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Universal City Criminal Defense Attorney

Arrested in Universal City or on FM 78? Bexar County court handles your case. The Hull Firm defends DWI, drug charges, and assault in Cadena-Reeves Justice Center in San Antonio. Former prosecutor on staff. 960+ dismissals or rejected cases since 2021. 24/7.

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◆ 960+ dismissals or rejected cases since 2021 ◆ Former Prosecutor on Staff ◆ San Antonio Office ◆ Available 24/7

Criminal Defense in Universal City, Bexar County

Universal City is a Bexar County municipality adjacent to Randolph Air Force Base in the northeast San Antonio metro, with approximately 20,000 residents. FM 78 and Pat Booker Road form the primary commercial and traffic corridors. All criminal charges above Class C misdemeanor route to the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center at 300 Dolorosa Street, prosecuted by the Bexar County DA’s office. The Hull Firm defends residents of Universal City in Bexar County courts — handling DWI, drug charges, assault, family violence, and felony cases. Mark Hull brings more than 20 years of criminal defense experience, including cases in Bexar County courts. Allison Tisdale is a former Travis County DWI prosecutor whose prosecutorial experience provides firsthand perspective on how criminal cases are evaluated and prepared.

Universal City PD actively enforces FM 78 and Pat Booker Road. The Bexar County Sheriff covers unincorporated Bexar County along Loop 1604. Proximity to Randolph Air Force Base keeps law enforcement staffing in the area elevated, and FM 78 is a consistent DWI and drug arrest corridor. Understanding which agency made the stop, what probable cause or reasonable suspicion justified it, and what the body camera footage actually shows is the starting point of every defense we build for Universal City clients.

A criminal charge in Universal City is a Bexar County case. The court, the DA’s office, and the prosecutors who will handle the file are all based in Cadena-Reeves Justice Center in San Antonio. Effective defense requires regular appearances in those specific courts — not a general familiarity with Texas criminal law. The Hull Firm appears in Bexar County courts regularly and is familiar with local procedures, court scheduling, and prosecuting offices.

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Criminal Charges We Defend in Universal City

These are the charge types that most commonly flow from Universal City arrests into Bexar County courts. Each has its own defense strategy and its own urgency timeline.

DWI & DUI Defense

Universal City PD actively enforces FM 78 and Pat Booker Road. The Bexar County Sheriff covers unincorporated Bexar County along Loop 1604. Proximity to Randolph Air Force Base keeps law enforcement staffing in the area elevated, and FM 78 is a consistent DWI and drug arrest corridor. A Bexar County DWI arrest can start the ALR hearing-request deadline, generally 15 days after the suspension notice is served or received. The firm acts promptly to request the hearing before the applicable deadline. Deferred adjudication may be available for some qualifying DWI offenses, but statutory exclusions apply. Some qualifying DWI dispositions may also be eligible for nondisclosure.

SA DWI Lawyer → First-Time DWI → DWI Conviction →

Assault & Family Violence

Universal City assault and family violence cases are prosecuted by the Bexar County DA’s Family Violence Unit. The unit does not drop charges when the complaining witness recants or declines to testify — it builds cases from officer reports, 911 recordings, and physical evidence and moves forward. Early defense intervention before the DA’s narrative sets is what changes outcomes. A family violence finding creates a lifetime federal firearm prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) — one of the most serious collateral consequences of any misdemeanor conviction. The Hull Firm’s defense starts the day of the arrest, not after charges are formally filed.

Assault Defense → Family Violence → Aggravated Assault →

Drug Charges

Drug arrests in Universal City commonly originate from traffic stops on FM 78 or Pat Booker Road, both actively patrolled corridors. Whether the stop was legally justified and whether the search stayed within its lawful scope are the first questions we evaluate on every drug case. Texas classifies controlled substances into Penalty Groups I–IV, with state jail felony to first-degree felony ranges depending on substance and weight. Possession of even small amounts can carry felony consequences. The stop and the search are the first lines of defense we evaluate on every drug case from Universal City.

Drug Charge Defense → Drug Trafficking →

We also handle theft charges, probation violations, weapons charges, juvenile defense, and record expungement for Bexar County clients.

Bexar County Criminal Courts — What Universal City Residents Need to Know

Every Universal City arrest above a Class C misdemeanor feeds into Bexar County courts at Cadena-Reeves Justice Center in San Antonio. That means the Bexar County DA’s office, Bexar County judges, and Bexar County prosecution practices. The prosecutors who handle your file are assigned by charge type — DWI, family violence, and major crimes each have their own unit with its own evaluation standards and priorities.

Effective defense in Bexar County involves understanding local court procedures, scheduling, and how the prosecuting office is organized, along with a careful review of the evidence and every legally available resolution. Allison Tisdale is a former Travis County DWI prosecutor whose prosecutorial experience provides firsthand perspective on how criminal cases are evaluated and prepared. That experience informs the defense team’s review of evidence and strategy for Universal City clients.

Bexar County Court Guide →
Bexar County
Courthouse: Cadena-Reeves Justice Center
◆ Court locations & divisions ◆ DA’s office specialized units ◆ Arraignment & bond process ◆ DWI, assault & drug charge handling ◆ Dismissal & diversion options
Full Bexar County guide →
960+dismissals or rejected cases since 2021
5.0Google Rating
24/7Attorney Availability

Universal City Criminal Defense FAQ

Common questions from Universal City residents after an arrest in Bexar County.

Universal City is in Bexar County. All cases above Class C misdemeanor are prosecuted at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center, 300 Dolorosa St., San Antonio, TX 78205, by the Bexar County DA's office. Class A and B misdemeanors go to the Bexar County Courts at Law; felonies to the District Courts. The Hull Firm appears in these courts regularly from our San Antonio office.

For state criminal charges — DWI, drug possession, assault — jurisdiction is Bexar County regardless of proximity to Randolph AFB. Military status can affect certain administrative and security clearance consequences separate from the criminal case. The Hull Firm addresses both the state criminal case and advises on collateral consequences during the consultation.

Yes. We evaluate every DWI case for the legality of the traffic stop, SFST administration, and BAC evidence integrity. A stop that lacked reasonable articulable suspicion produces a suppressible investigation. The Hull Firm has dismissed DWI cases in Bexar County Courts at Law through Fourth Amendment suppression motions. Call 210-899-0732 immediately — the ALR hearing-request deadline is generally 15 days after the DPS suspension notice is served or received.

Texas DPS generally requires an ALR hearing request within 15 days after the applicable suspension notice is served or received. The DIC-25 or other DPS notice should be reviewed to confirm the deadline; in some blood-test cases the notice arrives later, after the lab result. If no timely request is made, the suspension can take effect as stated in the notice, generally 90 days for a first qualifying test failure and 180 days for a first refusal. When representation includes the ALR proceeding, the firm acts promptly to request the hearing before the applicable deadline. Full ALR deadline explanation →

A DWI can be dismissed in some cases, but no dismissal can be guaranteed. We evaluate each DWI for the legality of the traffic stop, SFST administration, and BAC evidence. If a stop lacked reasonable suspicion, evidence from the investigation may be subject to suppression, depending on the facts and what independent evidence remains. The Hull Firm has dismissed DWI cases in Bexar County courts through Fourth Amendment suppression motions, field sobriety test challenges, and Intoxilyzer maintenance record issues. Can a DWI be dismissed in Bexar County? →

Yes. The Bexar County DA’s office builds family violence cases from officer reports, body camera footage, 911 recordings, and physical evidence — not solely from victim testimony. A recanting witness slows prosecution but does not stop it. Early intervention before the DA commits to its charging decision is the most impactful stage of a family violence defense.

Texas CCP Ch. 55 expungement requires all agencies to destroy their records of an arrest — not just seal them. Eligibility requires the case to have resolved without conviction: dismissal, acquittal, or declined prosecution. DWI convictions are not eligible for expungement. The Hull Firm evaluates eligibility and handles the complete petition-to-order process for Universal City clients. Expungement in Bexar County →

Deferred adjudication may be available for some qualifying DWI offenses under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.102, but statutory exclusions apply. Eligibility depends on the exact charge, BAC allegation, prior history, commercial-license status, and other statutory factors. Some qualifying DWI dispositions may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure. Eligibility depends on the offense level, BAC, prior history, disposition, accident circumstances, waiting period, and other statutory requirements. Full explanation of DWI and deferred adjudication in Texas →

San Antonio Metro Areas We Serve

The Hull Firm represents clients from across the San Antonio metro and Bexar County whose cases run through Cadena-Reeves Justice Center in San Antonio.

Converse Schertz Cibolo San Antonio Bexar County Courts

What Our Clients Say

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Ronnicka Lopez
★★★★★
Google

“After two years, the case was dismissed and dropped. They made this whole ordeal easy, kept me in the loop, told me exactly what to expect. Mrs. Allison is such an amazing and sweet lady — the whole team. I see exactly why they received multiple awards for best law firm in the state.”

BS
Blake Shires
★★★★★
Google

“My case was dismissed. Mr. Hull was patient, attentive, and consistently communicative from start to finish. He explained every step and made sure I felt supported throughout. I highly recommend Mark Hull and The Hull Firm.”

AM
Alex Morales
★★★★★
Google

“The Hull Firm got my charges dismissed. Responsive, intelligent, and relentless. They always had a plan and stayed one step ahead. If you are facing criminal charges, you want them on your side.”

Facing Criminal Charges in Universal City? Call The Hull Firm Now.

The Bexar County DA’s office begins building its case the day of your arrest. On DWI charges, the ALR hearing-request deadline is short. Call 210-899-0732 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Request Free Consultation 210-899-0732

The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page. Contact The Hull Firm for a free, confidential consultation specific to your case.

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