Criminal defense in Collin and Denton County: what’s the difference? My name is Justin Wilson. I’m the founding attorney at My Dallas Criminal Lawyer. With our principal office located at The Star in Frisco, we are just down the street from the Collin and Denton County border. As such, we handle a lot of cases in both counties, and there are some key differences you should be aware of. Before starting the firm, I served as a prosecutor in the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, so I know these court systems from both sides of the aisle. In this video series, we break down the differences between the court systems, the prosecutor offices, and the possible outcomes of cases in Collin and Denton County.
Can You Get Pretrial Diversion for a Domestic Assault Charge in Collin or Denton County?
If you’ve been charged with a domestic assault offense in Collin or Denton County, our primary goal is to make your arrest eligible for an expunction. Expunctions are the only way to hide a domestic assault charge from public view, since Texas law specifically prohibits the nondisclosure of any offense arising from an allegation of family violence.
Denton County Allows Some Domestic Violence Charges Into Pretrial Diversion
Even though Denton County tends to be a little harsher on punishment than Collin County, the Denton County DA’s office will allow some domestic violence charges into their pretrial diversion program.
How Pretrial Diversion Works
Pretrial diversion is a specialty probation program where you never enter a guilty plea. You complete a 6 to 12 month long probation-like program, and as soon as you are released, your case is dismissed and you are immediately eligible to apply for an expunction.
Charged in Collin or Denton County? Call Us
If you’ve been arrested for a domestic assault charge in Collin or Denton County, you need a criminal defense attorney who knows the ins and outs of those two counties thoroughly. Call My Dallas Criminal Lawyer today at (214) 764-5535 and book your free consultation.
Learn more about how we defend these cases on our Frisco domestic violence defense page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get pretrial diversion for a domestic assault charge in Denton County?
Sometimes. Even though Denton County tends to be harsher on punishment than Collin County, the Denton County DA’s office will allow some domestic violence charges into their pretrial diversion program. Eligibility depends on the facts of your case.
Can a family violence charge be sealed with a nondisclosure in Texas?
No. Texas law specifically prohibits nondisclosure of any offense arising from an allegation of family violence. An expunction is the only way to hide a domestic assault charge from public view.
How does pretrial diversion work?
Pretrial diversion is a specialty probation program where you never enter a guilty plea. You complete a 6 to 12 month program with probation-like conditions. When you finish, your case is dismissed and you are immediately eligible to apply for an expunction.
What happens after I complete pretrial diversion?
Your case is dismissed, and because you never entered a guilty plea, you are immediately eligible to apply for an expunction to clear the arrest from public records.
