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© 2023 by Thornton Criminal Defense, PLLC.
Atascosa Office:
216 N Bryant St
Pleasanton, Texas 78064
FORMER CHIEF PROSECUTOR
PERSONALIZED ATTENTION TO YOUR CASE
NO HOURLY RATES, ALWAYS A FLAT FEE
CLIENT CENTERED APPROACH TO YOUR CASE
BOARD CERTIFIED IN CRIMINAL LAW
OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN CRIMINAL LAW
WHY HIRE THORNTON CRIMINAL DEFENSE?
Attorney Brad Thornton is a highly experienced and Board-Certified criminal defense lawyer. With his background as a former Chief Prosecutor, he has a unique understanding of the criminal justice system and is able to provide comprehensive and effective representation to his clients. He is also deeply committed to ensuring that all individuals receive fair treatment in court, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Brad Thornton is dedicated to helping his clients achieve the best possible outcome for their case, whether it is in San Antonio or elsewhere in South Texas. He recognizes the stress and anxiety that can come with being accused of a crime, and approaches his clients with compassion while keeping them informed at every step of the process. His knowledge and experience make him a strong advocate for his clients.
Intoxication Manslaughter
FORMER VEHICULAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR
As a member of the District Attorney's Vehicular Crimes Team, in the county with the most roadway fatalities in the State, Brad Thornton was regularly dispatched to the worst types of DWI cases involving serious bodily injury or death. His years of experience and training on the most serious types of intoxication charges allows him to protect your rights! When you are looking for a DWI Lawyer in San Antonio DWI attorney, Brad has the experience you need on your side.
Intoxication Manslaughter in San Antonio, Texas
Intoxication manslaughter is a serious crime in Texas. It involves driving while intoxicated (DWI) and causing the death of another person as a result. In order to be convicted of intoxication manslaughter, the prosecution must prove that the defendant was operating an automobile while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and that their actions caused the death of another individual.
Prosecutors take intoxication manslaughter seriously in Texas because of the grave nature of the offense. This is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 (up to $20,000 with enhancements). People convicted of this crime may face other consequences such as loss of their driver's license, probation or parole supervisory requirements, community service and/or mandatory substance abuse courses.
If you or someone you love is charged with Intoxication Manslaughter in San Antonio or Atascosa, Wilson, Frio, Karnes, Medina, or Guadalupe County, there are few other attorneys with the experience that Attorney Brad Thornton has. It is absolutely critical that you hire an attorney with particular experience handling DWI cases.
Attorney Brad Thornton was the leader on the vehicular crimes team in the county with the largest fatality rate in the State. He has the training that the best DWI officer received and has conducted training on these cases numerous times. Brad has the particular set of skills needed to fight these cases and win.
Defenses for Intoxication Manslaughter in Texas
There are several potential defenses for an allegation of intoxication manslaughter in Texas.
Causation
Under the Texas Penal Code, a defendant may only be convicted for intoxication manslaughter if there is a causal connection between their behavior and the death of another person. This means that before they can be convicted, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it was their actions—and not any other intervening cause—that directly caused the death of another individual.
In some cases, the services of a crash reconstruction expert can help show that there was a lack of causation. Such experts are typically hired to assess the scene of an accident, analyze evidence such as skid marks and other physical damage, and use their experience to build a case for or against causation.
Crash reconstruction experts may also offer testimony in court regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident. This can be helpful if there is any doubt about whether the defendant’s actions caused the death of another person. Ultimately, their expertise can be invaluable in determining whether intoxication manslaughter charges should stand.
Blood Testing
When a death has occured and intoxication is suspected on part of one of the drivers, law enforcement always make sure they get evidence of that drives level of intoxication. The most common way to do this is by testing a sample of a person’s blood for its BAC level; rarely will law enforcement seek a breath test when a death is involved.
However, there are a number of ways in which an experienced defense attorney can challenge a BAC test result. These include: questioning whether samples were taken and stored according to protocol; how long was the delay between the crash and the time the blood was drawn; challenging how accurately the test results were reported by the laboratory; raising concerns about whether the equipment used was properly calibrated; and examining records related to the chain of custody of any samples taken.