Blanco Criminal Defense Lawyer

Blanco sits along U.S. Highway 281 between San Antonio and the northern Hill Country, a small ranching town of fewer than 2,000 residents that sees far more traffic than its population suggests. Weekend visitors heading to Blanco State Park, travelers moving between the Austin and San Antonio areas, and drivers cutting across the Hill Country on Ranch Road 165 and Ranch Road 1623 all pass through town, and so does a steady flow of traffic stops and arrests. A charge filed here is handled entirely within the Blanco County system, and it can affect your record, your license, your job, and your freedom just as seriously as a charge filed in a large city. Blanco criminal defense lawyer David C. Hardaway represents people charged with misdemeanors and felonies in Blanco and across Blanco County, and he gets involved early, when the most important defense work can still be done.

The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway is a criminal defense and DWI firm founded in 2010, based in San Marcos with offices in Fredericksburg and Brenham. David Hardaway is licensed in all Texas state courts and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. The firm’s work is concentrated in the courts of Central Texas and the Hill Country, which includes the courts that decide Blanco County cases. Clients get a lawyer who explains the charge plainly, returns calls, and builds a defense around the actual evidence rather than a template.

One fact surprises many people charged in Blanco: the town is the largest in the county, but it is not the county seat. Blanco served as the original seat when the county was formed, and the old limestone courthouse still stands on the town square, but the seat moved to Johnson City in 1890. Today the Blanco County Courthouse is in Johnson City, and that is where most Blanco cases are decided. Knowing how cases move through that courthouse, and who prosecutes them, is the starting point for any defense.

Common Criminal Charges in Blanco and Blanco County

• DWI on U.S. 281 and the Ranch Roads: Highway 281 runs straight through downtown Blanco, and the ranch roads that leave town toward Henly, Stonewall, and Wimberley are long, dark, and regularly patrolled. A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, but the arrest also starts a separate license suspension process with its own short deadline. Our DWI defense work in Blanco addresses both the criminal case and the license.
• Felony DWI and Intoxication Offenses: A third DWI, a DWI with a passenger younger than 15, or a crash that causes serious injury or death moves the case into felony territory, with possible prison time and long-term consequences for employment and professional licenses.
• Drug Possession: Many drug cases in Blanco County begin as highway traffic stops. Whether the officer had a lawful reason to stop the car, extend the stop, and search it are often the deciding questions in the case.
• Assault and Family Violence: Assault allegations in a small community frequently grow out of disputes between people who know each other, and a family violence finding brings consequences that reach well beyond the sentence, including firearm restrictions and effects on custody. We handle assault charges in Blanco and family violence accusations with careful attention to the facts and the witnesses.
• Theft and Property Crimes: Under Texas law, the value of the property involved sets the level of a theft charge, from a Class C misdemeanor up to a first-degree felony. Valuation disputes and questions about intent are common and can change the outcome significantly.
• Public Intoxication and Alcohol Offenses: Weekends and events bring visitors to town, and with them public intoxication, open container, and minor in possession citations. These cases are small on paper, but they still create a criminal record if they are not handled properly.

How a Blanco County Criminal Case Moves Through the System

Felony cases in Blanco County are prosecuted by the District Attorney for the 33rd and 424th Judicial Districts, an office that also prosecutes felonies in Burnet, Llano, and San Saba Counties. Those two district courts share jurisdiction across all four counties. That means the same prosecutors and judges handling a felony in Blanco may also be handling cases in Burnet or Llano the same week, and patterns in how they approach plea offers, bond, and pretrial motions carry across the district. Misdemeanors are prosecuted by the Blanco County Attorney’s office and heard at the county level in Johnson City.

Arrests in and around Blanco may be made by Blanco County Sheriff’s Office deputies, by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on U.S. 281, or by other local officers. Each agency writes its own reports and may record the stop on dashcam or body camera. Getting those reports and recordings early matters, because the defense often turns on the details of the first few minutes of the encounter: why the car was stopped, what the officer saw, and what was said before anyone was arrested.

After an arrest, bond is usually the first issue. Bond conditions in a family violence case may include a no-contact order or an emergency protective order, and violating those conditions, even unintentionally, can lead to a new charge or a revoked bond. In a DWI case, the license suspension clock starts running right away. A lawyer who is involved in the first days after an arrest can protect deadlines that are easy to miss and position the case before the prosecution has settled on its view of it.

Why Clients in Blanco Choose The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway

People charged with a crime in a small town often worry that the outcome is decided before they walk into court. It is not. Every case still requires the state to prove each element of the offense with admissible evidence, and every stop, search, and statement is subject to legal challenge. Our approach is to examine the case on three fronts at once: the law, including whether the stop and search were constitutional; the facts, including what the witnesses, recordings, and physical evidence actually show; and the procedure, making sure that no deadline passes and no right is waived by inaction.

Our Fredericksburg office puts the firm in regular contact with the Hill Country courts. Ranch Road 1623 runs from Blanco up to Stonewall and U.S. 290, the same corridor many of our Gillespie County clients travel. Through our Fredericksburg criminal defense practice and our work in Burnet and Llano Counties, we see how the courts throughout this part of Texas handle cases, which helps us judge whether an offer is fair and when a case should be tried instead.

Clients also hear the truth from us about their situation. Some cases should be fought through trial. Others are best resolved through a negotiated outcome that avoids a conviction or keeps a felony off the record. We explain the options, the risks, and the likely range of outcomes in plain terms, so the client makes the decision with a full picture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Charges in Blanco

If I was arrested in Blanco, which courthouse will my case be in?

Most likely the Blanco County Courthouse in Johnson City, the county seat. The historic courthouse on the square in Blanco is no longer the seat of county government. Felony cases go before the 33rd or 424th District Court, and misdemeanors are handled at the county level. Your paperwork should list the court and the setting date, and an attorney can confirm where and when you need to appear.

How long do I have to save my license after a DWI arrest in Blanco County?

Texas gives you 15 days from the date you receive notice of the suspension to request an Administrative License Revocation hearing. If you miss that window, the suspension generally takes effect automatically, regardless of what happens in the criminal case. The hearing is also an early chance to question the arresting officer under oath, which can help the criminal defense later.

Is deferred adjudication available for a first DWI in Texas?

For many first-time offenders, yes. Texas law now allows deferred adjudication for a first DWI in most cases, though it is not available if the blood or breath test showed an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher, or if the person held a commercial driver’s license at the time. Deferred adjudication comes with conditions, often including an ignition interlock device, and whether it is the right choice depends on the strength of the state’s evidence.

The alleged victim in my family violence case wants the charges dropped. Will that end the case?

Not by itself. In Texas, the prosecutor decides whether to pursue a family violence case, not the person who made the report. The prosecution can and sometimes does move forward without the complaining witness’s cooperation. That said, the complaining witness’s position can matter a great deal in negotiations and in what evidence the state can actually prove, so it should be handled through your attorney and never through direct contact that might violate a bond condition or protective order.

Can evidence be thrown out if the traffic stop on Highway 281 was not legal?

Yes. An officer needs reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation or criminal activity to make a stop, and a stop cannot be extended beyond its purpose without additional justification. If the stop or the search that followed violated the Fourth Amendment or the Texas Constitution, a judge can suppress the evidence it produced. In many drug and DWI cases, a successful suppression motion leaves the state without enough evidence to proceed.

Will a misdemeanor from Blanco County show up on background checks?

Yes. Even a Class B or Class C conviction appears on criminal background checks used by employers, landlords, and licensing boards. Some cases can later be expunged or sealed through an order of nondisclosure, depending on the charge and how the case ended, but the best protection is a defense that avoids the conviction in the first place.

I live outside Blanco County. Do I have to come back for every court date?

Not always. Many visitors are arrested in Blanco and live elsewhere in Texas or out of state. Depending on the charge and the court’s practices, your attorney may be able to appear for you at some settings or handle portions of the case without requiring your presence. Some hearings do require you to attend, and missing a required appearance can lead to a warrant, so it is important to know exactly which settings apply to you.

Do you handle cases in Johnson City and the rest of Blanco County?

Yes. We represent clients charged anywhere in Blanco County, including Johnson City, Round Mountain, and the rural areas around Pedernales Falls State Park. Our Blanco County criminal defense practice covers felony and misdemeanor cases throughout the county.

Serving Blanco and the Surrounding Hill Country

We represent clients arrested in the town of Blanco, along U.S. 281, near Blanco State Park and the Blanco River, and on the ranch roads that connect Blanco to Henly, Stonewall, and Wimberley. Our practice extends throughout Blanco County, including Johnson City and Round Mountain, and into neighboring Gillespie, Burnet, Llano, Kendall, Comal, and Hays Counties. Whether you are a local resident or were passing through when you were arrested, we can step in quickly and protect your rights from the start.

Talk With a Criminal Defense Attorney in Blanco Today

The early stage of a criminal case is when the most can be done: deadlines can be met, evidence can be preserved, and the case can be shaped before the prosecution settles its position. If you or someone in your family has been arrested in Blanco or anywhere in Blanco County, contact The Law Offices of David C. Hardaway to schedule a confidential consultation. We will review what happened, explain what the state has to prove, and give you a straight assessment of your options.