Law Firm Overview

We are a Texas criminal defense firm that is dedicated to providing quality legal representation to those who are being investigated, or who have been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense. We can provide you with the experience and expertise that has been developed through 25 years of experience in handling criminal trials, appeals, sentencing proceedings, and habeas corpus actions. We are able to handle all types of criminal matters in Waco (McLennan County) and the surrounding areas. We also regularly represent clients throughout the state of Texas in criminal appeals and habeas corpus matters. Mr. Reaves is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is an active member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association. Mr. Reaves has served as an adjunct professor at Baylor Law School, and regularly shares his experience and expertise with other lawyers throughout the State in various continuing education programs. We have offices in both West, Texas and Waco, Texas, to better serve our clients.

PUBLICATIONS

In addition to keeping current on the law, we also help others do so. We publish a quarterly newsletter entitled Criminal Law Update , which contains summaries of recent significant decisions from the federal courts. This newsletter is distributed at no cost to attorneys, inmates and other interested individuals, and is available on request. We also author the Criminal Law Section of the General Practice Digest . That publication summarizes recent significant Texas decisions, as well as decisions from the United States Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. It is distributed to attorneys who are members of the General Practice Section of the State Bar of Texas.

We have a pamphlet which is available on request entitled What You Need to Know About Appeals and Habeas Corpus . This pamphlet contains a general discussion of the appellate and post-conviction process. The focus is on Texas procedures, with some coverage of the federal law governing writs of habeas corpus.

We also have published other articles dealing with post-conviction procedure. Those articles can be found at our website, postconviction.com.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Law - State and Federal
• Criminal Appeals
• Habeas Corpus
• Parole

Published Works

• Understanding Habeas Corpus, 2000

Classes and Seminars

• Various Topics Dealing with Criminal Law, TCDLA, 1995 - Present
• Post-Conviction Procedure, Baylor Law School

Representative Cases

• Bitterman v. State, 180 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006)
• Salazar v. State, 90 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002)
• U.S. v. Harvey, 897 F.2d 1300 (C.A.5 (Tex.) 1990)
• U.S. v. Skillern, 947 F.2d 1268 (C.A.5 (Tex.) 1991)
• U.S. v. Hooten, 942 F.2d 878 (C.A.5 (Tex.) 1991)
• U.S. v. Leach, 918 F.2d 464 (C.A.5 (Tex.) 1990)
• U.S. v. Roberts, 3 F.3d 826 (C.A.5 (Tex.) 1993)
• United States v. Baxter, 92-8556 (Fifth Circuit 1993)
• United States v. Stewart, 145 f.3d 273 (5th Circuit)
• Johnson v. State, 784 S.W.2d 413 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990)
• Wong v. State, 745 S.W.2d 563 (Tex.App.-Waco 1988)
• Williams v. State, 790 S.W.2d 643 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990)
• Carter v. State, 804 S.W.2d 326 (Tex.App.-Waco 1991)
• Anderson v. State, 817 S.W.2d 69 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991)
• Muse v. State, 815 S.W.2d 769 (Tex.App.-Waco 1991)
• Smith v. State, 10-92-031-CR (Tex. App. Waco 1993)
• Teer v. State, 895 S.W.2d 845 (Tex.App.-Waco 1995)
• Torres v. State, 825 S.W.2d 124 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992)
• Young v. State, 830 S.W. 2d 122 (Tex. App. Waco 1992)
• Williams v. State, 838 S.W.2d 952 (Tex.App.-Waco 1992)
• Young v. State, 891 S.W.2d 945 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994)
• Washington v. State, 856 S.W.2d 184 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)
• Kieschnick v. State, 911 S.W.2d 156 (Tex.App.-Waco 1995)
• Tigner v. State, 928 S.W.2d 540 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996)
• Burleson v. State, 935 S.W.2d 526 (Tex.App.-Waco 1996)
• Mata v. State, 939 S.W.2d 719 (Tex. App. Waco 1997)
• Fowler v. State, 956 S.W.2d 353 (Tex. App. Waco 1997)
• White v. State, 958 S.W.2d 460 (Tex. App. Waco 1997)
• Mazon v. State, W.L 247209 (Tex. App. 1999)

West Practice Categories

Criminal Law, Criminal Fraud, DUI/DWI, Drug Violations, Federal, Felonies, Grand Jury Proceedings, Misdemeanor, Parole & Probation, Sex Offenses, White Collar Crimes