Guadalupe County Criminal Defense Lawyers

Arrested or Charged with a Crime in Guadalupe County?

Guadalupe County takes a strict approach to law enforcement. Those who violate local, state, or federal laws face serious consequences. The community and prosecutors view criminal charges with severity, and Guadalupe County judges and juries are known to impose significant sentences for both felonies and misdemeanors.

Guadalupe County offers diversion programs as an alternative to conviction for first-time offenders facing both felony and misdemeanor charges. These programs provide a potential path for resolving pending charges.

If you’ve been charged with a crime in Guadalupe County, the experienced team at Cofer & Connelly, PLLC is ready to represent you. Our team routinely handles many different types of misdemeanor and felony offenses, including: 
 

• Driving While Intoxicated
• Possession of Controlled Substances
• Theft of Firearm
• Tampering with Evidence
• Assault Family Violence

Whether you, a family member, or someone else you know, has been arrested, cited, or indicted in Guadalupe County, secure the dedicated representation you deserve by calling our office at (512) 991-0576.

Background on Guadalupe County

Guadalupe County is located about an hour south of Austin, just off of the Interstate 35 corridor. Just under 175,000 people live in Guadalupe County, and the county’s prime location between Austin and San Antonio has fueled its growth. Most residents of Guadalupe County reside in Seguin, the county seat of Guadalupe County. However, the cities of Staples, Kingsbury, New Berlin, and Santa Clara, and portions of the communities of Cibolo, New Braunfels, Marion, and Schertz extend into Guadalupe County. Texas Lutheran University, which has about 1,400 students and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church operates in Guadalupe County. 

The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, Guadalupe County Constables, and Texas Department of Public Safety operate in Guadalupe County and regularly patrol the highways intersecting Guadalupe County. 

Criminal Courts & Judges of Guadalupe County

Guadalupe County is a split jurisdiction that is served by the 274th Judicial District Court of Texas, the 25th Judicial District Court of Texas, the 2nd 25th Judicial District Court of Texas, and the 465th Judicial District Court of Texas. 

The Honorable Judge Gary Steele presides in the 274th Judicial District Court, the Honorable Judge William Old III presides in the 25th Judicial District Court, the Honorable Judge Jessica Crawford presides in the 2nd 25th Judicial District Court and the Honorable Judge Heather H. Wright presides in the 456th Judicial District Court,. The District Courts handle both civil matters and felony criminal matters in Guadalupe County. 

Guadalupe County Court of Law handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors. Judge Bill Squires and Judge Kirsten Legore, preside over these cases as well as juvenile matters. 

Guadalupe County is also served by several courts handling Class C misdemeanors including Justice of the Peace courts and the Seguin Municipal Court. Guadalupe County Justice of the Peace Courts include four precincts, which are presided over by four Justices:

• Justice of the Peace Darrell Hunter (Precinct One)
• Justice of the Peace Sheryl Sachtleben (Precinct Two)
• Justice of the Peace John Terry (Precinct Three)
• Justice of the Peace Todd Friesenhahn (Precinct Four)

The Justices of the Peace in each precinct handle Criminal Class C Misdemeanors involving the following code violations:

• Traffic
• Penal
• Health & Safety
• Education
• Parks & Wildlife
• Alcohol & Beverage

The Seguin Municipal Court is a court of non-record, which primarily hears cases punishable by fine occurring within the city limits of Seguin, including: traffic offenses, theft cases involving stolen property valued at less than $100.00, violations of city ordinances, public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple assault. Municipal court is held at 660 S. Highway Seguin, Texas.

The Prosecutors of Guadalupe County

The State of Texas is represented in Guadalupe County by the Guadalupe County Attorney’s Office. The Honorable Dave Willborn serves as Guadalupe County’s County Attorney and has jurisdiction over misdemeanor and felony cases, and, when requested, also provides legal counsel to county entities. The County Attorney works with local law enforcement agencies to investigate, protect, and enforce the law in Guadalupe County. 

Law Enforcement in Guadalupe County

The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) is located at 2615 N Guadalupe Street, Seguin, Texas. The Guadalupe County Jail is also located at 2615 N Guadalupe Street, Seguin, Texas. The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office is led by Sheriff Arnold S. Zwicke. Sheriff Zwicke’s duties include but are not limited to the following: 

• Overseeing criminal investigations;
• Security for county and district court operations;
• Enforcing traffic laws, county ordinances, and state laws;
• Overseeing service of process;
• Accepting bail for prisoners in his custody;
• Conducting sales of seized and unclaimed properties; and
• Overseeing the operation of the county jail and is responsible for the prisoners.

Where Will My Case Be Tried?

Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases are heard at the Guadalupe County Justice Center located at 211 W. Court Street., Seguin, Texas. Court is held in the second and third floor courtrooms. Pretrial conferences are held several days a week, with jury trials typically held twice a month. 

Don't face your criminal charges alone. Call Cofer & Connelly, PLLC at (512) 991-0576 to gain over 100 years of combined experience.