Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys
Criminal Defense | Serving Pasadena, CA
512-547-6978Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys, a local Criminal Defense firm with years of experience helping clients in the Pasadena, California area.
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The Austin, TX Criminal Defense Lawyer that Cares
Our lawyers have a combined 500+ years of experience practicing law — an average of 15 years each. Our team has seen cases from all sides - judge, prosecutor, law enforcement, defense - and puts that experience to work for you. You won’t find a single junior attorney at Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys. In our opinion, your future is too important to risk with anybody who hasn’t proven themselves in the courtroom. Rest assured — when Michael & Associates represents you, you are getting a high caliber of representation.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with the following:
- Criminal Defense
- DUI/DWI
- Drug Violations
- Sex Offenses
Call 512-547-6978 today to arrange your free initial consultation.
Attorney Benjamin E. Michael
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Loyola Law School
- University of Florida
- Major: Political Science
Professional Memberships and Achievements
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers / Rising Stars list (2026), Thomson Reuters — peer-reviewed and independently researched
- "Superb" 10.0/10.0 rating on Avvo, the highest rating Avvo issues
- Client Champion Platinum, Martindale-Hubbell (2025) — based on quantity and quality of verified client reviews
- Client's Choice, Avvo — based on verified client reviews
- Top-Rated on Justia
- Named to America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys (2026)
- Recognized for Professional Involvement (2026), Lawyer Legion
- Member, National College of DUI Defense Lawyers
- Member, The National Trial Lawyers
Attorney Andromeda Vega Rubio
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2019
Education:
- Baylor Law School, 2019
- Juris Doctor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Master of Science
- Major: Biotechnology
- University of Maryland University College, 2014
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Psychology
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
- German
Attorney Matthew Pospisil
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2016
Education:
- South Texas College of Law, 2015
- Juris Doctor
- Sam Houston State University, 2012
- Bachelor of Science
- Major: Criminal Justice
- Major: Law Enforcement Administration
Attorney Joseph Deeb
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- St. Mary's University School of Law, 2001
- J.D.
- Florida State University - College of Business
- B.S.
- Honors: Golden Key National Honor Society
- Major: Finance
Attorney James Fletcher
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- South Texas College of Law
- Baylor University
Attorney Dan Dworin
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 1995
- United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
Education:
- University of Texas School of Law, 1995
- Juris Doctor
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Criminal Justice Section of the Austin Bar Association
- Austin Chapter President of the Federal Bar Association
Attorney Dax Garvin
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2002
Education:
- Texas Tech University
- Austin College
Attorney Holly Fox
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Texas Tech School of Law
- Baylor University
- Honors: With Honors
Attorney Nelson Knight
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- South Texas College of Law
- Texas A&M University
Attorney Clifford Duke
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Gonzaga University School of Law, 2004
- Juris Doctor
- Gonzaga University
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Director
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Project (CDLP), Board Member
Attorney RC Pate
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- University of Houston Law Center, 2007
- J.D.
- Trinity University. 2002
- Major: Physics
- Major: Religion
- Major: Mathematics
- Major: Philosophy
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Former Assistant Chief Public Defender
- Member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
- Member, DUI Defense Lawyers Association
- Member, Brazoria County Bar Association
- Member, American Chemical Society (Greater Houston Section)
- Member, ACS Chemistry and the Law Division (CHAL)
- Member, ACS Analytical Chemistry Division (ANYL)
- Member, ACS Chemical Toxicology Division (TOXI)
- Member, Texas DWI Lawyers Association
Attorney Charles Pelowski 
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law, 2010
- Juris Doctor
- Honors: Order of Barristers
- Served as Articles Editor of the Texas Tech Law Review
- Texas Tech University
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Sociology
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
- DUI Defense Lawyers Association
- Brazoria County Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
- American Chemical Society
Attorney Zach Redington
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- University of Texas School of Law , 2003
- J.D.
- Wake Forest University, 2000
- Bachelor of Arts
- Major: Politics
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ellis County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (ECCDLA), Former President
Attorney James B. Landriault
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- South Texas College of Law Houston, 2015
- Juris Doctor
- Texas A&M University, 2011
- Bachelor of Science
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
- Galveston Bar Association
Attorney Park Silkenson
Bar Admissions:
- Texas , 2008
Education:
- St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
- Juris Doctor
- University of Texas at Austin
- Major: Journalism
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
Attorney Tommy Stolhandske
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- St. Mary's University School of Law
- Texas Lutheran University
Attorney Cole Nettles
- Texas, 2016
Education:
- Texas A&M University School of Law, 2015
- Juris Doctor
- University of Texas at San Antonio, 2010
- Bachelor's Degree
- Major: Political Science
- Major: Government
Attorney Kaytlyn Knowles
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2012
Education:
- South Texas College of Law, 2012
- Juris Doctor
- Texas Christian University, 20096
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Major: Psychology
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Texas District & County Attorneys Association
Attorney Michael Garcia
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Baylor Law School, 2006
- Juris Doctor
- Texas Wesleyan University
- Bachelor of Science
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Major: Psychology
Attorney Steven Baker
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2010
Education:
- Texas Tech University, 2010
- Juris Doctor
- Articles Editor for the Texas Tech Law Review's Executive Board
- Texas Christian University, 2000
- B.A.
Attorney Robert Keating
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2014
Education:
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
- Juris Doctor
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Attorney Monica Khirallah
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2011
Education:
- Ave Maria School of Law, 2011
- Juris Doctor
- University of Dallas, 2007
- Bachelor of Arts
- Major: Politics
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Kendall County Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Audrey Kelly
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Juris Doctor
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Bachelor's degree
Attorney Carla M. F. Camarero
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Cooley Law School
- Florida Atlantic University
Attorney Ethan Smartt
Bar Admissions:
- Tennessee, 2012
Education:
- University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2012
- Juris Doctor
- The University of Tennessee, 2007
- Bachelor of Science
- Major: Journalism
- Major: Electronic Media
Attorney Kim Samman
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Education:
- University of Houston Law Center
- Juris Doctor
- University of Texas at Tyler
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Major: Criminal Justice
Attorney Thomas Ross
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2012
- Tennessee
Education:
- University of Houston Law Center, 2012
- Juris Doctor
- LeTourneau University
- Bachelor's Degree
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Major: English Language and Literature/Letters
Attorney Will Williams
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law, 2011
- Juris Doctor
Attorney Sarah Ellis
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas
- Juris Doctor
- Honors: Clifford Brown Award
- Sam Houston State University
- B.A.
- Honors: With Honors
Attorney Sorsha Huff
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Baylor Law School
- Juris Doctor
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (DWI Committee Member)
- Dallas LGBT Bar Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
- Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
- Dallas Women Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
- DUI Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
- Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
- Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2020 - Present (Executive Board Member- Secretary)
- Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2019 - Present (Member)
- Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, 2021 - 2022 (Member)
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Christina King
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2011
Education:
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
- Juris Doctor
- Southwestern University
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Janie Martin
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2002
Education:
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma
- Juris Doctor
- University of Texas at Austin
Attorney Andres Carullo
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- Western Michigan University, 2010
- Juris Doctor
- Florida International University, 2005
- Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
- Major: Political Science
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Lori Botello
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2006
Education:
- South Texas College of Law Houston, Houston, Texas, 2006
- J.D.
- University of Texas at Austin, 2003
- B.B.A.
- Major: Marketing
- Major: Art History
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- State Bar College (Member)
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) (Member)
- Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association, 2010 - Present
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, 2009 - Present
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2009 - Present
- Houston Bar Association, Probate Section, 2008 - Present
- Houston Bar Association, 2006 - Present
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Daniel C. Krause
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2019
Education:
- South Texas College of Law Houston, Houston, Texas, 2019
- J.D.
- Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas
Attorney Ben Friedman
Bar Admissions:
Texas, 2015
Education:
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 2015
- Doctor of Jurisprudence
- Michigan State University
Attorney Marissa Giovenco
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2011
Education:
- South Texas College of Law
- J.D.
- University of North Texas
- Bachelor's Degree
- Honors: Criminal Justice Honors Society
- Major: Criminal Justice
Attorney Carlton Alexander
Bar Admissions:
Texas, 2017
Education:
- Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan University School of Law), Fort Worth, Texas, 2015
- J.D.
- Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2010
- B.A.
- Major: English
- Major: Political Science
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Member, Tarrant County Bar Association, 2017 - Present
- Member, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 2017 - Present
- Member, State Bar of Texas, 2017 - Present
- Member, American Bar Association, 2017 - Present
Attorney Kyle Simpson
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
- Utah
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
Education:
- St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2003
- Juris Doctor
- University of North Texas
- Bachelor of Arts
- Major: Political Science
- Major: Economics
Attorney Erick Victor Muñoz
Bar Admissions:
- California, 2005
Education:
- University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2004
- J.D.
- Emory University, 1999
- B.S.
- Major: Political Science
- Major: Government
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- American Association of Attorney Advocates Top 10 Law Firm (2026)
- American Institute 10 Best Law Firm (2026)
- American Institute of Legal Advocates Top Law Firm (2026)
- American Institute of Trial Lawyers Best Law Firm (2026)
Attorney Carson Joachim
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2002
Education:
- Baylor University School of Law, 2002
- Juris Doctor
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Rishabh Godha
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2012
Education:
- University of Texas School of Law, 2012
- Juris Doctor
- Boston College
- Major: Political Science
- Major: Chemistry
Attorney Ryan Eady
Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 2011
Education:
- Texas A&M University School of Law, 2011
- Juris Doctor
- Texas Tech University, 2007
- Bachelor of Arts
- Major: Psychology
Attorney Paul Vasquez
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Attorney Michele Ferroni
Bar Admissions:
- State Bar of California
Education:
- Lincoln Law School of Sacramento, 1989
- Juris Doctor
- University of California
- Bachelor of Arts
- Major: Criminal Justice
Attorney Jackie Gravois
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
Education:
- South Texas College of Law Houston, 2007
- J.D.
- Sam Houston State University, 2004
- B.S.
- Major: Criminal Justice
- Major: Psychology
Attorney Danny Baxter
Bar Admissions:
- Tennessee, 2001
Education:
- Nashville School of Law, 2000
- J.D.
- Trevecca Nazarene University, 1995
- Major: Business Administration and Management
- Middle Tennessee State University
Office Locations
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
The following attorneys at this firm are Lead Counsel Verified:
Steven "Steve" Baker
This attorney practices in Texas and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Criminal Defense | Since 2022 |
Benjamin E. Michael
This attorney practices in Texas and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Criminal Defense | Since 2025 |
| DUI | Since 2025 |
Marissa Lynn Giovenco
This attorney practices in Texas and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Criminal Defense | Since 2023 |