Former Prosecutor and highly experienced Dallas, Texas criminal defense lawyer John Helms shares unique insight into one of the country’s most high-profile cases involving the shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager by a police officer. He explains his belief that the guilty verdict and sentence in State of Texas v. Roy Oliver were just, even though both have been highly controversial. BACKGROUND ABOUT STATE OF TEXAS v. ROY OLIVER Last week, a Dallas County jury found former Balch Springs Police Officer Roy Oliver guilty of murder in the shooting death of a fifteen-year-old … [Read more...]
Can Facial Recognition Software Lead to False Arrests?
Experienced federal criminal defense lawyer John Helms discusses the rise in facial recognition software and how it can lead to a false arrest. If you haven’t heard of facial recognition software, it’s probably only a matter of time. Widely used in China, facial recognition is a type of technology that uses cameras and artificial intelligence to track people and identify faces. Although the technology potentially has a wide range of uses, in China it’s used primarily by police, which relies on it to surveil citizens and help identify perpetrators of crime. In many cases, police in China … [Read more...]
Right to Protest: 5 Important Things to Know
One of the things that distinguish the United States from other countries — particularly those known for not giving their citizens many freedoms — is the right to protest and assemble peacefully. No matter what kind of political administration is in power at any given time, there’s a good chance at least some people will disagree strongly enough to want to make their voices heard. Under the First Amendment, individuals have a right to do just that — speak up for their beliefs in a public forum, and speak out against those responsible for making policies that contradict or undermine those … [Read more...]
Your Rights in the 100-Mile Border Zone
The United States is a vast country. As Texans know, you can drive for 100 miles or more without even leaving the state. In Europe, driving that far is likely to carry you through several different countries. What many Americans don’t know, however, is that agents from Customs and Border Patrol have the right under federal law to search people along the border without a search warrant or probable cause. Furthermore, these “border” areas cover a lot more terrain than many people realize. In fact, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) points out that 2 out of 3 Americans live within a … [Read more...]
What Defenses Do White-Collar Crime Lawyers in Dallas Use for Mail and Wire Fraud?
Under federal law, white-collar crimes are often charged as felonies, and the punishments are similar to punishments in violent crimes. That’s why there are a number of white-collar crime lawyers in Dallas who represent clients at Fortune 500 companies, as well as individuals and small companies. Mail and wire fraud is a common type of white-collar crime that can result in lengthy prison time. That’s why it’s important for defendants to understand the definition of mail and wire fraud, the possible punishments for these crimes, and the common defenses that attorneys use to help their … [Read more...]
John Helms, Dallas Fraud Defense Lawyer Discusses Insider Trading
Dallas fraud defense lawyer answers the securities fraud question "Can you go to jail if a friend or relative gives you inside information for nothing in return?" The United States Supreme Court recently held that, if you receive inside confidential information about a company from a friend or relative, and if you use that to trade on the company's stock, you can be convicted of criminal securities fraud if you knew the information came from an inside source, even if you did not give anything in return for the information. In other words, just getting and using the information is enough. … [Read more...]
Sexual Assault Case That Hinged On One Child’s Word Gets Second Look
Dallas defense lawyer John Helms offers his opinion on the evidentiary value of one person’s word and the special training required to interview child victims. When Greg Kelley went to jail in 2014 after being convicted of super aggravated sexual assault , it was on the word of a 5-year-old child. There was no eyewitness, no physical evidence, no confession. But when the little boy told his story of molestation at a Cedar Park in-home day care center, he told it in graphic detail. The jury believed him. Kelley went to jail. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison without … [Read more...]
