Criminal Law

The W. David Friesenhahn Law Firm, PLLC, in San Marcos Texas strives to protect the rights of our clients. Chances are, you have never dealt with a lawyer or had a case in the criminal justice system. We understand your concerns and questions. We practice law in the following areas:

  • Criminal Defense
  • Occupational License
  • Expunctions and Orders of Nondisclosure

Criminal Defense- If you're accused of a crime, we'll fight for you at every stage of your case, even before a formal charge has been filed against you in court. We'll put our years of experience trying criminal cases to work for you. We'll investigate your case and look for possible defenses before talking to a prosecutor or before you decide whether to take your case to trial. We handle every type of criminal case, including:

  • Assault
  • Criminal Fraud
  • Drug Violations
  • DUI / DWI
  • Felonies
  • Grand Jury Proceedings
  • Juvenile Crimes
  • Misdemeanors
  • Parole & Probation
  • Sex Offenses
  • Traffic Violations
  • Weapons Cases

Occupational License- An occupational driver's license is a temporary license that a judge gives to you so that you can continue to drive for work, school, medical appointments, and households needs, even though your regular driver's license is suspended. A judge can allow you to drive for up to 12 hours a day. We know how to guide your license request through the bureaucratic minefield at the courthouse and DPS. We've helped many people with license suspensions stay on the road so that they could keep their jobs and take care of their loved ones. Let us help you, too.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense or are in need of an occupational license, your need an attorney who will safeguard your rights.

Contact The W. David Friesenhahn Law Firm, PLLC, for experienced and affordable representation.

Expunctions and Orders of Nondisclosure - A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that their case is behind them whenever they are acquitted, their case is dismissed, or they finish something called "deferred adjudication" probation. They wrongly believe that they have no criminal record. They don't realize just how wrong they were until years later, when the case pops up on a criminal background check.

As soon as a person is arrested, the State creates a criminal history for the person. Even if the person's case is later dismissed, or the person is found "not guilty," a record of the arrest, or any deferred adjudication probation still remains. This record is public and can be discovered by anyone, including employers. Unfortunately, more and more employers are conducting complete criminal background checks on potential employees and using a record of arrest or deferred adjudication probation as a reason to deny employment.

OUR OFFICE USES TWO REMEDIES TO HELP EITHER ERASE A CRIMINAL RECORD OR SEAL IT FROM PRIVATE PARTIES: EXPUNCTIONS AND ORDERS OF NONDISCLOSURE

An expunction is where a court tells law enforcement and government to erase any record of your arrest and case. You may be eligible for an expunction if your case was dismissed, never filed, or you were found "not guilty" at a trial. An order of nondisclosure is often available after you successfully complete a supervised deferred adjudication probation. A court orders law enforcement and government not to disclose a record of your case to private parties, such as a potential employer.


The W. David Friesenhahn Law Firm, PLLC, works to get your criminal case behind you -- for good.