Protection Order

What Happens If I Violate a Protection Order in Texas?

Protection orders are civil court orders meant to prevent continuing acts of family violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. Protection orders are also commonly called restraining orders. Despite being issued by the civil court system, violating a protection order is a criminal offense, with criminal penalties.

Violating a protection order is a Class A misdemeanor, which can be punished with a maximum of one year incarceration in a county jail and a maximum fine of $4,000. However, if it is not your first conviction for the same offense, the crime is a third-degree felony. The penalties for a third-degree felony can include a prison sentence of two to ten years.

One of the reasons why the penalties for a violation of a protection order can be so severe is because it is a direct rebuke to the court that issued the order. But in order for the charges to stick, prosecutors must prove that the accused acted with criminal intention. This opens up one of several potential avenues for legal defense in cases involving protection order violations.

Our skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney has defended countless individuals accused of violating protection orders. If you have been accused of violating a protection order in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, we are prepared to represent you in a court of law.

Mike Goolsby

A veteran in both civil court cases and criminal defense, Mike Goolsby is a respected lawyer with more than 16 years of experience practicing law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1990, followed by his J.D. from the prestigious Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994. After earning his law degree, Mr. Goolsby worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. As a trial lawyer, he was able to gain exceptional access to the criminal court system in this major metropolitan area, giving him immeasurable, distinct experience that helped him build a solid foundation for his own private legal practice. Mr. Goolsby went on to practice civil law for Maverick Acceptance Group, a venture capital company. Here, he gained invaluable knowledge of the civil side of the law, adding to his already diverse portfolio of legal expertise. In 1999, he opened the doors of The Goolsby Law Firm and has been successfully serving the residents of North Texas ever since. As an attorney, Mr. Goolsby combines his experience in both the civil and criminal fields to offer unmatched legal representation to his clients. With a long list of satisfied clients, Mr. Goolsby continues to build his practice through fair and aggressive legal defense.

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