Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in San Antonio, Texas

Criminal defense lawyers in San Antonio handle cases at one main courthouse. The Cadena-Reeves Justice Center hears nearly every felony and misdemeanor in Bexar County. After a DWI arrest, you have just 15 days to save your license. The attorneys listed here know these local courts and deadlines.

We research each listing using public records, verified reviews, and direct evaluation. Our rankings reflect reputation, reliability, and results.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Overall online reputation and verified user feedback

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Top-Rated San Antonio Criminal Lawyers for DWI & Felony Defense

Screenshot of the Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC Website
909 NE Interstate 410 Loop Suite 500A, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA

Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda is a San Antonio criminal defense firm built around trial work. Every case is prepared as if it will reach a jury, whether it settles or goes the distance.

The team handles felonies, misdemeanors, DWI, drug charges, and white collar matters across Bexar County and Texas. Joseph Hoelscher and Robert Gebbia also take CPS defense and family law cases, which is rare for a criminal practice.

Open since 2007, HGC ranks among the city's top-rated criminal defense attorneys. The firm brings in experts and counselors to support clients beyond the courtroom. Free consultations are available for anyone facing charges.

Screenshot of the Austin Hagee Law Firm Website
120 Austin Hwy #103, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA

Former prosecutors lead the defense team at Austin Hagee Law Firm, so they know how the other side builds a case. That insider view has produced more than 150 dismissals for clients facing arrest.

Drunk-driving defense is a core focus, alongside assault, drug charges, sex crimes, and homicide. The firm also runs a military discount and offers financing, so cost is not a barrier to representation.

Attorney Austin Hagee serves Bexar, Kerr, Hays, and Kendall counties from the Austin Highway office. For anyone weighing options, this is a well-reviewed criminal defense attorney in San Antonio with real trial experience.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC Website
540 S St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA

In downtown San Antonio near the Bexar County Courthouse, the Law Office of Shawn C. Brown handles DWI and criminal cases steps from where they are tried.

The firm has defended South Texas clients since 2001. Its attorneys take assault and battery, theft, federal crimes, and drug charges, and they also work record sealing and motions to revoke.

San Antonio criminal defense is the heart of the practice, with personal injury handled on the side. Phone lines stay open around the clock, which matters when an arrest happens at 2 a.m. Several attorneys share the caseload, so clients are not waiting on one person.

Screenshot of the Hernández Dauphin Legal, PC Website
85 NE Interstate 410 Loop Suite 412, San Antonio, TX 78216, USA

With more than 40 years of combined experience, Hernández Dauphin Legal pairs a former prosecutor with former judges who have seen cases from the bench.

Juan Carlos Hernández and Christine Dauphin Hernández defend state and federal charges, including drug cases, assault, theft, and white collar crimes. The bilingual team also handles juvenile matters, internet crimes, and record expungements.

This is a strong option for Spanish-speaking clients who want lawyers fluent in both the courtroom and their language. Case reviews are free.

Screenshot of the The Law Offices of Brian Powers Website
3011 Nacogdoches Rd Bldg 1, San Antonio, TX 78217, USA

Brian Powers spent over 20 years inside the criminal justice system as a police officer, prosecutor, and judge before opening his own practice. His motto sums it up: let my past protect your future.

That background shapes his defense of aggravated assault, drug and robbery charges, intoxication offenses, and murder cases. He also handles firearms charges, probation violations, and expunctions.

Powers serves San Antonio, Bexar County, and the surrounding area, and the firm holds BBB accreditation. A free consultation starts the process.

Screenshot of the Alamo Law Group Website
924 Camaron St, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

Few San Antonio firms cover criminal defense and immigration under one roof. Alamo Law Group does, which helps clients whose criminal charge could also threaten their status.

Led by Fernando Gireud, the bilingual practice handles deportation defense, drug and assault charges, and personal injury claims. The immigration side runs deep, including bond hearings and cancellation of removal.

Spanish-speaking clients in Bexar County get direct help in their own language. This crossover focus sets the firm apart from pure criminal shops.

Screenshot of the Tim Rountree - San Antonio DWI Attorney Website
84 NE Interstate 410 Loop Suite 232, San Antonio, TX 78216, USA

DWI defense is all Tim Rountree does, and 25 years of it shows. His San Antonio practice focuses only on drunk-driving cases, including first offenses and license hearings.

A former prosecutor, Rountree knows how the state proves intoxication and where those cases fall apart. Clients point to his stack of five-star reviews and his record of pushing for dismissals.

For a driver facing a first charge or a repeat one, a single-focus attorney can be worth more than a generalist.

Screenshot of the LaHood Norton Goss Law Group, PLLC Website
40 I- 410 Access Rd Ste 525, San Antonio, TX 78216, USA

Nico LaHood served as Bexar County's elected District Attorney before returning to defense work. Now he leads LaHood Norton Goss Law Group with a roster of former prosecutors.

The firm takes drug crimes, DWI, federal cases, sex crimes, and violent charges, plus appeals and white collar defense. A deep bench and Spanish-language service round out the practice for clients across San Antonio.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Patrick L. Hancock - Criminal Defense Attorney Website

More than three decades of courtroom work back the Law Offices of Patrick L. Hancock. He has defended felonies, DWI, and serious charges in San Antonio for over 32 years.

His practice covers homicide, drug offenses, domestic violence, sex crimes, and white collar cases. Hancock takes both misdemeanor and felony matters in Bexar County courts.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Gary Churak Website
14310 Northbrook Dr #210, San Antonio, TX 78232, USA

Recognized as a National Top 100 Trial Lawyer, Gary Churak brings 30 years to criminal defense in San Antonio. His office stays open around the clock for arrests that cannot wait.

Churak defends DUI and DWI, assault, drug charges, sex crimes, homicide, and federal cases. He also serves nearby New Braunfels and San Marcos from his north-side office.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Albert Flores Website
3817 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

Albert Flores has defended criminal cases across Texas for more than 20 years, in both state and federal court. A former magistrate judge, he brings a judge's read on how cases move.

The firm serves San Antonio clients in English and Spanish and keeps consistently high marks from those it has represented.

Screenshot of the Attorney Stephen H. Gordon Website
5820 I-10 Suite 400, San Antonio, TX 78201, USA

The Gordon Law Firm covers a wide range of needs under one roof: criminal defense, DWI, family law, bankruptcy, and personal injury. Stephen Gordon has practiced for over 20 years and offers flexible payment plans. That breadth helps clients facing more than one legal problem at once.

Screenshot of the Goldstein & Orr Website
315 E Commerce St #301, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA

Goldstein & Orr is one of the most recognized criminal defense names in Texas, with a national reputation in federal court. Gerald Goldstein and Cynthia Hujar Orr have argued landmark cases, and Orr is a past national president of the criminal defense bar.

The board-certified team takes felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile charges in state and federal courts, plus white collar, drug, and appeals work.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Kerrisa Chelkowski Website
1017 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78210, USA

A former prosecutor turned defender, Kerrisa Chelkowski uses that insider view across assault, drug, DWI, sex, and federal cases. The bilingual San Antonio firm has earned Super Lawyers Rising Stars recognition. Clients who want a lawyer who has worked both sides find a fit here.

Screenshot of the The H.D. Sanchez Law Firm, PLLC Website
342 E Mitchell St, San Antonio, TX 78210, USA

Before practicing law, Dave Sanchez investigated crashes as a police officer. Now he puts that experience to work for the injured and the accused across Bexar County.

The H.D. Sanchez firm handles DWI, drug, assault, and domestic violence cases, plus injury claims from wrecks on I-35. A South Side native, Sanchez works with clients in English and Spanish on a no-recovery, no-fee basis for injury cases.

Screenshot of the De La Garza Criminal Defense, PLLC Website

Not guilty on capital murder. Not guilty on aggravated assault. Daniel De La Garza's case record speaks loudly for a San Antonio defense lawyer who tries hard cases.

He handles murder, assault, firearms, drug, and sex charges, plus appeals and writs of habeas corpus. Avvo and Super Lawyers have both flagged his work.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of John J. Fox Website

Driving offenses anchor the Law Office of John J. Fox, with 20-plus years of defense work behind them. Fox also takes drug charges, domestic violence, and arson in San Antonio. His focus on DWI and traffic cases suits anyone fighting a license suspension or repeat charge.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Dayna L Jones Website
1800 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

Dayna Jones built her name defending serious cases in Bexar County, earning Super Lawyers Rising Star honors and a Best San Antonio Female Lawyer nod. She handles DWI, drug charges, federal matters, and violent crimes.

A member of state and national criminal defense associations, Jones takes calls 24/7. Her practice is solo-led, so clients work directly with her.

Screenshot of the Del Prado Law Criminal Defense Lawyers Website
342 W Woodlawn Ave Ste 302, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

Board certification is rare in criminal law, and Mario Del Prado has held it while practicing for over 35 years. The former district attorney chief defends DWI, drug, assault, domestic violence, sex, federal, and homicide cases. His San Antonio office takes trial-ready strategy seriously.

Screenshot of the Flanary Law Firm, PLLC Website
100 NE Interstate 410 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78216

Don Flanary is known for teaching other lawyers the science of DWI and search-and-seizure defense. His San Antonio firm brings 30-plus years of combined experience to drug, federal, and domestic violence cases.

Screenshot of the Soyars & Morgan Law, P.C. Website

Soyars & Morgan is a boutique firm where Jodi Soyars and Ashley Morgan handle criminal defense, DWI, and family law. With 30-plus years of combined experience, the woman-led team knows the courts across central Texas.

Screenshot of the Thornton Criminal Defense, PLLC Website

Brad Thornton ran the prosecutor's office in Atascosa County before switching to defense. Board certified with a strong trial record, he handles DWI and serious felony cases, including murder, across San Antonio and South Texas.

Screenshot of the The Office of Guillermo Lara Jr. Website
310 South St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX 78205

Guillermo Lara Jr. defends DWI, drug, federal, assault, and sex charges, and welcomes Spanish-speaking clients. His San Antonio office also takes bail bonds and injury cases. Hablamos Español.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Robert H. Featherston, P.C. Website
1150 N Loop 1604 W Suite 108-301, San Antonio, TX 78248, USA

Criminal law is the only thing Robert Featherston does. From his San Antonio office, he defends state and federal drug, sex, white collar, and firearms charges, along with appeals. He practices throughout Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio cost?

Most charge a flat fee. Many San Antonio criminal lawyers set a flat fee based on the charge. Misdemeanors cost less than felonies or federal cases. Some offer payment plans, so ask during the consultation.

What is the statute of limitations for criminal charges in Texas?

Two years for misdemeanors. Texas gives prosecutors two years to file most misdemeanors. Many felonies carry a three-year deadline. Serious crimes like murder have no limit at all.

Which courts handle criminal cases in Bexar County?

The Cadena-Reeves Justice Center. Felonies go to one of Bexar County's ten Criminal District Courts. Misdemeanors are heard in the County Courts at Law. Federal charges move to the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.

What happens at magistration after a San Antonio arrest?

A judge sets your bond. The Central Magistrate Office processes Class B and higher arrests within 24 hours. The magistrate sets bond and any conditions. In family violence cases, an emergency protective order is often issued here.

Is a first DWI a felony in Texas?

No, it is a misdemeanor. A first DWI is usually a Class B misdemeanor in Texas. A BAC of 0.15 or higher raises it to a Class A. A third DWI becomes a third-degree felony.

How long do I have to protect my license after a DWI?

Only 15 days. After a DWI arrest, you have 15 days to request an ALR hearing. Miss it and your license is suspended automatically. This deadline is separate from the criminal case.

Can a criminal record be cleared in Texas?

Sometimes, yes. Texas allows expunction for some dismissed or acquitted cases. Others may qualify for an order of nondisclosure that seals the record. A lawyer can tell you which path may fit.

Types of Criminal Cases Handled in San Antonio

DWI and DUI. The Bexar County DA's Vehicular Crimes Unit prosecutes these hard. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. Repeat arrests can become felonies, and the 15-day license deadline always applies.

Drug Crimes. These cover possession, delivery, and trafficking. Penalties depend on the substance and the weight. Many cases turn on whether the search was legal.

Assault and Family Violence. A family violence finding carries lasting consequences. It can trigger protective orders and firearm restrictions. Bexar County magistrates often issue these at the first hearing.

Federal Charges. Federal cases move to the Western District of Texas in San Antonio. They involve drug conspiracy, fraud, and firearms counts. The sentencing rules differ sharply from state court.

Sex Crimes. These charges carry severe penalties and registration requirements. They include assault, solicitation, and online offenses. Defense often centers on the evidence and on intent.

White Collar Crimes. This group covers fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering. Cases can be filed in state or federal court. They often involve financial records and long investigations.

Theft and Property Crimes. Charges scale with the value involved. Misdemeanor shoplifting and felony burglary both fall here. Prior offenses can raise the charge level.

Appeals and Expunctions. Some firms handle post-conviction work. This includes appeals, writs, and record sealing. Texas expunction can clear some dismissed or acquitted cases.

How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer in San Antonio

Check their Bexar County court experience. Local lawyers know the judges and prosecutors at Cadena-Reeves. That familiarity shapes strategy and plea talks.

Ask about prosecutor or trial background. Many top San Antonio criminal attorneys once worked as prosecutors. Some are Board Certified in criminal law, a credential few hold.

Match the lawyer to the charge. A DWI specialist and a federal defense lawyer are not the same. Pick one who handles your exact charge often.

Confirm fees and payment terms up front. Ask whether the fee is flat or hourly. Get the scope and any extra costs in writing.

Look for Spanish-language service if needed. Many Bexar County firms work in English and Spanish. Clear communication matters during a stressful case.

Criminal Penalties and Outcomes in Texas

Outcomes depend on the charge level and the facts. A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor, with up to 180 days in jail. A third-degree felony can bring 2 to 10 years in prison.

Texas has no washout period for DWI. Old convictions still count toward enhancement. That can turn a new arrest into a felony charge.

A strong defense may lead to dismissal, reduction, or diversion. Bexar County also runs specialty courts, including a drug court, for some cases. A local attorney can review the facts and explain a realistic range.