Fort Bend County Gun Crime Lawyer

What a Fort Bend County Gun Crime Charge Means for You Right Now?

A weapons charge in Texas can move fast. What begins as a traffic stop or a single call to police can turn into a felony record, a suspended license to carry, and a background check that follows you into every job you apply for after this. You need to know where this charge can actually go, and what a Fort Bend County gun crime lawyer can do to change that outcome.

Our lead attorney spent seven years prosecuting cases for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office before becoming a Fort Bend County criminal defense lawyer. He is board certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. That means we know how these cases actually get built, and where they can come apart.

Contact our team today to learn more about what defenses may be available in your case.

Gun and Weapons Charges Our Fort Bend County Gun Crime Attorney Can Help Defend

Texas weapons law covers more than illegal guns. We defend people across Fort Bend County against a wide range of firearm and weapon charges, including:

• Unlawful carrying of a weapon, including a handgun found in a car or on your person
• Felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Possession of a firearm in a prohibited place, such as a school or courthouse
• Weapon charges tied to a separate arrest, like a traffic stop or a domestic call
• Federal firearm charges referred out of a Fort Bend County case
• Deadly weapon findings added to another charge, which can add years to a sentence

Each of these charges carries its own defense strategy, and small details usually decide how the case ends. A charge built on a search of your car works differently than one built on a tip called in to police, and a first offense looks nothing like a case where the state claims you already had a disqualifying record.

What a Texas Weapons Conviction Costs You Beyond the Courtroom?

A weapons conviction rarely stays contained to one court date. A felony weapons conviction can end your license to carry, block certain jobs and professional licenses, and show up on every background check you run for the rest of your life.

Since September 2021, most adults 21 and older can carry a handgun in Texas — openly or concealed — without a license or a permit. Carrying is still a crime for certain people, though. This includes anyone under 21, anyone already barred from having a gun, and anyone carrying while intoxicated. For those people, unlawfully carrying a handgun is usually a Class A misdemeanor.

It becomes a third-degree felony if you were barred from having a gun under one part of the law. It becomes a second-degree felony with a five-year minimum prison term if you were barred under a more serious part. That bar most often comes from Texas Penal Code Section 46.04, which prohibits a convicted felon from possessing any firearm for at least five years after release, and limits possession to your own home even after that.

We build every weapons case around the search, the stop, and the evidence the state actually has, because that is usually where these cases are won or lost. An unlawful search, an inaccurate criminal history, or an officer’s inconsistent account can each change what the state is actually able to prove.

Where Fort Bend County Hears Gun and Weapons Cases?

Felony weapons charges in Fort Bend County are heard at the Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle in Richmond, where the county’s felony district courts and misdemeanor courts at law both sit. Which courtroom your case lands in depends on the charge level, and that can shift once a court sees your criminal history or the way the weapon was found.

We handle gun and weapons cases throughout Fort Bend County and the greater Houston area, and we know how local prosecutors decide whether to offer a reduction, a diversion program, or push a case to trial. That local knowledge often matters more than the statute itself once your case is actually set on a docket.

Misdemeanor weapons charges are handled separately, in the county’s criminal courts at law, also based at the Justice Center in Richmond. Knowing which court your case belongs in, and how that specific court and prosecutor tend to handle weapons cases, shapes the strategy from the very first setting.

Fort Bend County Gun Charge Questions We Hear Most

Do I need a lawyer for a gun charge right away?

Yes. Fort Bend County prosecutors can file formal charges within days of an arrest, and choices made in that window, like what you say to police or whether you agree to a search, can shape the entire case. Contact us before you answer any more questions.

Will a gun charge show up on a background check?

Any conviction will show up, and some deferred outcomes can still appear on certain background checks even without a final conviction. That is why the goal in most cases is dismissal, a reduction, or a resolution that keeps a permanent record off your file entirely.

What happens to my license to carry if I am convicted?

A felony weapons conviction generally ends your eligibility to hold a license to carry in Texas. A misdemeanor conviction can affect it too, depending on the charge and your history.

Can a weapons charge become a federal case?

It can, particularly for felon in possession charges or cases involving multiple firearms. Federal weapons cases carry different rules and often harsher sentences than state charges, so this needs to be flagged early.

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and felony weapons charge in Fort Bend County?

It usually comes down to your criminal history and where the weapon was found. Since 2021, most adults 21 and older can legally carry a handgun without a license. So a carrying charge usually only comes up for specific groups of people — for example, someone under 21, someone already barred from having a gun, or someone carrying while intoxicated. When a carrying charge is filed against one of those groups, it’s often a misdemeanor for a first offense. Possession by a felon, or carrying in a place where weapons are banned, is typically charged as a felony.

How much does hiring a gun crime lawyer cost?

It depends on the charge level and whether your case is likely to go to trial. Contact our office to schedule a confidential consultation and get a clear answer for your specific case.

Are your attorneys actually licensed to practice in Fort Bend County?

Yes. Both attorneys are licensed by the State Bar of Texas and handle weapons and criminal cases throughout Fort Bend County and the greater Houston area. You can confirm either attorney’s license directly through the State Bar of Texas.

What do clients say about working with your firm?

David Kiatta holds a 5.0 average rating across 40 client reviews on Avvo, and clients often mention how clearly he explains where a case actually stands. Reach out and see for yourself.

What should I do right after a weapons arrest in Fort Bend County?

Stay quiet beyond identifying yourself, do not consent to any additional search, and avoid discussing the case with anyone besides your attorney, including on the phone from jail. Then contact us so we can start reviewing the arrest before key details get harder to pin down.

Call for a Confidential Consultation With a Fort Bend County Gun Crime Lawyer Before Your Next Court Date

A gun or weapons charge does not have to define the rest of your life, but the decisions you make in the next few days can shape how this ends. Our lead attorney has spent decades on both sides of Texas criminal courts and knows how to find the weak point in a weapons case before the state locks in its position.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation, and let’s find out exactly where your case stands.