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Felony Defense Attorney in Corpus Christi, Texas

A felony charge in Texas is one of the most serious legal situations a person can face — and the outcome of your case will follow you for the rest of your life. I am Laura Ramos, a felony defense attorney with 14 years of experience representing clients in Nueces County, across Texas, and in federal court. My job is to make sure you understand exactly what you are facing and to build the strongest possible defense from day one.

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What a Felony Charge Actually Means in Texas

Texas law divides felony offenses into five categories, each carrying a distinct range of punishment. Understanding where your charge falls is the first step in building a real defense strategy.

 

  • State Jail Felony: 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility, plus fines up to $10,000. Examples include certain theft offenses and some drug possession charges.
  • Third Degree Felony: 2 to 10 years in prison, plus fines up to $10,000. Examples include assault causing bodily injury to a family member with a prior conviction and some DWI offenses.
  • Second Degree Felony: 2 to 20 years in prison, plus fines up to $10,000. Examples include robbery and certain sexual assault charges.
  • First Degree Felony: 5 to 99 years or life in prison, plus fines up to $10,000. Examples include aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault, and murder.
  • Capital Felony: Life in prison without parole or, in cases where the death penalty is sought, execution.

 

Beyond the prison sentence, a felony conviction in Texas can cost you your job, your professional license, your housing options, your right to own a firearm, and — if you are not a U.S. citizen — your immigration status. The consequences extend far beyond the courtroom, and that is exactly why your defense matters.

Conviction Is Not the Only Outcome

Many people facing a felony charge in Nueces County assume the only question is how long they will go to prison. That is rarely the full picture. Depending on the facts of your case, your prior record, and the specific offense involved, there may be meaningful alternatives to a conviction.

 

Deferred adjudication is one path that, if successfully completed, means no formal conviction ever enters the record. Community supervision — what most people call probation — allows some defendants to serve their sentence outside of a prison cell. Charge reduction through plea negotiation is another avenue I evaluate in every case, particularly where the evidence against the prosecution's theory is strong enough to create real leverage.

 

I will not tell you what outcome is available until I have reviewed the facts of your case. What I will tell you is that I approach every felony case as if negotiation and trial are both live options — because that posture is what produces the best results.

For relatives living outside the United States


After USCIS approves the initial petition, the case transfers to the National Visa Center and then to a U.S. embassy or consulate in the applicant's home country. Your relative attends an interview abroad and, if approved, enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident. I prepare families for what the consular interview involves and what documents are required.


The right path depends on your family member's specific situation, including whether they entered the U.S. lawfully, whether they have any prior immigration violations, and whether any bars to admissibility apply.

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Consular Processing

How I Handle Felony Defense Cases in Texas

Every felony case I take receives direct attention from me at every stage. There are no junior associates handling your hearings, no paralegal substitutions at critical moments, and no rotation of attorneys as your case moves through the system. When you hire me, you get me.

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State Felony Cases in Nueces County

Every felony case I take receives direct attention from me at every stage. There are no junior associates handling your hearings, no paralegal substitutions at critical moments, and no rotation of attorneys as your case moves through the system. When you hire me, you get me.

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Federal Felony Cases in South Texas

Some felony offenses — drug trafficking, federal firearms charges, crimes occurring on federal property like Naval Air Station Corpus Christi — can be prosecuted in federal court rather than state court. Federal cases carry different sentencing guidelines, different procedural rules, and significantly higher stakes. Few private criminal defense attorneys in the Corpus Christi area handle federal cases.

 

I am on the Criminal Justice Panel Act for the Southern District of Texas, which means I am approved to handle federal criminal appointments in this district. That credential reflects a level of federal court experience that matters when your case crosses into federal jurisdiction.

What Sets My Felony Defense Practice Apart

After 14 years in practice, I have handled felony cases at every level of the Texas court system and in federal court. Here is what that means for you as a client.

 

  • I handle both criminal defense and immigration law, which means I can identify and address the immigration consequences of a felony charge for non-citizen clients — something most criminal defense attorneys are not equipped to do.
  • I am bilingual in English and Spanish, so language is never a barrier to understanding your case or your options.
  • I do not file motions or pursue arguments I do not believe in. Every strategy I recommend is one I can defend and that I believe serves your interests.
  • My practice is based in Corpus Christi, and I have deep familiarity with how felony cases move through Nueces County courts.
  • I represent clients in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas as well as throughout South Texas.

Felony Defense — Frequently Asked Questions

  • What rights do I have if I am charged with a felony in Texas?

    You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney before answering any questions from law enforcement. You also have the right to a grand jury proceeding before being formally charged with a felony, the right to a jury trial, and the right to confront witnesses against you. The most important thing you can do immediately after an arrest is stop talking and contact a felony defense attorney.

  • What does a grand jury do in a Texas felony case?

    In Texas, a grand jury reviews the evidence presented by the prosecution and decides whether there is probable cause to formally charge you with a felony. This is called returning an indictment. The grand jury does not decide guilt or innocence — that happens at trial. However, a skilled defense attorney can sometimes present information that influences the grand jury's decision, which is why having representation before the indictment stage matters.

  • Can a felony charge be reduced to a lesser offense in Texas?

    Yes, in some cases. Charge reduction through plea negotiation is a legitimate and common outcome in Texas felony cases, particularly when the evidence is contested or when mitigating factors are present. Deferred adjudication and community supervision are also available for certain offenses and defendants. Whether these options are realistic in your case depends on the specific charge, the facts, and your prior record — which is exactly what I assess in an initial case review.

  • Can a felony conviction be expunged in Texas?

    A final felony conviction generally cannot be expunged in Texas. However, if your felony case was dismissed, you were acquitted at trial, or you successfully completed deferred adjudication for certain offenses, you may be eligible for expungement or an order of nondisclosure. The eligibility rules are specific and depend on the offense category and how the case resolved. I evaluate expungement and nondisclosure options for every client whose case closes in a way that could qualify.

  • I am not a U.S. citizen. What happens to my immigration status if I am convicted of a felony?

    A felony conviction can have serious immigration consequences for non-citizens, including deportation, bars to obtaining a green card or citizenship, and permanent inadmissibility to the United States. Certain offenses are classified as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude under immigration law, and those categories carry especially severe consequences. Because I practice both criminal defense and immigration law, I can evaluate the immigration impact of your criminal case alongside your defense strategy and represent you in removal proceedings if necessary.
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Start Your Felony Defense Today

A felony charge demands immediate attention. The decisions made in the early stages of your case — what you say, what you sign, and who represents you — shape everything that follows. I am ready to review your case, explain your options in plain terms, and start building a defense that takes every available path seriously. Contact my office today to get started.

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