Murder Defense Attorney in College Station

Two Decades of Brazos County Courtroom Experience Behind Your Defense

A murder charge carries the most severe consequences in the Texas criminal defense system: five years to life in prison for a first-degree conviction, and life without parole or the death penalty for capital murder. The decisions made in the first hours after a charge or investigation begins matter enormously. Rodriguez & Gimbert P.L.L.C. has been defending clients in Brazos County courts for over two decades and is available 24 hours a day to take your call.

Don’t wait to protect your rights. Call our murder defense attorneys in College Station now at (979) 559-3599 for a free consultation, day or night.

Why Rodriguez & Gimbert P.L.L.C. for Murder Defense in Brazos County

Louis Gimbert has been a licensed Texas attorney since 1995 and has handled numerous felony jury trials in Brazos County District Courts. His experience extends to capital punishment-related appellate and post-conviction matters, giving him grounded familiarity with how homicide cases are built, argued, and reviewed at every level. Joseph Rodriguez has been licensed since 1999. Together, the firm brings 45 or more years of combined criminal defense experience to every case.

Both founding attorneys are Texas A&M graduates with deep roots in the Bryan and College Station community. They know the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, the local grand jury process, and the four active district courts where felony cases are tried. That familiarity reflects daily practice in these specific courtrooms, not a general claim. Both attorneys are members of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Louis Gimbert also holds membership in the Brazos County Criminal Defense Association.

Outcomes in our criminal cases have included not guilty verdicts, dismissals, and charge reductions. No attorney can promise a specific result, and every murder case turns on its own facts. What we do is build every defense from the actual evidence, not a generic approach.

Both attorneys speak Spanish, and our support staff includes Spanish speakers as well.

Murder, Capital Murder & Manslaughter Charges Under Texas Law

Texas Penal Code Chapter 19 defines several distinct homicide offenses, each with its own sentencing range. Understanding the charge against you is the first step in understanding what’s at stake.

Murder (First-Degree Felony)
Intentionally or knowingly causing another person’s death, or causing death during the commission of a felony under the felony murder rule. Sentencing range: 5 to 99 years or life in prison, plus fines up to $10,000.

Capital Murder
Murder committed with specific aggravating factors, including killing a peace officer, murder for hire, or murder during certain other serious felonies. Punishment: life without parole or the death penalty.

Manslaughter & Criminally Negligent Homicide
Recklessly causing death is a second-degree felony (2 to 20 years). Criminally negligent homicide is a state jail felony. Both carry lasting consequences: employment barriers, loss of certain civil rights while incarcerated, and for non-citizen defendants, serious immigration jeopardy.

How We Build a Murder Defense

There is no standard template for defending a homicide charge. Every defense starts from the facts of your case, beginning the moment you contact us.

• Self-defense under Texas law: Texas justifies the use of deadly force when a person reasonably believes it’s immediately necessary to protect against another’s deadly force. Building this defense requires thorough review of the circumstances, witness accounts, and physical evidence.
• Challenging forensic evidence: Murder prosecutions often rely heavily on DNA analysis, ballistics, and digital data. We examine how that evidence was collected, handled, and analyzed, and whether proper procedures were followed at every step.
• Mental state challenges: Murder requires intentional or knowing conduct. Evidence that the required mental state isn’t present can support a charge reduction or, in appropriate cases, dismissal.
• Evidence suppression: Constitutional violations during the investigation, search, or arrest can disqualify key prosecution evidence. A successful suppression motion can fundamentally change the shape of a case.
• Plea negotiations: When the evidence warrants it, negotiating a reduction to a lesser charge can produce a significantly different outcome than a trial conviction on the original charge. We advise clients honestly about when negotiation serves their interests.

How Murder Cases Move Through Brazos County Courts

Every felony in Brazos County, including murder, is prosecuted in one of four active Brazos County District Courts: the 85th (Judge Kyle Hawthorne), the 272nd (Judge John Brick), the 361st (Judge David Hilburn), and the 472nd (Judge George Jerrell Wise). By local rule, all felony and related charges against a single defendant are consolidated before one court and one prosecutor.

Before a murder case can proceed to trial, a Brazos County Grand Jury must return an indictment. The district courts hold two terms per year, beginning the first Monday in January and July, during which grand juries may be empaneled. After arrest, defendants are processed through the Brazos County Detention Center before an initial appearance before a magistrate. The bail determination at that first appearance is an early point where having defense counsel present can affect the outcome. We advise clients to bring us in as early as possible, including before a formal arrest if an investigation is already underway.

Speak With a College Station Murder Defense Attorney Today

A murder investigation or arrest in Brazos County demands immediate, experienced legal counsel. Rodriguez & Gimbert P.L.L.C. offers free consultations and is reachable 24 hours a day for clients in College Station and throughout Brazos County.

Call (979) 559-3599 now or contact us online. We’re available around the clock, and your consultation is free.