Earlier this year, the family of a juvenile client sought our assistance following his arrest at school on allegations of Sexual Assault.

After being transported to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, he was questioned without his guardians present and subsequently detained. The State offered probation, but this came with the severe risk that any probation violation could result in mandatory registration as a sex offender—a consequence neither our client nor we were willing to accept.

Upon thorough examination of the State’s file, including documents and body-worn camera footage, it became evident that filing a motion to suppress our client’s statements to the police was imperative. The footage showed police officers arresting him at school, handcuffing him, and transporting him in a patrol car to the Taylor County SO, where he was questioned.

We filed a motion to suppress based on Texas Family Code provisions, arguing that his statements should be excluded due to the arresting officer’s failure to notify his guardians immediately. This lack of notification prevented them from advising their child to refrain from speaking to authorities without legal counsel.

Outcome

The State concurred with our motion, agreeing that the statements should be suppressed. Consequently, the trial court dismissed the case entirely.

Client Benefits

• Suppressed Statements: Successfully excluding the client’s statements significantly strengthened their defense.
• Avoidance of Sex Offender Registration: By dismissing the case, the client avoided the life-altering requirement of registering as a sex offender, preserving their future opportunities.
• Case Dismissal: The dismissal prevented any lasting legal repercussions from appearing on the client’s record.
• Peace of Mind: The resolution provided closure and peace of mind to both the client and their family.

The client was skillfylly represented by attorney Jacob Blizzard, who is dual board certified in both criminal defense and criminal appeals, ensuring expert guidance and advocacy throughout the case.