Bryan Felony Attorney

Defending Felony Charges in Brazos County Since 1983

A felony charge in Texas puts more than your freedom at risk. Employment, professional licenses, housing, financial aid, and personal relationships all hang in the balance before a single verdict is reached. What you need at this stage is an attorney who already knows how the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office builds its cases and where those cases can be challenged. That’s exactly what James, Reynolds, Ask & Kleinschmidt brings to every client we represent.

Our team includes three partners who were former prosecutors and an associate who was a police detective. We’ve been defending clients facing felony charges in Bryan, College Station, and throughout Brazos County since 1983, and we offer free consultations to anyone who needs to understand their options.

James, Reynolds, Ask & Kleinschmidt has fought for defendants in Bryan, College Station, and throughout Brazos County since 1983. Call (979) 227-3305 today.

Felony Penalties in Texas

Texas organizes felony offenses into five levels. The level determines which district court handles the case and sets the ceiling on what a conviction can cost you.

Each level carries distinct sentencing ranges:

• State jail felonies: 180 days to 2 years confinement, plus a fine up to $10,000
• Third-degree felonies: 2 to 10 years imprisonment, plus a fine up to $10,000
• Second-degree felonies: 2 to 20 years imprisonment, plus a fine up to $10,000
• First-degree felonies: 5 to 99 years or life imprisonment, plus a fine up to $10,000
• Capital felonies: Reserved for certain murder cases; punishment is life without parole or the death penalty

The charge level shapes every procedural decision that follows, from bond hearings to plea negotiations to trial strategy. Knowing where your case sits in that framework from the start gives your defense team more time and more options.

How We Build a Felony Defense

Our defense work begins before charges are formally filed with the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office. Early involvement gives us a chance to influence what information is presented, how bond hearings are approached, and whether the initial charge level can be contested. Once charges are filed, we conduct a thorough review of witness statements, forensic evidence, body-camera footage, and police reports, looking specifically for constitutional violations and investigative errors.

Three of our partners spent time on the prosecution side. That background means we aren’t guessing at how the DA’s office evaluates its cases. We know the internal pressures, the evidentiary standards local prosecutors rely on, and the points where their cases are most vulnerable. That knowledge shapes every motion we file and every negotiation we enter.

Common defense approaches in felony cases include:

• Challenging evidence: Contesting the admissibility or reliability of evidence the prosecution intends to use
• Fourth Amendment motions: When law enforcement violated a defendant’s rights during a search or arrest, a motion to suppress can remove that evidence from the case entirely
• Alibi defense: Establishing that the defendant was not present at the scene when the offense occurred
• Self-defense or defense of others: Asserting that the defendant’s actions were legally justified under the circumstances
• Contesting the traffic stop or interrogation: Challenging whether the initial contact with law enforcement was constitutionally valid

No two felony cases are identical. Charge level, criminal history, the strength of the prosecution’s evidence, and available mitigating factors all shape what options are realistic. We tailor the strategy to your case, not to a generic playbook.

Consequences Beyond the Sentence

A felony conviction in Texas creates a permanent criminal record that employers, landlords, and licensing boards can access. Many professional licenses, including those for healthcare, law, teaching, and contracting, can be denied or revoked following a conviction. Housing applications and federal financial aid eligibility are also affected. Under federal law, a felony conviction results in a lifetime prohibition on owning or possessing firearms. Under Texas law, possession is also prohibited, and after five years from the completion of the sentence, including any parole or supervision, limited possession at the person’s residence may be permitted, though the federal prohibition still applies. For non-citizens, the consequences can include deportation or permanent bars to future legal status.

Where Texas law permits, deferred adjudication or expungement may help some clients avoid or limit a permanent record. Whether those options are available depends on the charge, the outcome, and the client’s prior history. We address these collateral consequences from the beginning, because protecting your record is part of our process.

Felony Cases in Brazos County Courts

After a felony arrest in Bryan or College Station by agencies such as the Bryan Police Department, the College Station Police Department, or the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office decides what charges to file. From there, the case moves through district courts at the Brazos County Courthouse in downtown Bryan, progressing through bond hearings, arraignment, pretrial conferences, and ultimately a plea or trial setting.

Attorneys who know the tendencies of local prosecutors and judges can anticipate procedural decisions and give clients realistic guidance at each stage. James, Reynolds, Ask & Kleinschmidt has been practicing in these courts for more than 40 years, and three of our partners served as prosecutors in this region. That means we have specific, firsthand knowledge of how the Brazos County DA’s office operates and how local cases are actually resolved, which matters when we’re negotiating on your behalf.

Student Felony Defense at Texas A&M & Blinn College

Bryan and College Station are home to tens of thousands of students, and a felony arrest can upend an academic career as quickly as any other. A conviction, or even a pending charge, can trigger academic discipline, loss of scholarships or financial aid, removal from university housing, and long-term damage to career prospects. Students often face two simultaneous proceedings: criminal court and a separate university disciplinary process. A defense strategy has to account for both.

James, Reynolds, Ask & Kleinschmidt has represented students from Texas A&M University and Blinn College since 1983. Common felony-level charges in this environment include drug possession, assault, and theft. We approach student defense the same way we approach every case: without judgment, and with a clear-eyed focus on the specific risks each client faces.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Bryan Felony Defense Lawyer

If you or someone you know is facing felony charges in Bryan or anywhere in Brazos County, don’t wait to get legal representation in place. The earlier we can review your case, the more options we have. James, Reynolds, Ask & Kleinschmidt offers free consultations with no obligation. Call us at (979) 227-3305 or reach out through our online contact form to speak with a member of our team.