Criminal Defense

My Background in Criminal Law - Experience Matters.

I have been licensed to practice criminal law since 1990 and I am licensed to practice law in the entire State of Texas. I am Board Certified in Criminal Law in Texas and I primarily practice law in the Houston area and surrounding counties. There are more than 70,000 lawyers in Texas but there are fewer than 200 lawyers in Houston who are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Criminal Specialization in Criminal Law. Finding a lawyer is easy in Houston but finding a lawyer with the right experience and knowledge in criminal law can be very difficult.

I have the distinction of being one of a handful of criminal defense attorneys who have been a former chief prosecutor in one of Harris Counties 22 criminal district courts. I was the Chief Prosecutor in five Harris County Criminal District Courts - the 177th, 183rd, 184th, 232nd and the 339th Harris County Criminal District Courts. There are very few criminal defense lawyers who have this experience level from so many courts. Furthermore I was a Chief Prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's Office Major Offenders Division.

In addition to my Board Certification in Criminal Law I am also Board Certified in Juvenile Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. There are less than 25 lawyers in the entire State of Texas with this dual certification status.

I have personally tried over 150 Jury Trials in the Harris County District Attorneys Office and I have handled or supervised the handling of several thousand felony and misdemeanor cases in my career. And my jury trial experience consists of many different types of cases - from DWI's, Assaults, Aggravated Assaults, Burglaries and Robberies to Death Penalty Capital Murder cases.

I was one of four prosecutors who volunteered my time as a prosecutor for one of the four Harris County STAR Drug Courts. I spent over ten years working with probation officers, drug treatment professionals, addiction specialists and counselors, court staff and Judges in the Harris County STAR drug court program. I have a wealth of experience dealing with rehabilitation and aftercare treatment in the Harris County Court system.

Personal and Dedicated Representation

I realize that being charged with a crime doesn't mean you are guilty. In fact, the law presumes that you are innocent until proven guilty and the government must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt with credible and reliable evidence. If the government is taking your freedom and liberty away from you then the law demands that the government meet this highest of all legal standards. I will hold the government accountable to that high legal burden of proof and I will work hard to protect your freedom and liberty.

I will do everything at my disposal to protect your rights and to defend you at every stage of the judicial process. I will work to keep you informed about your case and to make sure you understand the legal process and the law. With my experience and my knowledge of criminal law and criminal procedure I will stand beside you in the courtroom and make sure the government knows you have strong, experienced and effective representation.

If your case requires it I will work with independent investigators who have years of investigative experience and who have worked in the past with top law enforcement agencies. They have the knowledge, skills and abilities to help me defend you against the governments enormous resources.

And if there is a need in your case for an expert witness I will work to help you find the right expert that will help in your defense. In many cases the right expert witness can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case with a jury or a judge.

With all of my jury trial experience as a prosecutor and my Board Certification in Criminal Law I have the necessary skill and ability to try your criminal case to a judge or jury. Contact me today at 832.794.1230; or by email at HansNielsenAttorney@gmail.com or through my contact form and we can discuss your case in my office or on the phone as soon as possible.

Felony and Misdemeanor Cases

I help people charged with all misdemeanor and felony offenses - including the following:

• Drugs: I defend people charged with drug possession, trafficking, manufacturing or conspiracy in cases involving all types of controlled substances, such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and or or prescription drugs. With my experience in adult and juvenile drug courts I offer a unique ability to help get the right treatment for ordinary people caught up in the criminal justice system due to their addiction to illegal and prescription drugs.
• DWI: I fight for people who are charged with drinking and driving, whether it's your first offense or you have been charged before I will use my knowledge and experience to evaluate your case beginning with a determination of whether or not the State had probable cause for stopping you and to ensure that all of your constitutional rights are protected.
• Assault: I represent individuals charged with offenses including assault by threat, assault of a family member and aggravated assault.
• Sexual Assault: I handle the defense of a wide range of sex crimes, including rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, and internet solicitation of a minor.
• Robbery, Theft and Burglaries: I defend all types of theft crimes including Burglary of Habitations, Buildings, Robberies and all levels and types of theft offenses.
• Organized Crime: I represent all types of organized crime offenses - everything from organized theft rings to offenses committed with multiple defendants.