Murder

Murder Attorney in Brazoria County

Defense From Two Former Brazoria County Prosecutors

A murder charge in Brazoria County is prosecuted with the full resources of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office. The attorneys at Crenshaw & Purvis know that office from the inside. Steven Crenshaw served as First Assistant District Attorney in the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 2004, the senior prosecution role, for 14 years. Jeff Purvis served as Assistant District Attorney in the same office from 1997 to 1999. That direct experience in the specific office that prosecutes these charges isn’t something most defense attorneys can offer.

Jeff Purvis is also Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a designation that requires demonstrated competence, peer review, and a rigorous examination. Together, our attorneys bring over 55 years of combined legal experience to every case we take. We’ve been serving clients throughout Brazoria County since 2004.

Time matters when a murder charge or investigation is involved. Contact Crenshaw & Purvis at (979) 200-4746 for a free consultation with a murder lawyer in Brazoria County.

Murder & Capital Murder Under Texas Law

Texas law doesn’t use the labels “first-degree murder” or “second-degree murder.” The statutes use “murder” and “capital murder,” and the distinction between them determines the entire shape of a prosecution. Under Texas Penal Code Section 19.02, murder is committed when a person intentionally or knowingly causes the death of another, causes death while intending serious bodily injury through a clearly dangerous act, or causes death during the commission or attempted commission of a felony. That last category is the felony murder rule, and it allows the state to pursue a murder charge even when killing was never the defendant’s intent.

Capital murder under Texas Penal Code Section 19.03 applies when specific aggravating circumstances are present: killing a peace officer or firefighter in the line of duty, murder for hire, killing during a kidnapping or robbery, killing more than one person in the same criminal transaction or pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct, or killing a child under 15. The mental state the state alleges, whether intentional or knowing, determines which charge applies and which defenses are available.

Sentences & Penalties for Murder in Texas

Murder under Section 19.02 is a first-degree felony, carrying a sentencing range of 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. One important exception: if a jury finds that the defendant acted under sudden passion arising from adequate cause, the offense may be reduced to a second-degree felony with a range of 2 to 20 years. Sudden passion is raised at the punishment phase, not the guilt phase, and the facts must support it.

Capital murder under Section 19.03 is a capital felony. A conviction results in either life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. If the state doesn’t give advance notice of intent to seek death, the maximum sentence is life without parole. Beyond the sentence itself, a murder conviction leaves a permanent felony record with consequences for employment, housing, and civil rights that follow a person for life.

Why Brazoria County Defendants Choose Crenshaw & Purvis

Our background is specific to where your case will be tried. Steven Crenshaw spent 14 years as First Assistant District Attorney in Brazoria County, the senior leadership role in the office that prosecutes murder charges here. Jeff Purvis worked alongside that office as an Assistant District Attorney. Both of us have direct knowledge of how Brazoria County prosecutors build murder cases and argue them at the Brazoria County District Court in Angleton.

Clients work directly with our attorneys, not with case managers or paralegals. Jeff Purvis’s Board Certification in Criminal Law reflects a standard of practice that goes beyond standard licensure. Our presence in Brazoria County since 2004 has built professional relationships throughout the local legal community that inform how we approach each stage of a case.

Get a Free Consultation With a Brazoria County Murder Attorney

The steps taken immediately after a murder arrest or the start of an investigation can shape everything that follows. Don’t speak with law enforcement before retaining counsel. The sooner a defense attorney is involved, the more options exist for influencing how a case develops, including what happens before a grand jury indictment is returned.

Crenshaw & Purvis offers free consultations for individuals facing murder or capital murder charges in Brazoria County. Call us at (979) 200-4746 to speak directly with our attorneys.

Murder Charge Types in Brazoria County Cases

The specific facts of an incident determine which charge the state files, and that determination drives how a defense is built.

Intentional Murder Under Section 19.02(b)(1)

This is the most common murder charge. The state must prove that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused the death of another person. Because “intentionally” is defined by what was in the defendant’s mind at the moment of the act, the mental state element is frequently the most contested issue. Circumstantial evidence of intent is common, and it can be challenged.

Felony Murder Under Section 19.02(b)(3)

Felony murder allows a murder charge when a death occurs during the commission or attempted commission of a felony, even if killing was never the intent. The state must prove both the underlying felony and the act that caused death. Defense strategy here often focuses on the underlying felony itself or on whether the defendant’s act actually caused the death.

Capital Murder Under Section 19.03

Capital murder isn’t defined by the method of killing. It’s defined by the surrounding circumstances. Specific aggravating facts, including the victim’s identity, the motive, or the number of victims, trigger the capital designation. Because a capital murder conviction can result in the death penalty or life without parole, these cases require defense counsel with a thorough understanding of both the statute and how the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office approaches capital litigation.

Law of Parties

Texas law also recognizes the law of parties, which allows the state to charge a person with murder even if they didn’t personally cause the death, as long as they were acting together with someone who did. This theory can significantly expand who faces murder charges arising from a single incident.

Defense Strategies in Texas Murder Cases

No two murder cases present the same facts, and defense strategy must fit the specific evidence and circumstances. Several recognized legal theories are available under Texas law.

Self-defense and defense of others: Texas law provides that a person who reasonably believed force was necessary to protect against unlawful force may not be criminally liable. The facts must support that belief, and this is an affirmative defense requiring careful presentation of the evidence.
Sudden passion: Raised at the punishment phase if the guilt phase results in a conviction, sudden passion arising from adequate cause can reduce a murder conviction from a first-degree to a second-degree felony, reducing sentencing exposure.
Lack of the required mental state: When the state’s evidence of intent is circumstantial, challenging whether the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused death is a viable primary defense theory.
Challenging forensic evidence: Ballistics, DNA, toxicology, and medical examiner conclusions can all be subject to independent expert review and cross-examination at trial.
Suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence: Evidence obtained through an unlawful search, coercive interrogation, or Miranda violations can be challenged through pretrial suppression motions.
Grand jury strategy: Before an indictment is formally returned, presenting evidence or legal arguments to the grand jury can, in some cases, result in a no-bill, meaning no charges are filed.

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Why Crenshaw & Purvis?

Honest, Knowledgeable, Professional Representation
Focused Practice on Criminal Defense and DWI
Established Track Record of Proven Success
Over 55 Years of Combined Experience

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Murder Cases in the Brazoria County District Court

Murder and capital murder charges in Brazoria County are prosecuted by the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office and tried in the Brazoria County District Court in Angleton, Texas. After an arrest, the defendant is typically booked at the Brazoria County Jail, and a bond hearing is among the first proceedings. Murder charges in Texas generally require a grand jury indictment before trial. From there, the process moves through arraignment, discovery, pretrial motions, and hearings before reaching the courtroom.

Our attorneys have direct familiarity with how the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office evaluates and argues murder cases. Steven Crenshaw led that office as First Assistant District Attorney for 14 years, and that background informs how we approach each stage of a case, from early investigation through trial.

What to Do If You’re Facing a Murder Charge or Investigation

The most important step is the most immediate: request an attorney before saying anything to law enforcement. The right to remain silent applies from the first moment of any police contact related to a murder investigation. Statements made before counsel is retained can be used by the prosecution, and there is no benefit to providing explanations without an attorney present.

If you know you’re being investigated but haven’t yet been arrested, contacting a murder attorney in Brazoria County before charges are formally filed gives defense counsel the opportunity to intervene early, including during the grand jury process. Waiting until after an indictment is returned limits those options considerably.

Collateral Consequences of a Murder Conviction in Texas

The sentence imposed at trial isn’t the only consequence of a murder conviction. A conviction is a felony that remains permanently on the defendant’s criminal record. Expunction isn’t available for murder convictions, meaning the record follows a person indefinitely.

Consequences beyond incarceration include loss of eligibility for certain employment and professional licenses, barriers to housing, and loss of federal benefits. In family law proceedings, a violent crime conviction can be introduced as evidence and may affect parental rights and child custody determinations. A capital murder conviction resulting in life without parole removes any possibility of parole review. Defendants convicted of murder under Section 19.02 may be eligible for parole after serving the statutorily required portion of their sentence, but that remains subject to board review.

Collateral consequences can also begin before a conviction. A pending murder charge and arrest record can affect employment, housing applications, and ongoing family court matters while the case is still in progress. This is one reason why the quality of representation from the earliest stages of a case matters well beyond the trial itself.

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