JUSTICE DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN

Carl Haggard's sterling reputation for integrity makes him one of Harris County’s most-respected criminal defense attorneys.

Clients rely on Carl Haggard’s expertise: 

Former Harris County District Court Chief Prosecutor 

Nationally Certified Mediator-Arbitrator -  Triple Certification

Nationally-Known Author and Speaker on Civil Rights

Washington, DC Speech-Maker on Constitutional Issues 

Licensed to Practice in the United States Supreme Court 

Honors Graduate from Law School - Cum Laude 

Former UH Adjunct Professor of Law                         

Thousands of Cases and Trials Since 1973 

                                 RESULTS ARE WHAT COUNT

Houston Sex and Child Crimes Defense Attorney Carl Haggard is at the forefront of Harris County Criminal Defense Attorneys with a proven track record of winning results for clients charged with Sexual Assault, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault of a Child, Indecency with Child, Indecent Exposure, Child Endangerment, Injury to Child, and related offenses.

    SAMPLE HARRIS COUNTY SEX CRIME AND CHILD ABUSE CASE VICTORIES*

Case Synopses and Testimonials included with some of these cases; clients have given written permission for use of Testimonial.

Actual Dismissals only are listed, not “Dismissals” granted after  Deferred Adjudication.

Dismissals and “Not Guilty” verdicts may be verified for accuracy using the listed case numbers through the County Clerk’s office except for those noted as expunged in civil actions filed by Mr. Haggard. 



Our Latest "Not Guilty" Verdict
INDECENT EXPOSURE
Case No. 1474752 - Daniel M.
JURY TRIAL VERDICT:  NOT GUILTY
prior probation for the same offense.   Dan's professional plans could not support a second offense of the same type so we tried the case.  Through skillful argumentation and cross-examination Carl Haggard was able to prove the inconsistencies in Complainant's testimony. 

"Just before receiving my doctoral degree, I was wrongfully accused of Indecent Exposure.  Mr. Haggard's prior experience as a Chief Prosecutor and many years experience as a defense attorney proved invaluable to getting my "Not Guilty" verdict.  The energy and determination he exhibited in the courtroom against an aggreessive prosecution were instrumental to the successful outcome of the case.  His final arguments in the case were electrifying and clearly brought out the important points leaving the jury no choice but to return a "Not Guilty" verdict."   

"Carl was exactly what we needed for my husband's case.  He is   professional & very knowledgeable about the law but more importantly
he understood our emotions and helped calm our fears.  Regarding
the actual trial, Mr. Haggard helped us prepare by explaining what to
expect.  Not knowing is often more fear-provoking than anything - Carl   
told  us at each step in the  process what would happen and he 
counseled us on how to respond.  I have no doubt that Carl Haggard 
won  our case  because of his years of experience in the DA's office  
especially as Chief Prosecutor."

2 COUNTS OF RAPE [SEXUAL ASSAULT] 
Case No. 1119360, 1119361 - Daniel H.
DISMISSED 
The DA's were confident in their evidence of violence and physical force  in these two rape cases but we were able to prove otherwise, although a prior consenting relationship between Dan and Complainant complicated matters.  Eyewitness evidence, two impregnable alibis, plus incriminating impeachment evidence showing Complainant to be a mentally-ill and  jealous individual [Dan had reconciled with an old  girlfriend just prior to these allegations] were among some of the legal maneuvers we used to clear Dan of these false accusations.    
 
DID YOU KNOW...?  If a victim of sexual assault tells the examining physician who did it, this hearsay testimony can be admitted [into evidence at Trial].  How?  Under a little-known rule called "the diagnosis and treatment hearsay exception".  In some cases, the ID of the alleged assailant is construed as "a statement made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment" and therefore, in these cases, falls under this exception.   
Guzman v. State, _S.W.3d_, 2008 WL 383438 (Tex. App. No. 10-06-00315-CR--Waco Feb 13, 2008)

SEXUAL ASSAULT 
Case No. 720091 - Charles O.
COURT TRIAL VERDICT: NOT GUILTY
This was a one-witness rape allegation, but the relationship was consensual. A very difficult decision was to waive a jury trial and try the case to the Judge. Mr. Haggard in his cross-examination brought a number of important discrepancies in the Complainant’s story to light through his keen Cross-Examination, relieving our client of the risk of testifying. 

AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT 
Case 884107 - Angel H.
DISMISSED WHILE SET FOR TRIAL

SEXUAL ASSAULT 
Case No. 752352 - Richard A. 
DISMISSED

SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD [14-17]
Case No. 1163148 - Harless A. 
GRAND JURY NO BILL 
The Complainant in this case was the 15-year-old stepdaughter of our client, Harless.  Complainant had a history of mental disturbance.  Prior to the alleged molestation she had shown many well-documented behavioral anomalies indicating mental illness. This, combined with adroit lying and sexual precocity, led her to vow to get her stepfather "out of the house" - which her own mother testified to as a witness.  Harless had become the default disciplinarian - but a good one - due to diabetes which prevented him from working while his wife, Complainant's mother, was away working long hours.  The triggering incident was Harless' appropriate confiscation of Complainant's cell phone for repeated violations of its rules of use. Complainant immediately fabricated an outlandish story but shot herself in the foot by making the date of the alleged assault several weeks prior to her outcry.  Our vigorous defense included documenting several incidents proving Complainant’s modus operandi of making allegations of sexual abuse for various ulterior motives such as accusing a classmate of sexual harassment because she was angry at him and a separate claim of rape by another Defendant during the pendency of this case.   The officer who took the report of this rape was a very good witness for us - he stated he “didn't quite believe her”.  The time lag between the alleged molestation and the outcry to school counselors was significant.  CPS got involved and polygraph tests were taken by our client and Complainant.  We interviewed witnesses and reviewed all CPS and police video and audio statements.  Other evidence which helped our case was irrefutable documentation of Complainant’s story changes on this and the rape incident.  As one witness put it and as Mr. Haggard so ably proved, in getting her stepfather arrested she “acted as if she had won a game” - a game that she was playing with everyone's lives.  In several meetings with Prosecutors we put together a compelling presentation of the evidence in favor of our client's innocence.  Mr. Haggard moved to get this case before the Grand Jury as soon as feasible and obtained a No-Bill prior to setting the case for Trial.

INDECENCY WITH CHILD 
Case No Expunged by Mr. Haggard - James C. 
DISMISSED WHILE SET FOR TRIAL 
The teenaged daughter of our client’s girlfriend made some quite compelling allegations against our client and resolutely maintained them throughout a lengthy prosecution involving CPS. Mr. Haggard was able to exonerate our client by proving, among other legal defenses, the Complainant’s motivations to fabricate and to persist in such outrageous lies. All criminal records were later successfully expunged by Mr. Haggard after a civil court trial that was hotly contested by various government agency lawyers. James was a police cadet at the time of this false charge. At the writing of this testimonial, client is a police officer.

"I was a police officer cadet with a bright future, then lightning struck. I was looking at a 2nd degree felony that might have destroyed my life and ruined my law enforcement career; but Mr. Haggard, like a knight in armor, came to my rescue. With unstoppable dedication & professionalism, he fought for me. I’ll be forever grateful." ~ James C.

INDECENT EXPOSURE
Case No. 1554521- Robert E.
DISMISSED
Robert was walking in leather garb and, although not indecent according to the the letter of the statute, was told by a police officer to put on more clothing, which he did.  A second officer, overstepping his authority and the bounds of the law, then arrested Robert in violation of his rights saying, "I don't know if what you're doing is illegal - but let's find out."  He managed to get charges filed but Mr. Haggard, always zealous to defend against unconstitutional prosecution, prevailed in the courtroom.

INDECENT EXPOSURE
Case No. 9825271 - Matthew M.
JURY TRIAL VERDICT: NOT GUILTY

Our client was accused of indecently exposing himself to an off-duty HPD robbery detective. Mr. Haggard utilized the services of his investigator/expert to impeach the testimony of the arresting officer.

"Mr. Haggard got the investigator to gather information, prepared me well for testifying, coordinated a lot of character witnesses, and had total great preparation. Mr. Haggard was tremendous in trial and the Jury appeared to like him because he moved the case along fast to show I was innocent. The Jury came back very quickly in my favor. I thank Mr. Haggard for clearing my name and giving me my life back." ~ Alfred L.