DWI, Sexual Assault, Fraud Cases & More

Criminal Defense

Mike is licensed to practice in the State of Texas and in federal court in the Southern District of Texas. He has handled cases in several different counties and is willing to travel as necessary to represent his clients. He is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law.

In more than 25 years of practice, Mike has handled almost every type of offense. Some of his more common practice areas are:

DWI
Narcotics (Possession and Delivery)
Assaultive Offenses (Assault, Aggravated Assault, Assault on a Family Member)
Sexual Assault
Child Abuse (Physical, sexual, child endangerment, etc.)
Theft
Prostitution
Resisting Arrest and Evading Detention
Murder and Capital Murder
Robbery and Aggravated Robbery
Kidnapping and Aggravated Kidnapping
Major Fraud (White collar crimes)

Juvenile Defense

Expunctions and Petitions for Nondisclosure

Do you have something in your background you wish was not there? Are you tired of having to explain past mistakes every time you fill out an application or interview for a job? Don’t let a slip-up from the past sabotage your future! You may be eligible for an expunction or an order of nondisclosure. Mike can help.

He will start by telling you whether you are eligible or not. Some lawyers will take your money first, then give you the bad news later: That you are not eligible for an expunction or order of nondisclosure, after all. Mike Trent believes this is dishonest. He will research your criminal history and tell you what is possible and what your options are.

Mike tries to put all of his clients in a position to take advantage of either an expunction or a petition for nondisclosure in the future. If you are eligible, you should do it.

It is absolutely worth it, not only to make background checks go more smoothly but also to shorten your contact with law enforcement.

An old case, even if dismissed, can turn a traffic stop into a lengthy ordeal if the officer thinks you are a criminal who just “got away” with something in the past. He might decide to search your vehicle or use unnecessary force to detain you.

Expunctions and nondisclosure orders are valuable and pay for themselves over time by helping you get the job or apartment you want and by minimizing inconvenience and harassment. Contact Mike for more information.

Pre-Arrest Investigations

Are you suspected of committing a crime? Are you currently under investigation? Do the police want to speak with you? If so, Mike can help you.

Do not be intimidated! Mike will act as your legal bodyguard, and he will serve as a buffer between you and law enforcement.

He will speak on your behalf and accompany you to any meetings with law enforcement – if he thinks such a meeting is in your best interest. He will represent you with an intention to avoid charges.

Mike has represented many people under investigation, some for extremely serious charges, and for most of these clients, he has been able to avoid criminal charges. Their cases have either been closed by the detective, declined by the district attorney’s office, or both. While every case is different and your individual results may vary, Mike is very experienced and successful in this area. DON’T TALK TO THE POLICE. CALL MIKE! He can help.

Other Services

Motions to Adjudicate and Motions to Revoke Probation

Are you on probation or deferred adjudication? Are you having difficulty complying with one or more of the terms and conditions?

Without competent representation, you could be headed to jail, state jail, or even prison. You could also be facing the prospect of having a felony conviction on your record…forever.

Don’t panic! Call Mike. He can help. He will meet with the Court Liaison Officer (CLO), the prosecutor, and the judge to try and get your community supervision reinstated or even terminated. He will explain what your options are, try his best to keep you out of jail, and fight for you at a hearing if necessary. He has helped many clients out of trouble, even when the situation looked dire. CALL MIKE!

Motions to Modify Terms and Conditions of Community Supervision

Are the terms and conditions of community supervision preventing you from doing something important or living your life? Do you want to move out of state, drive a car, or have contact with someone you’ve been prevented from seeing? Is it time to change the rules of your probation? These terms and conditions can be modified to make them more bearable. Mike can file a motion on your behalf, and ask the judge to change the rules. If the request is reasonable and the circumstances have changed to support it, most judges will usually agree. In situations like these, Mike can help. CALL MIKE!

Motions for Early Termination of Community Supervision

Do you want to be off of probation? Are you ready to live in unsupervised freedom again? Mike can help. He can file a motion for early termination as long as you have done well on your community supervision. Many judges are willing to grant these motions if you have followed the rules and completed a certain portion of your sentence. Mike can help. CALL MIKE!

Fees

Criminal defense lawyers generally fall into two categories when it comes to fees: Flat-fee lawyers and Trial-fee lawyers. Some trial-fee lawyers charge a relatively modest retainer to sign on to a case, but if you need them actually to do any work they will ask for more money! Some even charge by the court appearance.

It can add up quickly, and if you are unable to pay their trial fee, they will withdraw from your case and leave you broke and in a worse position than you were at the start! Trial fees are a recipe for trouble and create a built-in conflict of interest. After all: If setting the case for trial means more money, what do you think a trial-fee lawyer will push for?

Mike Trent is a flat-fee lawyer. He quotes one fee for defending the case that includes all of the legal services necessary. Grand jury appearances, pretrial hearings, and reset dates are all included. If you want a trial, that’s included, too.

“But what if I don’t want a trial?” you may ask. Even if you don’t want to go to trial, it may be necessary to set your case for trial to obtain the desired outcome, whether it is a dismissal or simply a better plea bargain. Going into court with a lawyer who isn’t paid for trial is like going into battle with an unloaded rifle and just hoping that the enemy will surrender. NOT a good idea.

In certain very unusual situations, Mike will consider signing on to a case on a trial-fee basis. And for pre-arrest investigations and other situations where the extent of the work will be uncertain, Mike collects a deposit and charges on an hourly basis.

If you hire Mike Trent, you will sign a written contract that tells you exactly what to expect of him and what is expected of you. It protects your rights, and as long as you hold up your end of the contract, you can bet that Mike will hold up his end, as well. Take care of him, and he will take care of you.

Mike accepts almost all forms of payment, including cash, checks, credit cards, and certain payment services such as PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. Although he does not offer long-term payment plans, he will be more than happy to work with you on a short-term basis.

Remember that with legal services, you get what you pay for. There are good lawyers, and there are cheap lawyers, but there are very few good and cheap lawyers. Consider: If you needed surgery, would you go to the cheapest surgeon you could find? Of course not! You would find a way to pay for the best one you could afford. Why treat your liberty any differently?