San Patricio County Criminal Court

San Patricio County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in San Patricio County. See below for more information about criminal cases in San Patricio County.

Who can help me in San Patricio County?

For general information about your case the San Patricio County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.

San Patricio County Arraignments

An arraignment is a court hearing. In San Patricio County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in San Patricio County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In San Patricio County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.

San Patricio County Criminal Court

San Patricio County Criminal Court

Plea Agreements

A Plea Agreement, sometimes known as a Plea Bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant, where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest often in exchange for a lesser charge or lighter recommended sentence. A large majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. In San Patricio County you can inform your attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to attempt to come to a plea agreement, but this is dependent upon the charge severity and also the prosecutors willingness to accept a plea deal.

Burden of Proof Requirement

In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Required Court Appearances in San Patricio County

Any required court appearances in San Patricio County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.

Appealing a guilty verdict

A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.

San Patricio County Prosecutor

For criminal cases in San Patricio County, the prosecutor will be a representative of San Patricio County. The San Patricio County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.

Defendant Sentencing

At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.

Jury by Trial Right

The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.

What is Jury Deliberation?

After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.

San Patricio County Criminal Court hearings

Criminal hearings in San Patricio County will take place at the San Patricio County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the San Patricio County Criminal Court Locations.

Right to an attorney

The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In San Patricio County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.

San Patricio County Criminal Court Locations

  • San Patricio County 36th District Court

    Address: 400 W Sinton St, #210, PO Box 1084, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-9377 Fax: 361-364-9477

  • San Patricio County 156th District Court

    Address: 400 W Sinton St, #210, PO Box 1084, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-9377 Fax: 361-364-9477

  • San Patricio County 343rd District Court

    Address: 400 W Sinton St, #210, PO Box 1084, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-9377 Fax: 361-364-9477

  • San Patricio County Constitutional Court

    Address: 400 W Sinton St, #124, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-9350 Fax: 361-364-9450

  • San Patricio County Court at Law

    Address: 400 W Sinton St, #124, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-9350 Fax: 361-364-9450

  • San Patricio County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1

    Address: 300 N Rachal Ave, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-9620 Fax: 361-364-6139

  • San Patricio County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

    Address: PO Box 73, Odem TX 78370
    Phone: 361-368-4311 Fax: 361-368-2548

  • San Patricio County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4

    Address: 900 Austin St, Portland TX 78374
    Phone: 361-643-2241 Fax: 361-643-6800

  • San Patricio County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5

    Address: 618 N Frio St, PO Box 640, Mathis TX 78368
    Phone: 361-547-2244 Fax: 361-547-2265

  • San Patricio County Justice of the Peace Precinct 6

    Address: 911 S Commercial, Aransas Pass TX 78336
    Phone: 361-758-5657 Fax: 361-758-8567

  • San Patricio County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8

    Address: 120 Green Ave, Taft TX 78390
    Phone: 361-528-2738 Fax: 361-528-3994

  • Gregory Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box 297, Gregory TX 78359
    Phone: 361-643-6562

  • Ingleside Municipal Court

    Address: 2425 8th St, Ingleside TX 78362
    Phone: 361-775-1188 Fax: 361-775-1202

  • Lake City Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box 177, Mathis TX 78368
    Phone: 361-547-3868

  • Mathis Municipal Court

    Address: 205 N Nueces St, Mathis TX 78368
    Phone: 361-547-4205

  • Portland Municipal Court

    Address: 1900 Billy G. Webb Dr, Portland TX 78374
    Phone: 361-777-4540 Fax: 361-777-4596

  • Sinton/Odem Municipal Court

    Address: 217 E Market St, Sinton TX 78387
    Phone: 361-364-2389

  • Taft Municipal Court

    Address: 501 Green Ave, Taft TX 78390
    Phone: 361-528-3512

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