Kendall County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Boerne sits at the heart of Kendall County, and its courts handle a full range of criminal charges, from DWI arrests on U.S. 10 and Interstate 10 to drug offenses, assault allegations, and property crimes that arise throughout the Hill Country communities along the I-10 corridor. If you have been charged with a crime in Kendall County, what happens in the weeks immediately after your arrest will shape every stage of what follows. Kendall County criminal defense lawyer David C. Hardaway has built his practice on direct communication, detailed case preparation, and a clear-eyed understanding of how county and district courts actually operate across this region of Central Texas.

Kendall County’s 216th Judicial District Court and County Court at Law handle criminal matters for a community that has seen significant population growth in recent years. That growth has brought increased law enforcement activity along the I-10 corridor and through communities like Comfort, Welfare, and Fair Oaks Ranch. It has also meant that prosecutors and courts are managing higher caseloads, which changes how cases move, how plea negotiations unfold, and what kind of preparation actually makes a difference.

The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway represents clients facing criminal charges throughout the Hill Country and the broader Central Texas region. With an office in Fredericksburg and another in downtown San Marcos, the firm is positioned to serve Kendall County clients without the delays and logistical friction that come with hiring counsel from distant metropolitan centers. Clients here get focused attention, not a number in a queue.

Charges That Arise in Kendall County and What They Actually Mean

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI): Kendall County sees a consistent volume of DWI arrests, particularly on I-10 and U.S. 87 between Boerne and San Antonio. Texas law draws firm distinctions between first-offense misdemeanor DWI and enhanced felony charges, with blood alcohol content readings, field sobriety test results, and the conduct of the stop all forming the foundation of how these cases are built and challenged.
• Drug Possession and Distribution: Controlled substance charges in Kendall County range from misdemeanor possession of small quantities to serious felony distribution allegations. The classification depends on the substance, the amount, and whether law enforcement characterized the conduct as possession for personal use or possession with intent to deliver. Chain of custody issues and the legality of the search are often central to the defense.
• Assault and Aggravated Assault: Assault charges in Texas cover a wide spectrum, from Class A misdemeanor bodily injury claims to first-degree felony aggravated assault involving serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon. Family violence allegations carry additional enhancements and collateral consequences that affect housing, firearm rights, and future prosecutions.
• Theft and Property Crimes: Shoplifting, burglary, and theft charges are graded by the value of property involved. What starts as a misdemeanor theft can rise quickly to felony territory depending on the amount alleged, and a conviction at any level creates a record that follows a person through background checks and professional licensing processes.
• Trespassing and Disorderly Conduct: These Class B and Class C offenses are common in communities with active nightlife and outdoor recreation. Even lower-level charges handled without counsel can produce convictions that complicate employment applications, housing approvals, and security clearances.
• Juvenile Offenses: Kendall County’s juvenile docket operates under distinct procedural rules, and the stakes for a young person are high: a misstep in a juvenile proceeding can affect education, enlistment eligibility, and licensing for years. Early intervention by a criminal defense attorney in Kendall County can dramatically change how these cases resolve.
• Human Smuggling: Given Kendall County’s geography between San Antonio and the Hill Country, law enforcement in this region has pursued human smuggling cases with considerable resources. These charges carry serious felony exposure and require defense strategies that address the specific facts of how the alleged conduct was discovered and characterized.

Why The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway for Kendall County Defense

Clients who have worked with this firm describe a consistent experience: they could reach David Hardaway when they needed him, they received straight answers about their situation, and the team treated them like people rather than files. Those qualities matter enormously in criminal cases, where uncertainty about what is happening with your case compounds the stress of the situation itself. Reviewers have specifically noted responsiveness, the willingness to speak plainly about difficult circumstances, and genuine attention to the details that determine outcomes.

The firm’s geographic footprint is directly relevant to Kendall County clients. The Fredericksburg office covers Hill Country clients, and the firm’s longstanding practice across Gillespie, Kerr, Guadalupe, Comal, and Bexar Counties means the attorneys here understand how cases move through the courts that Kendall County residents actually encounter, including the 216th District Court in Boerne and the Kendall County Court at Law. That regional familiarity, built through years of practice rather than occasional appearances, translates into a practical advantage when it comes to procedural timing, prosecutor tendencies, and the motion practice that shapes how a case develops before trial.

The firm defends clients across the full spectrum of criminal charges, from Class C misdemeanors through first-degree felonies, and handles cases in both state and the surrounding federal district courts. The same level of preparation and investigative attention goes into each matter. For Kendall County clients, that means working with a criminal defense attorney who already understands the local legal landscape without needing to build it from scratch at your expense.

What to Do After an Arrest in Kendall County

The decisions made in the first 24 to 72 hours after an arrest in Kendall County often have more effect on the eventual outcome than anything that happens at trial. If you have been arrested, do not speak to law enforcement, prosecutors, or investigators about the facts of your case before consulting with a defense attorney. This applies regardless of whether you believe you have nothing to hide. Statements made under stress, without full knowledge of what evidence exists, consistently create problems that are difficult to walk back later.

After a Kendall County arrest, the initial proceedings will be handled through the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the county jail in Boerne. Initial appearances and magistration occur quickly, and bail conditions are set at that stage. Understanding what bail conditions are realistic given the charge and the judge involved is one of the first practical questions your attorney should address.

The Kendall County District Clerk’s Office and County Clerk’s Office maintain case records for felony and misdemeanor proceedings respectively, and your attorney will need to pull the case filings, track discovery deadlines, and monitor the case’s movement through the court docket. Cases in the 216th Judicial District Court follow a structured schedule with specific settings for arraignment, pretrial conferences, and trial. Missing a deadline or a setting without counsel present creates risks that are entirely avoidable.

Gather documentation early. If your case involves a traffic stop, request any dash camera or body camera footage from the arresting agency as soon as possible. Footage is subject to retention policies and can be lost or overwritten. If your case involves a location, photographs of the site taken promptly can document conditions that change over time. If witnesses were present, identify them before memory fades and contact information becomes harder to locate. Your attorney will guide the formal discovery process, but anything you can preserve in the early days has value.

A common mistake in Kendall County cases is waiting too long to hire counsel because the defendant expects the charge to be dismissed or resolved without serious attention. Prosecutorial offices do not have a default setting toward dismissal, and the stronger the defense preparation entering the case, the more leverage exists at every stage, including plea negotiations. Early representation allows an attorney to request and review discovery before positions harden.

How Criminal Cases Actually Move Through Kendall County Courts

Felony charges in Kendall County are processed through the 216th Judicial District Court, which has jurisdiction over the most serious criminal matters. The district attorney’s office handles felony prosecution, and cases typically move through a grand jury proceeding before formal indictment. Understanding the grand jury stage is important: it is not simply a formality, and defense counsel can sometimes influence how cases are presented or whether charges are filed at all.

Misdemeanor charges, including Class A and Class B offenses like standard first-offense DWI and many drug possession cases, are handled in the Kendall County Court at Law. The pace of misdemeanor cases differs from felony proceedings, and the pretrial negotiation dynamics are distinct. A Kendall County criminal defense attorney familiar with both courts can advise on realistic timelines and help manage expectations about what each stage actually involves.

Discovery in Texas criminal cases includes the prosecution’s obligation to produce evidence under the Michael Morton Act, which requires the state to disclose material evidence in its possession. Understanding what to ask for and how to interpret what is produced is a core function of effective defense representation. Evidence issues, from the reliability of chemical testing in DWI cases to the legality of a search that produced drug evidence, are typically litigated through pretrial motions filed before trial begins. These motions can result in suppression of key evidence, which changes the prosecution’s position entirely.

Not every case goes to trial, and not every case should. But the credibility and preparation of the defense team directly affects how seriously prosecutors engage with the possibility that a case could be won at trial. A defense attorney who has demonstrated the willingness and capability to try cases in this region occupies a different negotiating position than one who does not. That reality shapes outcomes at every stage, including cases that resolve without a verdict.

Questions About Kendall County Criminal Charges

What court handles my criminal case if I was arrested in Boerne?

It depends on the level of the charge. Felony cases go to the 216th Judicial District Court in Boerne. Misdemeanor cases are handled in the Kendall County Court at Law. Class C misdemeanors, which are the lowest level and punishable only by fine, may be handled at the justice of the peace level depending on the circumstances.

Will I be able to get bond after a Kendall County arrest?

Most defendants in Kendall County are eligible for bond, but the amount and conditions depend on the charge, the defendant’s criminal history, ties to the community, and the judge’s assessment of flight risk or public safety concerns. For serious felony charges, including aggravated assault or offenses involving weapons, bond can be set at a level that requires negotiation with the court. An attorney can file a motion to reduce bond and present evidence supporting more favorable conditions.

How long does a felony case take to resolve in Kendall County?

Felony cases in the 216th District Court typically take several months to over a year from indictment to resolution, depending on the complexity of the case, the volume of discovery, and whether the case goes to trial. Cases that involve digital evidence, multiple witnesses, or forensic analysis tend to take longer. Simple possession cases that resolve through negotiation can move more quickly. Your attorney should give you a realistic assessment of the timeline based on the specific facts of your case.

Can a DWI conviction affect my commercial driver’s license in Texas?

Yes. A DWI conviction carries consequences for commercial driver’s license holders that go beyond the standard penalties. Federal regulations impose disqualification periods for CDL holders convicted of DWI that apply even when the arrest occurs in a personal vehicle. A CDL holder facing any DWI charge should treat it as a serious career-affecting matter and seek defense counsel immediately.

What happens if I was charged with assault in the context of a family dispute in Kendall County?

Family violence allegations in Texas trigger specific procedural rules, including protective orders that can be issued quickly and a no-contact condition that may affect where you can live or who you can communicate with. Family violence findings on a conviction also create separate consequences for firearm rights under both state and federal law. These cases require careful attention to the protective order proceedings as well as the underlying criminal charge.

Is it possible to get a charge dismissed in Kendall County before trial?

Yes, dismissals happen for a range of reasons, including insufficient evidence, a successful suppression motion that eliminates the prosecution’s key evidence, a complaining witness who becomes uncooperative, or prosecutorial review concluding that the case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The likelihood of dismissal depends entirely on the specific facts of the case. Dismissal is never guaranteed, but thorough defense preparation increases the probability of outcomes short of conviction.

What are the consequences of a drug conviction for someone on a student visa or work visa in Kendall County?

Immigration consequences of drug convictions can be severe, including potential inadmissibility findings or removal proceedings. Even minor controlled substance convictions can trigger mandatory bars under federal immigration law. Any non-citizen charged with a drug offense should make sure their criminal defense attorney is aware of their immigration status from the outset so that defense strategy accounts for these consequences. In some situations, deferred adjudication or specific plea structures can affect immigration exposure differently than a straight conviction.

Can I expunge a criminal record from a Kendall County case?

Texas law permits expunction of certain records, generally where charges were dismissed, the defendant was acquitted, or certain other conditions are met. Deferred adjudication probation, where a person completes community supervision without a formal conviction, may qualify for an order of nondisclosure rather than expunction, which seals the record from most public access without fully destroying it. The availability of expunction or nondisclosure depends on the charge type, the outcome, and whether waiting periods have been satisfied.

What is the difference between a plea to the offense and deferred adjudication in Texas?

A plea to the offense results in a formal conviction on your record. Deferred adjudication is a form of community supervision where the court defers the finding of guilt while you complete probation conditions. If you successfully complete deferred adjudication, there is no formal conviction. However, deferred adjudication is not the same as having no record. It can still be used against you in future cases, can appear in background checks, and for certain offenses including DWI, deferred adjudication is not available under Texas law. Understanding these distinctions before accepting any plea offer is essential.

Does David Hardaway actually appear in Kendall County courts, or does he refer cases to local counsel?

The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway handles cases directly across the Central Texas region, including Kendall County and the surrounding Hill Country courts. The firm’s Fredericksburg office anchors its Hill Country practice, and the attorneys here have developed familiarity with the courts and practitioners in this region through actual case work, not referral arrangements. Clients retain the firm to handle their case, and that is what happens.

Kendall County Criminal Defense Representation Across the Hill Country Region

The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway represents clients throughout Kendall County and the surrounding communities of the Hill Country and greater Central Texas. Within Kendall County itself, the firm serves clients in Boerne, Comfort, Welfare, Bergheim, Waring, Sisterdale, and Fair Oaks Ranch. Along the I-10 corridor connecting Kendall County to the greater region, the firm represents clients in communities including Leon Springs and Helotes on the Bexar County side, as well as clients traveling through from communities in Kerr County, including Kerrville and Ingram. To the east and south, the firm serves clients in New Braunfels and Comal County, Seguin and Guadalupe County, and throughout the San Marcos and Hays County area. The firm’s Hill Country practice extends through Gillespie County and Fredericksburg, into Llano County and the Highland Lakes communities, and west through the Kerr County corridor. Clients from Washington County, the Brenham area, and communities throughout the Brazos River valley also have access to the firm’s representation. Wherever a client is located in this region, the firm brings the same level of preparation and direct communication that its clients consistently describe as the defining quality of their experience.

Kendall County Criminal Defense Attorney: Reach Out Today

A criminal charge in Kendall County deserves focused, knowledgeable representation from counsel who understands how these cases are built, how they are challenged, and how they resolve in the specific courts where your case will be heard. The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway has been providing that kind of representation to clients throughout the Hill Country and Central Texas, and a Kendall County criminal defense attorney at this firm is available to speak with you about your situation directly. Contact the office to schedule a confidential consultation and get a clear-eyed assessment of where you stand and what your options actually are.