Dan Peugh | Denton Criminal Lawyer | Texas

Throughout 2011 and 2012 I represented a client charged with Aggravated Robbery. The charge carries a punishment range of not less than 5 years and not more than 99 years or life in prison. In working on the case it became clear that the investigation of the Robbery was very poor to non-existent. Still, my client was ultimately picked out of a photo line-up by the victim. If the victim pointed to my client in trial and said, "that's the guy" he could go away for life. People tend to believe that our memories of events and faces are nearly photographic, so, when someone asserts that they remember what another person looks like, no matter how dark or brief the encounter was, we will often take their word without question. This is a hard concept to defend anyone against. I was able to get an eyewitness expert to aid the potential jurors in understanding the reliability (or lack thereof) of eyewitness testimony. In addition, I interviewed many people who were present on the night in question and employed another expert to test some key pieces of evidence found in my client's previously abandoned apartment for fingerprints. When none were found, the facts swayed in the favor of my client who was shortly afterwards made an offer he could not refuse. The case was not dismissed. As you might have guessed, a complete dismissal of so serious a crime is not as easy to come by as Hollywood would have you believe. However, my client who was formerly facing up to life in jail walked away a free man that day.

My practice is built on knowing more and doing more than most attorneys but, I am not just a busy law nerd. I am always aware that I am in the customer service business. Therefore, I am adamant about working closely with my clients on their individual cases. I get to know their facts and I tailor individual defense strategies for each client. I keep my clients updated, in writing, on every development in their cases and I am always available to answer questions either by phone or email. This approach produces the best results in court and happy clients outside of court.

After 14 years of practicing criminal law in Denton County I firmly believe the most important thing to look for in an attorney is "fight." Many of our most common allegations in criminal law have become highly politicized. A person accused of DWI, Assault-Family Violence, or any form of alleged child abuse stands virtually no chance of being treated fairly by the system. Decision makers like prosecutors and judges are not going to allow themselves to be seen by voters as soft on these highly publicized crimes. All cases will be prosecuted and to the fullest so no one risks losing an election. In this type of atmosphere an attorney and client must make their own breaks because they will not be offered any. When interviewing a lawyer be sure to ask, "how many motions to suppress evidence do you have pending?" "When was your last trial before a judge?" "Do you have any jury trials set?" The answers to these questions will tell you whether that attorney is able to do what it takes to make your situation better. At The Peugh Law Firm we have all of these things going on at all times.

Whomever you decide to hire, make sure they are local. Relationships matter in life. They matter even more in criminal defense. I have been a prosecutor in Denton County. I used to work alongside of the prosecutors in the Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office. I know what pressures are on prosecutors and what prosecutors need to see in order to do something better than average for my clients. It is not a matter of asking for anything improper, neither I nor the prosecutors would do that. It is a matter of knowing the men in women in the jobs and knowing what they find persuasive when it comes to getting things done.

I provide free phone consultations. Though a phone consultation is more limited than an in person meeting, I can lead people out of the dark as to the nature of their charges and what they can expect from the criminal justice system. After a phone consultation with The Peugh Law Firm a person will know exactly what he or she is charged with, what the range of punishment is for the charge, and what typical punishments for such an offense are.

What I need to know in a phone consultation is, what are the authorities saying you did wrong? What name have the police given the charge if any? What are the alleged facts that the authorities are investigating? Often knowing what type of behavior the police are investigating will tell an experienced lawyer what charge an investigator is contemplating. I also need to know if you have already been arrested and if you have received notice of a court setting. All of these things can help me help people get an understanding of what is happening to them.

My practice is built on knowing more and doing more than most attorneys but, I am not just a busy law nerd. I am always aware that I am in the customer service business. Therefore, I am adamant about working closely with my clients on their individual cases. I get to know their facts and I tailor individual defense strategies for each client. I keep my clients updated, in writing, on every development in their cases and I am always available to answer questions either by phone or email. I have been a prosecutor in Denton County. I used to work alongside of the prosecutors in the Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office. I know what pressures are on prosecutors and what prosecutors need to see in order to do something better than average for my clients. I also spend a fair amount of my time "in the trenches." I am routinely in hearings and trials contesting issues on behalf of my clients. I win evidence suppressions, lesser punishments, and outright acquittals for my clients. The ability to get these results benefits not only the clients who prevail but also my clients who just need a reasonable plea offer.

• Member,State Bar of Texas
  Member,Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (DCDLA)
  Director, DCDLA Board of Directors
  Director, Denton County Bail Bond Board of Directors
  Former Director, Texas Young Lawyer's Association Board of Directors
  Director, Denton County Transportation Authority Board of Directors

• Texas Young Lawyer's Association President's Award of Merit 2007-2008

• Winter 2012-13 Juvenile Probation Violation of Theft of a Firearm favorably settled at Trial Peugh argued that his client should not be sent to TJJD - the Judge granted Peugh's request for release and the client was placed on probation with his father Theft of Property $50 - $500 Dismissed Peugh was able to convince the Court that his client should not be prosecuted for the alleged offense Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle Dismissed Peugh argued that the charges against his client should be dropped 1st Degree Felony Aggravated Robbery reduced to Theft from a Person Peugh turned down first plea offer of 16 years in prison Peugh also got the same client’s felony unlawful delivery of a simulated controlled substance dismissed Motion to Suppress Granted and Driving While Intoxicated Charges Dismissed The Judge agreed with Peugh that the vehicle stop violated the client’s constitutional rights and therefore granted Peugh’s Motion to Suppress The case was dismissed The Administrative law Judge also agreed with Peugh and his client's driving privileges were reinstated Driving While Intoxicated 2nd Reduced to 1st Offense Peugh argued at the contested hearing that the prior DWI incident was not sufficient proof of a conviction The charges were reduced to a first offense Juvenile Probation Violation Non-Suited The Court granted the motion for Non-Suit in the interest of justice Possession Of Marijuana Dismissed Peugh argued that the officer’s search of the car was unconstitutional Possession Of Marijuana taken through a Deferred Prosecution Program and Expunged Client was accepted into the program and Peugh petitioned the Court for an Expunction Fall 2012 Felony and Misdemeanor Assault charges Declined for Prosecution Based on extreme mental anguish that his client experienced directly prior to the alleged offenses, Peugh was able to convince Prosecutors to decline to prosecute felony and misdemeanor assault charges Juvenile 2nd degree Felony Arson Dismissed, Record Sealed Peugh convinced the Prosecution that the fire was accidental and not intentional The case was dismissed and the client's record was sealed Juvenile Felony False Alarm reduced to Misdemeanor, Record Sealed Peugh was successful in getting client's serious felony charge reduced Client was released early from probation and had the record sealed Theft by Check Dismissed The charges were completely dismissed after Peugh convinced Prosecution of client's innocence Felony Assault Family Violence reduced to Misdemeanor A Felony-level repeated offense was reduced and client was not made to serve felony time Summer 2012 Non-Disclosure Granted at Contested Hearing Petitioned for multiple non-disclosures after client completed Deferred Adjudication District Attorney's Office objected to Peugh's petitions Judge agreed with Peugh that Client was eligible and granted the non-disclosures Juvenile Assault Family Violence Dismissed Client was involved in an ugly family brawl, Peugh persuaded Prosecution he was not at fault Expunction of Theft Charges Granted Client's harmful record of theft was completely removed after Peugh's Petition for Expunction was granted Juvenile Criminal Mischief $1,500 - $20,000 Multiple juveniles were involved in the destruction of expensive property Peugh convinced prosecutors that his client was not involved The case was dismissed Criminal Trespassing Dismissed Peugh persuaded State to dismiss the trespassing charges based on client’s non-responsibility of his actions

• "The Illinois Outcry Hearsay Exception", Illinois Bar Journal, October 1997
  
  "Get My Baby Out of Jail!"  A Quick Guide to Juvenile Detention Hearings, Texas Bar Journal, April 2006

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