If you're searching for a criminal defense lawyer right now, you've probably come across many wonderful attorneys who "specialize" in various types of law like personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law. Oh, and criminal defense every once in a while, too.
In a world full of multi-tasking lawyers who try to help anyone and everyone, the Law Office of Walter Reaves is different. I handle criminal defense cases in the Waco, Texas area, along with the surrounding counties including Bell, Falls, ans Hill County. That's it. Things are always changing in the legal world and rather than spread myself too thin, I like to hone in on one main area of focus and work day and night to be the best at what I do. I've been practicing criminal defense law for over 35 years and I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're still just looking for information right now, you are welcome to request free copies of my two books, Guide to Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer and Layman's Guide to the Criminal Justice System.
Being accused of a crime is far different from being convicted and sentenced. If you've only been accused, I still have time to put a case together and prove your innocence. If you have already been convicted or if you had charges dropped, I can also help with post-conviction appeals, expunction, and non-disclosure.
Whether you're facing a misdemeanor, afelony, jail time, steep fines or loss of privileges, I'm here to help. I have dedicated my life to helping people just like you and take each case personally. I frequently represent individuals accused of:
I also take pride in my membership with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. So many defense lawyers will back down when a prosecutor brings out forensic evidence in court, but I don't. I understand scientific principles and have seen many situations where the validity of certain scientific evidence has been questioned. I know what to look for when it comes to forensics, and I will not let you go to jail because of bad evidence.
Looking back, I was destined to become a criminal defense lawyer from the beginning. Long before I became a lawyer I had a desire to see that everyone is treated fairly and got upset over what I saw as injustice. I think that seed was first planted when I read about the way we treated other races, and the second class citizenship they had, and struggled to understand how anyone could condone that (something I still can't comprehend or understand). In my teenage years, I veered to the far left on social issues, which drove my conservative father crazy. I thought he was going to have a heart attack when I told him I wanted to work for the American Civil Liberties Union. I never did that, but around my second year in college, I realized that I wanted to go to law school so I would be able to fight for justice through the legal system.
I was fortunate to clerk for an older lawyer when I was in law school who did some criminal defense work. I quickly discovered that I loved this area of law; it gave me an opportunity to utilize my passion for justice. When I graduated from law school I didn't follow the traditional path of most criminal defense lawyers. That means I didn't go to work for a District Attorney's office; I couldn't see myself representing the State against the individual. Instead of going to the District Attorney's office, I opened my own office. My first trial was within a couple of months of being licensed. I represented a couple of skydivers who had been charged with criminal trespass after skydiving off a skyscraper. Not only did I win the case, I was mentioned in a magazine article about the case. I was hooked, and slowly started handling criminal cases, and that soon was my primary practice area. I became Board Certified in Criminal Law as soon as I could, which was after I had been in practice for 5 years. When it became available, I also became certified in Criminal Appellate law.
It's now been over 35 years; over those years I have had the privilege of helping hundreds of people who have been accused of crimes. In doing so, I’ve developed a statewide reputation by working with organizations across the State, as well as writing and speaking at continuing legal education programs. I am also one of the few lawyers in Texas with membership in the Academy of Forensic Sciences, which allows me to stay up to date on the ways science is being used in the criminal justice system.
In addition to Board certified, I also have the highest rating given by the two national ranking systems, Martindale-Hubbell, and Avvo, and in the case of the 5.0 AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, have maintained that ranking for over 20 years.
Non-Disclosure Checklist
Expunction Checklist
I understand how lost and scared you must feel right now. That is only natural when you're facing criminal prosecution in Texas. Whether you're still weighing your options, or you're ready to obtain proper legal representation, call the Law Office of Walter Reaves at 254-296-0020 today for a free consultation.
