On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Theft & Property Crimes on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Over the last few years, stories of people stealing copper pipes from abandoned houses have sprung up throughout the nation. To some, this might seem like a curious thing to steal, but copper priced have skyrocketed over the last couple years. In Houston, a man is currently facing theft charges for stealing something that is also interesting, but highly valued: human hair.
A Houston beauty salon recently discovered that $40,000 worth of hair weaves was stolen from their stock. Over the last couple years, prices of high-quality weaves have risen to nearly $250 per package, so black market hair sales are increasing in kind. The problem of hair weave theft is not limited to Houston, but has spread through the country. This explains why individuals might be driven to steal human hair.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Drug Charges on Monday, February 13, 2012
In recent years, marijuana has gained a reputation as a "soft drug." However, this doesn't mean that law enforcement treats marijuana crimes -- especially those involving significant quantities of the drug -- any less seriously.
Last week, a Houston couple found themselves facing significant Texas drug charges after police discovered more than 100 pounds of marijuana hidden in their SUV.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Domestic Violence on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Domestic violence cases are never simple. Marriage is a complex relationship, with many emotions connected to it. What begins as a minor verbal conflict can escalate into something much more serious when tempers flare. One Houston police officer is facing domestic assault charges, after his wife accused him of committing acts of aggression against her. Authorities are investigating the veracity of the woman's claims.
The 47-year-old police officer apparently assaulted his wife over the course of the last seven months. The man's wife reports that the man yelled at her and physically struck her on more than one occasion. After telling authorities, the officer was arrested without any resistance. A large squad of law enforcement officers was present to make the arrest, which is standard procedure when cops are arrested.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Everybody deserves their day in court. This adage reflects the constitutional guarantee to due process, a court trial and a capable defense when someone is charged with a crime. One Texas man who was convicted on criminal charges of sexual assault in 2003 is getting a new trial. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recently ruled that the man's defense was "deficient."
The Texas man was accused of assaulting a young girl who died while under his care. As a result of his conviction, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison. National media outlets have since picked up on the case to investigate the details.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Theft & Property Crimes on Saturday, January 28, 2012
When someone is arrested for a crime, police often look to other unsolved incidents in the hopes of connecting suspects in custody and closing two cases at once. At times, this practice could lead investigators to narrowly focus their vision. Evidence is often circumstantial, fitting more than a handful of theories. When charged with a crime, it is important to seek experienced defense counsel to protect not only your constitutional rights but ensure that the facts are kept straight.
Three men were recently arrested on theft charges in Houston, Texas after an alleged gun store burglary on Jan. 14, 2012. There have been several break-ins across the region and officials have announced their suspicions that the men arrested in Houston could be tied to a Brazos County burglary as well. The Brazos County incident was reported on Dec. 17, 2011. Five men were allegedly involved in that incident.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Police say a man tried to impersonate one of their own this week. The man was pulled over in Houston and will now face criminal charges after allegedly trying to impersonate a police officer. The man said he doesn't speak English, complicating the matter.
He was arrested for the alleged impersonation after police pulled him over for having strobe lights in his car. The report indicates that the man was pulled over on suspicion of having multiple traffic violations. Authorities say the man then turned on red and blue strobe lights and indicated he was a police officer after officers asked him. He allegedly said yes, but then told them that he didn't speak English.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Theft & Property Crimes on Thursday, January 19, 2012
A Houston man is being accused of multiple crimes this week. The theft charges include conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Investigators say the man worked with others to submit counterfeit checks and fraudulent withdrawal slips to Capital One Bank.
They say that he somehow accessed personal information, including account numbers from eight bank customers, withdrawing nearly $86,000 from their accounts over two months. The man was arrested by Secret Service agents this week, and could face serious jail time and fines if he is convicted.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Drunk Driving on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Getting pulled over and asked to submit to field sobriety testing can be extremely embarrassing. Now, those who conduct DWI testing in Houston are under investigation themselves, which could affect some previous drunk driving charges. A grand jury is investigating the use of BAT vans by the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney.
The investigation will look into flaws in equipment used in these alcohol testing vans that are called to suspected drunk driving incidents. An independent undercover investigation by a local TV station program, 13 Undercover, revealed emails that suggested the vans had maintenance problems that could have possibly affected the testing of suspects. If these flaws are found to have caused errors in certain cases, the people accused of the DWI in that case should have a right to understand what flaws occurred and could possibly fight to overturn a conviction.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Allegations of drug possession are serious on both the state and federal levels. With that mind, readers in Texas will be interested in a recent raid by federal authorities in Pennsylvania. Reportedly, an alleged drug ring was broken up, and authorities have made drug charges against four people, some of who are from the Houston area. The suspects were arrested on federal drug charges that included allegations of drug trafficking. The investigation was said to have been conducted by several state, federal and local law enforcement agencies.
A news release from the United States Attorney's Office alleged that the four men conspired to work together and with others to distribute cocaine on multiple occasions. A grand jury indicted all of the men based on a federal investigation that apparently began in 2009 and continued into September of 2011. A federal raid purportedly resulted in the seizure of 35 pounds of cocaine, the estimated street value of which is $3 million. Authorities also confiscated $7 million in currency.
On behalf of R. Todd Bennett, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, December 29, 2011
White collar crime is traditionally thought to be a crime committed by an individual who has gained considerable assets in the course of his or her business. That definition may not fit the facts of every insurance fraud case in Texas, though one such white collar crime investigation certainly has a blue collar tint. A Willis man has been accused of committing insurance fraud by hiding his Harley Davidson while claiming it was stolen.
The 41-year-old man's insurance company paid him $7,552 after he allegedly filed a claim saying that his 1976 Harley was stolen. A criminal complaint against him claims that the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office was contacted in June 2011 by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The complaint includes documents that purportedly showed that the man filed the claim 10 days after he purchased the insurance policy on July 15, 2008. However, the NCIB claims the former girlfriend of the accused told the Bureau that the motorcycle was stored at her mother's home for a time period after the insurance claim was paid.
