Best Criminal Lawyer in San Antonio
Nico LaHood
Criminal Lawyer
Nicholas “Nico” LaHood, former Bexar County District Attorney, is a San Antonio native with over two decades of experience as an effective criminal defense lawyer and high-level prosecutor.
During his tenure as the Bexar County District Attorney, Nico managed and led a legal team of over 500 employees, to include 200 lawyers.
He attended St. Mary’s University, where he earned his B.A. in Finance and Financial Services before moving on to receive his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University – School of Law.
Upon earning his Juris Doctorate and being admitted to the State Bar of Texas, Nico remained in San Antonio and earned a reputation as a premier DWI/criminal defense lawyer in the state. In his 12 years prior to being elected as the Bexar County District Attorney in 2014, Nico also served as a Magistrate Judge for Bexar County, held a position as an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University – School of Law, and served as a special prosecutor for several neighboring counties. He also taught at various local police academies, including the SAPD Academy and the Alamo Area Council of Governments.
His passion for giving back to the community has offered him the opportunity to appear as a guest speaker at universities, community colleges, grade schools, middle schools, and high schools, seeking to educate young adults and our youth about the justice system and its laws.
Upon serving his term as the DA, Nico and his managing partner, Jay Norton, founded LaHood Norton Law Group. Along with their team of former prosecutors, they bring over 80 years of combined experience as both prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys to the firm.
Standing up for the accused and the defenseless, Nico and his team are ready to fearlessly defend your rights.
Nico is a member of the National Order of Barristers, which is the top 10% of advocates in his class.
Andrew Del Cueto
Criminal Lawyer
A fixture on S.A. Scene’s annual Best Lawyers List, Andrew del Cueto, a former felony prosecutor, has been selected by doctors, journalists, and, most notably, other lawyers and judges, to defend their rights in criminal cases. Andrew’s industry-leading expertise in legal research and writing, drafting of motions, and trial strategies have distinguished him over his 12-year career in the practice of criminal law.
After five years working as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bexar County District Attorney’s office, Andrew entered private practice where he defended clients facing charges ranging from shoplifting to murder. Though skilled in all types of federal and state laws, Andrew’s previous tenure as legal counsel for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission makes him uniquely qualified when representing clients in alcohol-related cases.
The lifelong San Antonian is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law and is fluent in both written and oral Spanish.
Practice Areas:
- Criminal
- Personal Injury
- Federal
Brian T. Powers
Criminal Lawyer
Brian T. Powers, Attorney at Law, knows that choosing a criminal defense lawyer is the most important decision of your life. That is why he is personally dedicated to achieving the best outcome for every client in every case. Brian has over 20 years of experience in the field of criminal justice as a decorated police officer, a felony prosecutor, a magistrate judge, a special prosecutor for surrounding counties, and a skilled defense attorney. Let his past help in protecting your future.
Brian became a police officer at the age of 21 after graduating early with a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at San Antonio. During his tenure as a police officer, he was awarded commendations for the arrest of one of “America’s Most Wanted,” as well as the arrest of 67 white-collar criminals within three months. As a police officer, Brian saw first-hand the criminal justice process.
Roberto Ambrosino
Criminal Lawyer
At the Law Office of Roberto Ambrosino, PLLC, in San Antonio, Texas, Roberto Ambrosino takes immense pride in steadfastly advocating for the accused and individuals facing challenging legal circumstances. Roberto grew up in a working class household near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and became a first generation college graduate. His devotion to diligence and sacrifice is evident in his collaborative efforts with clients to actualize comprehensive legal representation.
Focusing on criminal defense matters, encompassing felonies, misdemeanors, DWIs, theft and assaults, Mr. Ambrosino has garnered extensive experience, successfully managing thousands of criminal cases across more than 40 Texas counties. His clientele is diverse, ranging from educators, medical professionals, students, and nurses to fellow legal practitioners and hardworking individuals from various walks of life. Moreover, he has earned an impressive reputation with over 100 positive client reviews and peer endorsements.
Mr. Ambrosino pursued his legal education on scholarship at Texas Tech University School of Law, attaining his J.D. in 2008. During his law school years, he engaged in a meaningful internship with the Innocence Project, where he meticulously reviewed letters from incarcerated individuals and scrutinized claims of wrongful imprisonment. Additionally, Mr. Ambrosino served as a research assistant for a distinguished law professor, contributing to the publication of the article titled “Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater: A Call to Reinstate the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program” (Vol. 18, No. 4) in the American Bar Association Journal of Affordable Housing and Community Development Law. Also, he functioned as a student lawyer for the Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, representing clients in court before even graduating from law school.
Juan Carlos Hernández
Criminal Lawyer
After receiving his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and his J.D. from St. Mary’s School of Law, Juan Carlos immediately began fighting for the rights of others. Since starting with Hernández Dauphin Legal, P.C., he has helped countless clients overcome their criminal charges, earning a reputation as a passionate defender of individuals and families in Texas. Attorney Hernández brings more than 2 decades of experience to the practice of law, drawing on the practical knowledge he gained as a police officer in Washington, D.C., and as a Criminal Magistrate Judge in Bexar County, Texas. In 2017, Juan Carlos was awarded a 10.0 rating (Superb) from Avvo as a Top Criminal Defense Attorney.
Education
J.D. – St. Mary’s School of Law
B.A. – University of Texas at San Antonio
Political Science
Licenses
State Licensed by The Supreme Court of Texas
Federally Licensed by The United States Western District of Texas
Federally Licensed by The United States Southern District of Texas
Tim Rountree
Criminal Lawyer
Almost 30 years ago, Tim’s first job as a prosecutor taught him how the State of Texas investigates and prosecutes DWI offenses. Since his time as a prosecutor, he has studied how to defend DWI cases extensively. Tim has pursued training in the administration of NHTSA field sobriety tests as well as gas chromatography and blood testing protocols. Tim has also studied the breath testing equipment and how to attack the test results in DWI cases. For the last 9 years, Tim has focused on defending DWI cases. He only accepts DWI and intoxication related cases.
Tim grew up in Floresville, Texas and he studied at Baylor University and Baylor Law School. Tim graduated with his Bachelor of Arts and his Juris Doctor degrees in only 5 years. While at Baylor Law School, Tim was recognized with the Matt Dawson Advocacy Award and the Frank C. McDonald Appellate Procedure Award.
Awards
- Best San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Scene in SA 2019
- Best San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Scene in SA 2020
- Best San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Scene in SA 2021
- Best San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Scene in SA 2022
- Top Three San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Three Best Rated 2019
- Top Three San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Three Best Rated 2020
- Top Three San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Three Best Rated 2021
- Top Three San Antonio DWI Lawyers—Three Best Rated 2022
- Top 10 Texas DWI Attorney—Attorney and Practice Magazine 2022
- Avvo Client Choice Award—2016
- Avvo Client Choice Award—2017
- Avvo Client Choice Award—2018
- Premier DUI Trial Attorney—2017 National Academy of Jurisprudence
- 10 BEST ATTORNEY—Client Satisfaction—American Institute DWI Attorneys 2016
- Superb Rating By Avvo
- Matt Dawson Advocacy Award—Baylor University School of Law
- Frank McDonald Appellate Procedure Award—Baylor University School of Law
Sophia C. Martinez
Criminal Lawyer
Sophia C. Martinez obtained her undergraduate degree in Accounting from The University of Texas Red McCombs School of Business and her law degree from St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio, Texas. She has been licensed to practice Law in Texas since November 1996 by the Texas Supreme Court. Sophia has been practicing criminal defense for the past 25 years as both a criminal Assistant District Attorney and a Criminal Defense Attorney.
Sophia represents clients in all types of criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor matters. She is highly dedicated to providing the most effective and strongest defense for each of her clients. Due to her comprehensive background as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, she has the experience to understand all sides of a case to provide the most advantageous defense and protection for her clients.
Sophia empathizes with the level of stress and fear that clients feel as a result of an arrest in a criminal case. She is aware of how this can affect a client in their job, family, and financial areas of life. Thus, Sophia helps guide her clients through the justice system and resolve their cases in a manner that allows them to return their lives back to the most optimal position.
Admitted to the Bar:
- November 1996
Education:
- St. Mary’s Law School, J.D.
- University of Texas – Red McCombs School of Business – Accounting
Employment
- Former Assistant District Attorney
- Over 25 years in private practice as a Criminal Defense Attorney
Shane Byrd
Criminal Lawyer
successful local businessman and owner of three bond companies, National Bonding of Lubbock, Lone Star Bail Bond, and Garcia Bail Bond, Shane has worked for more than three decades to assist clients and their families navigate their way through the criminal justice system, liaising with attorneys, judges, clerks, and the courts throughout Lubbock and most of Texas. He soon realized that his passion for helping his clients extended beyond helping them get bonded out of jail.
With his undergraduate study at Texas Tech University in criminal justice, he pursued his dream of becoming a criminal defense attorney and graduated with his J.D. from Charlotte School of Law, Charlotte, North Carolina. Returning home to Lubbock, he is now a Partner at Texas Criminal Defense Group and focuses his practice in the area of criminal defense. Shane’s strong ties to the Lubbock community extend to ownership of a number of local businesses and the many events he has produced for Texas Tech students. As a business owner, he understands that good people make mistakes and is driven by his passion to protect the future of such persons and resolving their cases quickly and positively.
Awards
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
| Founder’s Award | Bienvenido Group | 2019 |
Work Experience
| Title | Company name | Duration |
| Partner | Texas Criminal Defense Group | 2015 – Present |
| Partner | Hamilton, Hull & Byrd | 2015 – 2018 |
Who in Texas Cannot Own a Gun?
In Texas, gun ownership is a fundamental right for many, but there are specific legal restrictions that prevent certain individuals from owning firearms. Here’s an overview of who cannot own a gun in Texas and how one might restore gun rights if they have been restricted.
Who in Texas Cannot Own a Gun?
Convicted Felons: Individuals convicted of a felony lose their right to own or possess firearms. However, after five years from the release from confinement, they may possess a firearm at their residence only.
Domestic Violence Offenders: Those convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, including those with a protective order against them.
Persons Found Mentally Incompetent: People who have been ruled by a court to be mentally incompetent or committed to a mental institution are barred from owning firearms.
Minors: Individuals under the age of 18 cannot own a firearm without parental consent, and there are strict regulations about where and when minors can possess firearms.
Individuals with Protective Orders: If a court has issued a protective order against an individual, they are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm for the duration of the order.
Ways to Restore Gun Rights in Texas
Pardon from the Governor: A full pardon from the Texas Governor can restore the right to own firearms. This requires applying through the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and demonstrating evidence of rehabilitation.
Setting Aside the Conviction: In some cases, a conviction can be set aside by a court. If a judge grants a motion to set aside the conviction, the individual may regain their gun rights, although this depends on the type of crime and sentence.
Felony Expungement or Sealing of Records: While expungement is limited, sealing (or non-disclosure) of criminal records for certain types of crimes might help in regaining gun rights. However, this is more applicable to non-violent offenses.
Relief from Federal Firearm Disabilities: For those barred from gun ownership under federal law, seeking relief from federal firearm disabilities is another option. This process requires a federal application and evidence of rehabilitation.