearfully, while testifying against Jackson in trial this week.
Venegas claims she did go out on a date with Jackson, only because she believed she had no other option. Jackson, currently suspended from his duties, is now being tried with misdemeanor official oppression. He claims that Venegas approached him about her poor court-appointed attorney and he offered to call her later that day to help. One of Jackson’s lawyers says that he acted foolishly, but only because he was tempted by the younger woman who was trying to manipulate her way out of a DWI. His other Houston criminal attorney says there was no sexual harassment nor any deprivation of the woman’s rights as a defendant, which are two critical aspects of an official oppression charge.
To read more about the issue, see the article in the Houston Chronicle. Image Via Hans S [Flickr].
Tags: DWI, judges, misconduct, sexual harassment
Posted in Legal News | 1 Comment »
December 10th, 2009
The blog has previously mentioned Enron chief Jeffrey K. Skilling’s appeal to the Supreme Court about the vagueness of the “honest services” law he was convicted under. As it turns out, the court seems inclined to agree with Mr. Skilling and his Houston criminal lawyer.
The law in question was enabled as a federal statute in 1988 and it criminalizes the act of “depriving another of the intangible right of honest services.” The 28 word-long law has the justices scratching their heads as it could technically be used against any worker who has committed mild transgressions such as calling in sick in order to have a day off. Justice Stephen Breyer (pictured at right) has said “Perhaps there are 150 million workers in the United States, I think possibly 140 million of them would flunk” a vague honest services test. Justice Scalia called the statute a “mush of language.”
The deputy solicitor general representing the government in the case, Michael Dreeben, argued that the crime is only created for cases where the defendant had an “intent to defraud” their employer or the public and where the breach of conduct was significant.
Skilling’s appointment with the high court is still waiting to be heard, but his arguments are expected to center around the concept of private gain. He does not believe the honest service law should apply to someone who was not working to their own personal ends.
Decisions for all three cases related to the law will likely be issued in June.
To read more about the hearings, see the article in the Houston Chronicle.
Tags: appeals, enron, honest services, supreme court, vague laws
Posted in Legal News | No Comments »
A new digital billboard located off of Highway 59 near the Bush Intercontinental Airport promises to help catch criminals in the Houston area. The billboard, a joint project between Clear Channel and Crime Stoppers, can be updated to show a dangerous criminal’s age and stats in seconds. The group is hoping this will result in more anonymous tips to police and, in turn, more arrests.
