Criminal Defense Attorneys in San Antonio, TX

Arrested in San Antonio and facing charges in Bexar County? Early legal help can change the outcome. A licensed Texas criminal defense attorney serving San Antonio will review your case for free.

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How we match your San Antonio criminal defense case

When you submit a San Antonio criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Texas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Texas who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Criminal Defense cases in San Antonio

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San Antonio’s criminal docket reflects a big, spread-out city with a large military population, a tourist core, and major highways: DUI and DWI stops near downtown and the loops, drug and weapon charges, assault and family violence cases, and theft. Misdemeanors and felonies are handled in separate Bexar County courts, and prosecutors there run specialty dockets and diversion programs that a local defense attorney knows how to access. DearLegal matches you with a Texas-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in San Antonio, with a free review.

Criminal cases from San Antonio are prosecuted in Bexar County courts, with separate courts for misdemeanors and felonies.
Service members at Joint Base San Antonio can face military consequences on top of civilian charges.
DWI enforcement is heavy around downtown, the River Walk, and Loop 410.

Texas criminal defense rules at a glance

San Antonio cases run under Texas law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Texas page.

Read the full Texas criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, leaving the scene resulting in death; 20 years for theft by public servant; 10 years for theft over $200,000, arson, sexual assault of an adult; 5 years for most felonies (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 12.01)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (Art. 12.02)
Sentencing Structure: Capital
Capital, First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree, State Jail felonies and Class A/B/C misdemeanors under Tex. Penal § 12.04; punishment ranges in § 12.31-12.35; Habitual / 3g offender enhancements; deadly weapon findings increase parole eligibility (§ 42A.054)
Expungement / Nondisclosure: Tex. Code
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ch. 55 (Expunction) — acquittals, dismissals, certain other qualifying outcomes; Tex. Gov. Code § 411.0735 et seq. (Order of Nondisclosure) — seals records from public including Deferred Adjudication completions for many offenses; 2017 reforms expanded automatic nondisclosure for certain first-offense misdemeanors
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ch. 17; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Tex. Const. Art. I, § 11); SB 6 (2021) limited PR bonds for violent offenses; magistrate bond setting under Art. 17.15
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do San Antonio criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Texas · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Texas are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Texas work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof. Conduct 1.04(e) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (capital, federal, white-collar) use hourly billing. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission and county public defender offices (Harris, Dallas, Travis, Bexar, El Paso) and appointed counsel systems represent indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

San Antonio criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanors and felonies from the city are handled in different Bexar County courts, each with its own procedures and timelines. Bexar County also offers diversion and specialty programs for certain offenses. An attorney can tell you which court your case is in and whether you qualify for alternatives to conviction.

A civilian DWI can trigger separate military consequences, including administrative action and effects on security clearances and career progression. Handling the civilian case well matters on both fronts. A defense attorney experienced with San Antonio’s military population can coordinate strategy and minimize the overall impact.

No, not without an attorney. You have the right to remain silent and to counsel, and statements made early are often used against you later. Ask for a lawyer and contact one immediately. Early representation can affect bond conditions, charges, and the direction of the case.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Texas DPS, Texas Rangers, Houston PD, Dallas PD, Austin PD, San Antonio PD, and local sheriffs use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Tex. Const. Art. I, § 10 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Texas Class A misdemeanors carry up to 1 year and $4,000 fine; Class B up to 180 days and $2,000. Deferred Adjudication (Art. 42A.101 — completion = no conviction, eligible for nondisclosure) and Pretrial Intervention/Diversion (county-specific programs) make early counsel critical. DV (Family Violence) and DUI/DWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences including federal firearm prohibitions.