Attorney On Call 24/7

210-692-4913

Free Consultation

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. Over 930 dismissals or rejected cases since 2021. 24/7.

Get a Free Case Evaluation 210-692-4913
◆ Over 930 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. Allison Tisdale is a former prosecutor who understands exactly how the Bexar County DA’s office evaluates cases and where charges fall apart under challenge. Mark Hull has tried criminal cases in Bexar County courts for over 20 years.

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 consistently and knows how those prosecutors evaluate files, what makes them agree to dismissal, and when to take a case to trial.

Request a free, confidential case evaluation →

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 starts the 15-day ALR window immediately — our attorneys file the request the day you retain us. Deferred adjudication is not available for DWI in Texas at any level. A plea is a permanent conviction.

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 requires knowing how those specific prosecutors work — what they need to feel confident proceeding, what legal defects make them agree to dismissal, and when taking a case to trial produces a better result than negotiating. Allison Tisdale prosecuted in Texas courts before joining the defense side. That knowledge of how the other side thinks is what drives results 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 →
Over 930dismissal or rejected cases since 2021
5.0Google Rating (363 Reviews)
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 210-692-4913 immediately — the 15-day ALR deadline starts at arrest.

The Administrative License Revocation clock starts the day of your DWI arrest. You have 15 days from receipt of the DIC-25 notice to request a hearing with Texas DPS. Miss the deadline and your license is automatically suspended — 90 days for a failed breath test, 180 days for a refusal. The Hull Firm files the ALR request the day you retain us. Full ALR deadline explanation →

Yes. We evaluate every DWI for the legality of the traffic stop, SFST administration, and BAC evidence integrity. A stop lacking reasonable articulable suspicion produces a suppressible investigation. 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 →

No. Texas CCP Art. 42A.102(b) prohibits deferred adjudication for DWI statewide — including Bexar County. A DWI plea is permanent, cannot be sealed through non-disclosure, and enhances every future DWI charge with no time limit. Dismissal or acquittal followed by expungement is the only outcome that protects your record. 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

RL
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. The 15-day ALR window on DWI charges starts the same day. Call 210-692-4913 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Request Free Consultation 210-692-4913

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.

1