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San Marcos Criminal Defense Lawyer — Hays County

From Class C misdemeanors to first-degree felonies, every criminal charge in Hays County carries consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom. experienced criminal defense. Former prosecutor Allison Tisdale on staff. We appear in the Hays County Courts at Law and District Courts every week. Over 930 dismissals or rejected cases since 2021. Call 737-937-5786.

Free Consultation 737-937-5786 — 24/7
✓ experienced Criminal Law ✓ Former Prosecutor on Staff ✓ Hays County Courts ✓ Available 24/7
Litigator of the Year 2023 — criminal defense attorney San Marcos Hays CountyMark Hull
Expertise.com Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Hays County San Marcos TexasMark Hull*
National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — criminal defense San Marcos Hays CountyMark Hull — 2022
Top 40 Under 40 — Allison Tisdale former prosecutor criminal defense Hays CountyAllison Tisdale — 2022
Lawyers of Distinction — criminal defense attorney San Marcos TexasMark Hull
Criminal Defense Top 10 Attorney — Hays County San MarcosMark Hull

*Based on the quality and quantity of reviews and average minimum rating for a law firm practicing criminal defense in Austin, TX researched by expertise.com

Criminal Defense in San Marcos & Hays County — What You’re Actually Facing

Criminal charges in Hays County are prosecuted by DA Kelly Higgins’s office — one of the more aggressive prosecution offices in Central Texas. Misdemeanor charges go to the Hays County Courts at Law at 712 S. Stagecoach Trail. Felony charges go to the Hays County District Courts in the same building. Whether you’re facing assault, DWI, drug possession, or a weapons charge, you’re not dealing with a generic prosecution machine — you’re dealing with this specific office, in these specific courts, under this specific DA. That local knowledge is not a nice-to-have. It is the defense.

I’ve been defending criminal cases in Hays County for over 20 years. Allison Tisdale prosecuted criminal cases as a Texas state prosecutor before joining our firm. She understands how this office evaluates evidence, what it considers a strong case versus one with real exposure, and where these prosecutions tend to fall apart. Mark Hull is experienced in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a credential held by fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys that requires demonstrated trial experience and a written examination.

A criminal charge is not a conviction. Every charge has a defense. The question is whether the attorney you hire knows how to find it, build it, and present it in the specific court where your case will be heard. Call 737-937-5786 the day of the arrest — the earlier we get involved, the more we can do.

  • ✓ Payment Plans Available
  • ✓ Local San Marcos Law Firm
  • ✓ Affordable Fees
  • ✓ Award-Winning Firm
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Criminal Defense Practice Areas — San Marcos & Hays County

We defend the full range of criminal charges in Hays County courts. Every case gets the same approach: find the weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence and build a defense from there.

Assault Charges

Class C misdemeanor threats through first-degree felony aggravated assault. Simple assault, aggravated assault, family violence, and assault with a deadly weapon. Self-defense evaluated on every case.

Assault Defense →

DWI & DUI Defense

First and repeat DWI, underage DUI, BAC challenges, breath test suppression, and ALR hearings. No deferred adjudication for DWI in Texas — dismissal is the only outcome that protects your record.

DWI Defense →

Drug Charges

Possession, delivery, and manufacturing charges under Texas Health & Safety Code. Penalty group analysis, Fourth Amendment stop challenges, and unlawful search suppression motions.

Drug Defense →

Weapons Charges

Unlawful carrying, prohibited weapons, felon in possession, and weapons used in the commission of a crime. Federal and state charges evaluated simultaneously.

Weapons Defense →

Theft Crimes

Shoplifting through felony theft. Value-based charge levels under Penal Code §31.03. Employment and licensing consequences of theft convictions evaluated on every case.

Theft Defense →

Expungement & Record Clearing

Texas Chapter 55 expungement for dismissed charges and arrests. Order of non-disclosure for eligible convictions. We evaluate record-clearing eligibility on every case we close.

Expungement →
Criminal defense attorney San Marcos — Hays County courthouse knowledge and DA Kelly Higgins defense strategy

Why Hays County-Specific Knowledge Changes the Defense

The difference between a criminal defense attorney who practices in Hays County regularly and one who drives down from Austin for your case is not a small one. DA Kelly Higgins’s office has specific policies on how it evaluates certain charge types, what evidence it finds compelling, and when it is willing to negotiate. The judges in the Courts at Law and District Courts have specific approaches to suppression hearings, jury selection, and sentencing. These are things you learn from being in these courts every week — not from reading a statute book.

Allison Tisdale prosecuted criminal cases in Texas courts before joining our firm. She has sat at the prosecution table and knows what the file looks like from that side — what evidence DA Kelly Higgins’s office will lean on, where it feels uncertain about its case, and how to position documented legal arguments that create real pressure toward dismissal. Mark Hull has tried cases to verdict in the Hays County Courts at Law and District Courts. We don’t show up for your case; this is where we practice.

For Texas State University students arrested in San Marcos, there are additional dimensions: student conduct proceedings that run parallel to the criminal case, financial aid eligibility, and campus housing. We evaluate both tracks on every university-area arrest, because the criminal case and the academic consequences require different strategies on different timelines.

Criminal defense process San Marcos — from arrest to dismissal in Hays County courts

How We Approach Every Criminal Defense Case in Hays County

The defense strategy is built from the first day, not assembled at the last minute before trial. Here is how we approach every case.

01
Evaluate the arrest and the charge

Was there probable cause for the arrest? Was the stop that led to it legally justified? We evaluate the Fourth Amendment issues first because a successful suppression motion can end the entire case.

02
Pull all available evidence immediately

Dashcam and bodycam footage, dispatch logs, witness statements, forensic reports. This evidence has retention windows. The earlier we request it, the more complete the record.

03
Identify every viable defense

Self-defense on assault charges. Constitutional violations on drug and weapons stops. Chain of custody and BAC challenges on DWI cases. We evaluate every angle before making a recommendation.

04
Engage DA Kelly Higgins’s office with documented arguments

Allison Tisdale knows how this office evaluates its cases. We go in with specific documented legal grounds — not just a hope for leniency.

05
Take the case to trial when the evidence supports it

Mark Hull has tried criminal cases to verdict in Hays County. When the evidence gives us a path to an acquittal, we use it. The willingness to try cases changes how the prosecution values every prior negotiation.

06
Evaluate expungement on every closed case

A dismissed charge can be expunged under Texas Chapter 55. We evaluate eligibility the moment the case closes and handle the entire filing.

Why Board Certification Matters on Criminal Charges

Mark Hull is experienced in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. That credential requires demonstrated substantial trial experience across criminal law, a written examination, and peer evaluation. Fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys are experienced in any specialty. It is the standard by which Texas identifies attorneys with genuine expertise — not just attorneys who practice in the area.

Allison Tisdale prosecuted criminal cases in Texas courts before joining the defense. That prosecutorial background is a direct advantage in Hays County: she knows how DA Kelly Higgins’s office evaluates evidence, which cases it considers strong, and where prosecutions tend to fall apart. Mark Hull was recognized as Litigator of the Year 2023 and named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. We carry a 5.0 rating across 363 Google reviews and have achieved over 700 dismissals across Central Texas courts.

◆ experienced — Criminal Law

Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys. Mark Hull.

◆ Former State Prosecutor on Staff

Allison Tisdale prosecuted criminal cases in Texas courts before joining the defense. She knows how DA Kelly Higgins’s office builds these cases — and where they fall apart.

◆ Tried Cases to Verdict in Hays County

When the evidence supports going to trial, we go. Most defense attorneys in this area don’t. That changes how the prosecution evaluates every case at every prior stage.

◆ Over 930 dismissals or rejected cases since 2021

Hays County, Travis County, Williamson County — assault, DWI, drug, felony and misdemeanor charges of all levels.

Over 930dismissal or rejected cases since 2021
5.0Google Rating (363 Reviews)
20+Years in Hays County Courts

Criminal Defense FAQ — Hays County & San Marcos

Common questions about criminal charges, courts, and defense strategy in Hays County — answered with specific Texas law and local court details.

Hays County criminal cases are divided by charge level. Class C misdemeanors go to San Marcos Municipal Court or the Hays County Justice of the Peace courts. Class A and B misdemeanors, state jail felonies, and most DWI charges go to the Hays County Courts at Law at 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666. Felony charges — third-degree through first-degree — go to the Hays County District Courts in the same building. DA Kelly Higgins’s office prosecutes all felony and misdemeanor cases. We appear in all of these courts regularly.

Yes — and dismissal is the goal on every case, not just a lucky outcome. Criminal charges in Texas are built on evidence, and evidence can be challenged. The stop that led to the arrest may lack Fourth Amendment justification. The identification procedure may have been suggestive. The physical evidence may have chain of custody problems. The officer’s observations may be contradicted by body camera footage. We evaluate every available challenge on every case. We have achieved over 700 dismissals across Central Texas courts, including Hays County.

Texas classifies crimes as Class C misdemeanors (fine only, no jail), Class B misdemeanors (up to 180 days county jail, $2,000 fine), Class A misdemeanors (up to 1 year county jail, $4,000 fine), state jail felonies (180 days to 2 years state jail, $10,000 fine), and third through first-degree felonies (2 years up to life in TDCJ, fines up to $10,000). The charge level determines which court hears the case, what the possible penalties are, and how a conviction affects your record, employment, and civil rights.

Most criminal convictions in Texas are permanent — they stay on your record unless you are eligible for expungement or an order of non-disclosure. Expungement under Texas Chapter 55 is available for charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal. An order of non-disclosure is available for certain deferred adjudication completions. Neither is available for a straight conviction on most charges. This permanence is exactly why fighting the charge from the first day matters — a dismissed case can be cleared from your record entirely.

Deferred adjudication is a form of probation where the court defers entering a finding of guilt. If you complete the probation terms, the case is dismissed and you may be eligible for an order of non-disclosure — which seals the record from most public view. Deferred adjudication is available for many misdemeanor and felony charges but is explicitly prohibited for DWI under any circumstance. Whether deferred adjudication makes sense for a specific case depends on the evidence, the charge, and the prosecutor’s posture. We evaluate all paths on every case.

Do not make statements to law enforcement beyond providing your identifying information. Invoke your right to counsel clearly and immediately — “I want a lawyer” said plainly ends the interrogation. Then call 737-937-5786. The earlier we are involved, the more complete the record we can build. Evidence has retention windows. Witness memories fade. The 15-day ALR deadline on DWI arrests starts immediately. Every day without an attorney is a day the other side is building its case without opposition.

Yes. We handle the full range of criminal charges in Hays County — Class C misdemeanors through first-degree felonies. Mark Hull is experienced in Criminal Law and has tried felony cases to verdict in the Hays County District Courts. The approach on a felony case is the same as any other: evaluate the evidence, identify every viable challenge, engage the prosecution with documented legal arguments, and take the case to trial when the evidence supports it.

Many licensed professions in Texas require disclosure of criminal charges and convictions to their licensing boards. Healthcare professionals, attorneys, teachers, real estate agents, commercial drivers, and dozens of other licensed fields have specific reporting requirements and disciplinary processes for criminal matters. Even a Class A misdemeanor conviction can affect license renewal, result in suspension, or disqualify a new applicant. We evaluate the licensing consequences on every case alongside the criminal consequences, because for many clients the career impact is the most significant long-term risk.

Criminal Defense Resources — San Marcos & Hays County

Related pages covering criminal defense charges in San Marcos and Hays County.

Assault Defense

All assault charges in Hays County — simple, aggravated, family violence, and assault with a deadly weapon.

DWI & DUI Defense

Full DWI defense hub for Hays County — charge types, ALR process, BAC challenges, and defense strategies.

Family Violence Defense

Family violence charges and the collateral consequences that follow — federal gun ban, protective orders, and immigration.

Aggravated Assault

Second and first-degree felony assault — serious bodily injury, deadly weapon, and self-defense under Texas law.

Expungement San Marcos

Texas Chapter 55 expungement for dismissed charges — eligibility, process, and what it clears from your record.

Hays County Courts Guide

Full guide to the Hays County Courts at Law, District Courts, and what to expect at each stage.

DWI Conviction

Permanent record, no deferred adjudication, no expungement — full penalty breakdown for every DWI charge level.

BAC & Breath Test Challenges

Intoxilyzer 9000 calibration, operator error, GERD, rising BAC, and blood draw chain of custody challenges.

What Our Clients Say

5.0 stars • 363 Google reviews from clients across Hays County, Travis County, and Central Texas.

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.”

SH
Shawn Hallman
★★★★★
Google

“These attorneys were responsive, intelligent, and relentless. I appreciated how they always had a plan and stayed one step ahead. If you’re facing criminal charges, you want them on your side.”

Charged with a Crime in San Marcos or Hays County? Call Us Today.

DA Kelly Higgins’s office starts building its case the moment of arrest. So do we — the day you call. experienced criminal defense, former prosecutor on staff, Over 930 dismissals or rejected cases since 2021. Call 737-937-5786 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Free Consultation737-937-5786

For educational purposes only. Not legal advice. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation specific to your case.

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