Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

For more than two decades, I have dedicated my practice to serving criminal defendants with skill, compassion and respect. As an experienced Forth Worth Criminal Defense Lawyer, I specialize in handling all types of criminal matters, no matter how large or small. I have a well-earned reputation for fighting hard for each client and obtaining the best possible results, whether that means preventing a charge from being filed, taking a case to trial, or negotiating the best possible deal.

I provide exceptional legal representation in Fort Worth and throughout Texas within the following areas:

• Criminal Defense
• Felony & Misdemeanor Crime, including:
  • Aggravated Robbery
  • Arson
  • Assault Bodily Injury
    
  • Burglary
  • Domestic Violence
  • Kidnapping
  • Theft (including by fraud or by contractor)
• Drug Offenses, including:
  • Trafficking
  • Manufacturing
  • Possession
• Guns & Weapons Violations
• Homicide
• Juvenile Delinquency Matters
• Sex Crimes, including:
  • Sexual Assault
  • Date Rape
  • Indecent Exposure
• Traffic Offenses, including:
  • DWI
  • Vehicular Manslaughter
  • Reckless Driving
  • Hit & Run
• Expungement Motions
• Domestic Violence

A Strong Defense Is Important to Your Case:
Individuals convicted of a crime, whether through their own admission of guilt or through the determination of a jury, are subject to fines, imprisonment, probation and community service, among other penalties in Texas. Defending your criminal case in the strongest possible way is critical to your freedom and your future.

The outcome of any criminal case depends upon the facts surrounding the crime charged, the strength of the evidence, the legal validity of law enforcement and courtroom procedure and the goals and strategy of the government and defense.  As an experienced Fort Worth Criminal Defense Law Attorney, I will navigate you through this complicated legal process.

I provide aggressive and knowledgeable representation to citizens accused of criminal offenses in Tarrant County and in surrounding counties. I have over 31 years of experience in the criminal justice system: first as a Fort Worth Police Sergeant, then as a Chief Prosecutor in the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, and finally as a criminal defense lawyer.

I have handled thousands of cases in the criminal courts and have tried over 100 jury trials, most of which were felonies. I am one of the few lawyers in Texas to try a stalking case before a jury. I am also Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

If you or someone you know in Fort Worth or throughout the State of Texas needs the assistance of an experienced Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer, please call Fred Cummings today at 866-769-3830, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

****Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Domestic Violence:
Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, sexual or other violence that takes place between people who may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating. Domestic violence can be criminal and include physical assault: hitting, pushing and shoving, etc.; sexual abuse; unwanted or forced sexual activity; and stalking. Domestic violence charges can have a serious impact on your life.

Serious Violent Crimes and Murder:
By definition, a violent crime is a behavior by persons, against persons or property that intentionally threatens, attempts or actually inflicts physical harm. The seriousness of the injuries to the victim(s), whether or not guns or other weapons were used and/or whether or not the alleged perpetrator has a criminal record will determine the seriousness of the charge. Most violent crimes are considered felonies and are subject to be considered a "strike" in a state that has adopted three strikes laws. Violent criminal charges can include: aggravated assault, arson, assault bodily injury, domestic violence, hate crimes, homicide, larceny, rape, manslaughter, mayhem and murder

One of the most serious areas of violent crime is homicide - killing a person, whether lawfully or unlawfully. Justifiable homicide and excusable homicide are lawful homicides, while criminal homicide, negligent homicide, reckless homicide and vehicular homicide are unlawful homicides. Unlawful homicide comprises the two crimes of murder and manslaughter.

DWI/Driving While Intoxicated:
"DWI" stands for Driving While Intoxicated and occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit. Even for a first offense, penalties can include license suspension, substantial fines, community service, mandatory attendance at a state or DMV approved alcohol program, mandatory overnight incarceration and the required installation (at the offender's expense) of a car ignition locking device. In addition, a DWI conviction stays on a DMV record for several years, it typically results in higher insurance premiums, and an offender may become ineligible for credit. Plus, a DWI could also jeopardize your employment opportunities.

However, if someone was injured as a result of the drunken driving accident, it is possible the defendant will be charged with a felony (and if the victim dies, the driver may be charged with vehicular manslaughter). Further, a DWI conviction will likely be raised to a felony if it is the driver's fourth DWI offense or the driver has had a prior felony DWI offense within 10 years of the new charge.

Fraud:
In criminal law, fraud is the crime or offense of deliberately deceiving another in order to damage them — usually, to obtain property or services from him or her unjustly.  Fraud can be accomplished through the aid of forged objects. In the criminal law of common law jurisdictions it may be called "theft by deception," "larceny by trick," "larceny by fraud and deception" or something similar. Fraud can be committed through many methods including mail, wire, phone and the Internet.

Expungement Motions:
An Expungement of your record results in the extraction and isolation of all records on file with any court correctional facility or law enforcement agency. The records that are expunged include complaints, warrants, arrests reports, commitments, criminal history records, fingerprints and your rap sheet.

Contrary to popular belief, your record is not automatically cleared or expunged with the passage of time. Even if you were never found guilty, an arrest is not expunged unless a court grants your Expungement petition. State statutes impose application guidelines and waiting periods for various types of arrests and convictions. The guidelines provide instruction for what can be expunged and set forth certain specific types of offenses that cannot. The guidelines also impose waiting periods that are calculated from the completion of the sentence imposed by the court.

It is important to note that an Expungement does not destroy records; it extracts and isolates the records. Under most circumstances, once an Expungement has been granted those records cannot be disclosed. A person who has been granted an Expungement can respond that he or she has no conviction when asked a question about having a criminal record. Exceptions to this rule include a person seeking a second Expungement, a person seeking a conditional discharge, and a person seeking to obtain employment in law enforcement.

What to bring to a consultation:

• A copy of all papers pertaining to your arrest(s);
• A copy of all court papers pertaining to the disposition of the charge(s) you want expunged; and,
• A copy of any report pertaining to the completion of any probationary or diversionary treatment program.

Juvenile Delinquency:
Delinquency is a legal term for criminal behavior carried out by a juvenile. Delinquent behavior is divided into two categories: status offenses and delinquency offenses. Status offenses are those acts which would not be considered offenses if committed by an adult, such as school truancy, running away from home, alcohol possession or use, or curfew violations. Juvenile Delinquency offenses involve destruction or theft of property, commission of violent crimes against persons, illegal weapon possession, or the possession or sale of illegal drugs.

Sex Crimes:
Sex crimes include such charges as: Child Abuse, Child Pornography, Date Rape, Failure to Register (as a Sex Offender), Indecent Exposure, Internet Porn, Lewd Conduct, Marital Rape, Molestation, Obscenity, Pedophilia, Pornography, Prostitution, Rape, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sodomy and Statutory Rape. Many sex crimes are considered felonies and require convicted defendants to continually register themselves as publicly recognized sex offenders with the local and state authorities where they live and work. Charges of sexual misconduct carry extremely serious penalties and these crimes are commonly punished more severely than any other crime except murder. Sexual misconduct is seldom witnessed by anyone other than the accuser and accused and the risk of conviction of an innocent person is drastically higher in these cases.

Drugs and Narcotics Charges:
Drugs and Narcotics laws have tried to keep up with the changing perceptions and real dangers of substance abuse. By 1970, over 55 federal drug laws and countless state laws specified a variety of punitive measures, including life imprisonment and even the death penalty. To clarify the situation, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 repealed, replaced, or updated all previous federal laws concerned with narcotics and all other dangerous drugs.

Most states have laws that give different treatment to possession of different categories of drugs (i.e. prescription drugs, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine), and also make a distinction in the offense charged as to whether a small amount of the drug was found with the defendant (personal use) or a larger amount (intent to sell or distribute, trafficking). A conviction on a drug charge of any magnitude, even a small amount of marijuana, can seriously affect your present and future employment chances, your education, your reputation and your freedom.

If you or someone you know in Fort Worth or throughout the State of Texas needs the assistance of an experienced Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer, please call Fred Cummings today at 866-769-3830, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

Professional Profile

As an experienced Fort Worth Criminal Defense Law Attorney, I understand that certain criminal charges carry severe consequences for individuals and their families. Whether the criminal charges filed are minor, major or catastrophic, each case receives my undivided attention and service. I am committed to providing criminal defense clients with aggressive and dedicated legal representation, while simultaneously treating clients with genuine courtesy and respect.

If you or someone you know in Fort Worth or throughout the State of Texas needs the assistance of an experienced Forth Worth Criminal Defense Lawyer, please call Fred Cummings today at 866-769-3830, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

FIRM ADDRESS:
Fred Cummings, Attorney at Law
4210 W Vickery Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 866-769-3830

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Fred Cummings

EDUCATION:

• South Texas College of Law, J.D., 1985
• University of Texas at Arlington, B.S., 1978

COURTS ADMITTED:

• Texas, 1986
  

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

• State Bar of Texas, Criminal Section Chair (1999-2002)
  
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• College of the State Bar of Texas

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization