Homicide Attorney in Georgetown

Former Prosecutors. Capital Murder Experience. Defending Williamson County Clients at Every Level.

A homicide charge is the most serious criminal accusation in Texas. Under Texas Penal Code Chapter 19, criminal homicide spans four distinct offenses, from criminally negligent homicide to capital murder, and every one of them is a felony. The consequences, including prison time, loss of civil rights, and in capital cases, the death penalty, are permanent. At Winters & Chidester, we defend clients facing all forms of criminal homicide charges in Georgetown, TX, and throughout Williamson County.

James Winters prosecuted capital murder and first-degree felony murder cases at the Bell County District Attorney’s Office. Veronica Chidester handled felony-level cases in the felony criminal trial court division at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and tried federal cases across Texas through her role with the Texas Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Defense Division. That prosecution-side experience shapes how we build your defense from day one.

How Texas Law Classifies Criminal Homicide

The charge a person faces depends heavily on the mental state the prosecution believes it can prove. Texas Penal Code § 19.01 defines criminal homicide as causing the death of another individual intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence. That distinction drives everything from which offense is charged to the penalty range the court applies.

The four offenses under Chapter 19 carry the following consequences:

• Murder (§ 19.02): A first-degree felony carrying 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Can be reduced to a second-degree felony if the defendant acted under sudden passion arising from adequate cause.
• Capital Murder (§ 19.03): Applies when specific circumstances exist, such as the victim being a peace officer, firefighter, or a child under 10, or when multiple people are killed. Carries life without parole or the death penalty. Texas is a death penalty state, and capital murder is the only offense eligible for it.
• Manslaughter (§ 19.04): Recklessly causing death. A second-degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• Criminally Negligent Homicide (§ 19.05): Causing death through criminal negligence. A state jail felony carrying 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and a fine up to $10,000.

Why Prosecution Experience Matters in Homicide Defense

Attorneys who have prosecuted homicide-level cases understand how charging decisions get made, which evidence prosecutors prioritize, and where cases are most vulnerable to challenge. James Winters spent nearly 10 years as a prosecutor across the Travis County Attorney’s Office, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bell County District Attorney’s Office. His work on capital murder and first-degree felony murder cases gives him direct knowledge of how the state constructs its most serious charges.

Veronica Chidester’s felony trial court experience at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and her federal case work through the Texas Attorney General’s Office extend our capabilities across both state and federal proceedings. James and Veronica were mock trial partners in law school and went on to try cases together as prosecutors before entering private defense practice. Their combined experience totals 20 years, and that shared courtroom history now serves clients who need a defense team that functions without friction under pressure.

How We Approach Homicide Defense in Georgetown

We get involved as early as possible, including at the pre-charge investigation stage, because decisions made before an arrest can shape the entire case. Early involvement lets us work toward preserving physical evidence, documenting witness statements, and securing surveillance footage before it disappears. The sooner we can assess what the state has, the sooner we can start building a response.

Defense strategy is built from the facts of each case. The mental state alleged, the physical evidence, the conduct of law enforcement during the investigation, and witness credibility all factor into how we approach it. When evidence was obtained in violation of constitutional rights, we pursue suppression. When the facts support negotiation, we pursue the possibility of reduced charges or a lower sentence range. When they don’t, we try the case.

Where Homicide Cases Are Prosecuted in Williamson County

Felony homicide charges in Williamson County are prosecuted by the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office and heard in the Williamson County District Courts, which include the 26th, 277th, and 368th District Courts. Those courts sit at the Williamson County Justice Center in Georgetown. Cases may be assigned to different district courts based on filing rules and rotation within the county.

We serve clients in Georgetown and across Williamson County, including Hutto, Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Austin. We also handle cases in federal court when charges arise at that level.

Talk to a Homicide Attorney in Georgetown Today

Time matters after a homicide arrest or the start of an investigation. The sooner you retain counsel, the sooner we can work to protect your rights and preserve your options. Winters & Chidester offers free consultations and provides legal services in both English and Spanish.