The city of Allen, Texas is an exciting place to live. For its more than 101,000 residents, Allen offers a wide variety of cultural sites, many new apartments and homes, and a booming entrepreneurial scene. Like any place with as many opportunities as Allen, the city is not without its risks.

Each year, hundreds of people are charged and arrested for crimes across the city. If you or someone you love has been arrested on a criminal charge, you may be confused and scared of what that criminal charge might mean. From determining how you will pay any fines associated with your charge to potentially facing time in prison, it can be a stressful process.

Fortunately, the criminal defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter are here to help. We’ve been representing clients just like you since 2006 and strive to provide each and every client with the most favorable outcome. Our attorneys work to get your sentence reduced or even dismissed so that you can focus on your life and family. If you’ve been faced with a criminal charge, call the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter today.

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Allen, tx

Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?

In many cases, reducing or dismissing your sentence is nearly impossible without the help of a criminal defense attorney. Between managing discussions with law enforcement, communicating with insurance companies, and keeping your courtroom hearings in order, it can be extremely difficult to handle a criminal defense case on your own. Our attorneys are here to help you through this process. Our driving belief is that you are innocent until proven guilty. We work to make our clients feel comfortable and confident in each hearing, trial, and sentencing they may face.

In addition, we’re committed to protecting our clients’ rights and privacy. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we manage all paperwork and communication on your behalf so that you don’t risk accidental self-incrimination by sending the wrong information to the wrong parties. This commitment to confidentiality is just one of the many ways the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter puts our clients first.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter?

Since 2006, we’ve been representing Texans just like you, receiving acclaim for our excellent work from organizations around the state and the country. We’ve consistently received superb AVVO ratings of 10.0 and have been recognized by such organizations as Texas SuperLawyers, The American Association for Justice, and The National Trial Lawyers for our hard work, both in and out of the courtroom.

Mark T. Lassiter, our founding attorney, has been representing those faced with criminal charges since graduating from the South Texas College of Law. Having gained experience as a Judge Advocate General with the US Military and as a Dallas County Prosecutor, Lassiter brings a wealth of knowledge to each case he takes on. He has been elected as a Texas SuperLawyer, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. His experience and attention to detail in every case are the reason he’s gathered these accolades and why he’s the right lawyer for you.

Types of Criminal Defense Cases

In order to best serve our clients, our firm covers a wide range of criminal defense cases. A few examples of our areas of practice include:

What To Do If You’ve Been Arrested

If you’ve been arrested, there are several things you can do to protect your rights and to make sure you get in contact with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

You have the right to remain silent. Regardless of the questions a law enforcement officer may ask, you are under no obligation to answer. This is a right to which you are entitled so that you can avoid any admission of guilt or accidental self-incrimination.
You do not have to consent to a search unless the law enforcement officer has a warrant. If any law enforcement officer demands a search of your clothing or property without a warrant, you are not required to consent. The only exception would be if an officer suspects you are carrying a weapon, in which case they are allowed to pat down your clothing, but not search your belongings.
You have the right to an attorney. Call the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter at (214) 845-7007 as soon as possible to determine the best next steps for your criminal defense case.

police interrogation

Criminal Defense FAQs

If you’re facing criminal charges, it’s likely that you have several questions. We’ve included a few of the most commonly asked questions below for your convenience.

When should I hire a criminal defense lawyer?

It’s in your best interest to hire a criminal defense attorney as early as possible. A criminal defense lawyer will not only help you to understand the charges being levied against you and their potential repercussions, but they will also defend you against potential violations of your rights from law enforcement and judicial bodies.

How can a lawyer help if I plan to plead guilty?

Besides helping you interpret federal regulations and communicate with law enforcement, our criminal defense attorneys will help you strategize so that we can work to secure a reduced sentence for you, even if you plan to plead guilty.

If I’m already entitled to a state-issued attorney, why should I hire an attorney from the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter?

Though anyone placed under arrest is entitled to a lawyer, if you do not hire one yourself, you’ll be assigned a government attorney. While these lawyers are capable, they’re often required to work many cases at once and will not be able to provide you with the same attention and high-quality legal care that a Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter attorney would give. Our firm works fiercely to make sure your rights are protected and you get the best possible result from any court hearing.

Call the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter Today

If you or someone you love has been charged with a criminal offense, call the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter today at (214) 845-7007, or contact us online. One of our criminal defense attorneys will guide you and help you decide on the best course of action for your circumstance.

TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

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Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Allen