San Antonio Criminal Defense Attorneys

Ray Taylor: A Truly Experienced Attorney

Many law firms will say they have "experienced" attorneys. At Ray Taylor & Associates, P.C., we truly have attorneys with the experience and credentials that are second to none.

40 Years of Criminal Trial Experience

At the Law Offices of Ray Taylor & Associates, P.C., attorney Ray Taylor has been practicing law in San Antonio and South Texas since 1970. He is the principal trial attorney in a firm that provides a vigorous defense for clients facing many types of criminal charges. We use Ray Taylor's 40 years of criminal trial and negotiating experience, his knowledge of the criminal justice system and his willingness to go to trial to achieve the best possible results for our clients. His many credentials include:

• Board Certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (1 of 36 lawyers of the 87,000 Texas lawyers to be so certified)
• Board Certified in Criminal Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization (less than one percent of bar meets this high standard)
• Designated as one of America's preeminent criminal lawyers for his courtroom success and high ethical standards by virtue of the fact that Mr. Taylor has been designated as an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell
• Author of seven law books
• Profiled on "60 Minutes" for his successful defense of nationally prominent cases

INNOVATIVE USE OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, PHYSICIANS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SCIENTISTS, AND OTHER EXPERTS

Ray Taylor frequently uses a highly skilled and experienced licensed private criminal investigator to put together an unexpected defense that will surprise the prosecution and for which they will be unprepared. Click here for case studies of the successful use of a private investigator.

CASE STUDY – INNOVATIVE USE OF A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR – INDECENCY WITH A CHILD CASE

A young male defendant was charged with indecency with a child. He allegedly touched the private parts of a 13 year old girl at a secluded area at their church.

At preliminary hearings, the complainant, 13 years old, had been an effective and compelling witness.

Our private investigator, a former police officer and 20 year veteran in the private investigation field, went to the home of the girl to take a recorded statement from the 13 year old.

She declined to give a statement.

The investigator noticed two full garbage bags out for collection as he left her home. He put both bags in the back of his pickup, and at his home, examined the contents.

Amongst the tin cans and spoiled tomatoes, he found an empty medicine bottle for a prescription for the 13 year old.

A look in the Physician's Desk Reference at our law office revealed the drug to be used to treat psychotic delusions and hallucinations in mentally ill adolescents.

At trial, the girl was equally convincing as to the alleged indecency, but admitted to being treated by the prescribing psychiatrist, and to taking her prescribed medicine. The subpoenaed psychiatrist reluctantly testified that before taking the medicine, she had been hospitalized for psychosis and reported hallucinating, having delusions, hearing other worldly voices in her head, and being the only one capable of seeing visions. Part of her delusions involved the Defendant and had sexual overtones.

The medication successfully suppressed the delusions, but she stopped taking her medicine just before she claimed the sexual indecency took place at church.

Subsequently, she got back on her medication, but still maintained the sexual episode had occurred.

The psychiatrist testified that without the medication, as when the outcry had been made, the girl cold not tell fantasy from truth and that, based upon his training, education, and experience, the episode was probably a delusion centered on her attraction for the Defendant.

The jury acquitted after 20 minutes deliberation.

A CASE STUDY - Use of Physician as an Expert Witness in a Child Rape Charge

The Defendant was a previously convicted felon charged with repeatedly raping his daughter. He faced 25 years to life.

The police and investigative Child Protective Services' reports obtained by our investigator indicated a medical exam demonstrated the child (complainant) had been infected by venereal warts. Of course, at trial, the father was denounced by the prosecution for this outrage.

At trial, the child was a convincing witness. She testified she had had intercourse only with her father.

The defense presented various evidence suggesting the child's story was unlikely, and some successful impeachment was accomplished.

The defense lawyer, a former hospital's attorney with some medical background, and the author of a book for lawyers on "Forensic Pathology,” did some research. Soon thereafter he obtained the services of an experienced physician witness, who testified he had run an accepted test on the defendant, and he was not now and never had been infected with venereal warts.

The doctor was then asked, "That being the case, how could he have possibly infected his daughter with the virus?"

The doctor flatly stated it was medically and scientifically impossible for him to have infected his daughter.

The state tried to impeach the doctor, but this doctor's testimony had come as a complete surprise to them and they simply made things worse, and the doctor, experienced witness that he is, got to further explain why the girl's story was medically impossible.

The defense attorney recalled the girl to the stand, and when confronted with the doctor's story, slowly and very softly said she had lied.

The defendant himself would have made a poor witness, and was subject to moral impeachment, so he did not testify.

The defense rested and had a not guilty verdict within 30 minutes.

For a detailed biography of Ray Taylor, please click here. If you are facing a criminal charge, contact us at a firm that provides experience, innovation, knowledge and determination. Schedule a free initial consultation at our office. Call (210) 807-9916.

Remember, the key to successful representation is the earliest possible intervention! Ask for an experienced San Antonio criminal defense attorney immediately and then remain silent.

Criminal Defense and Appeals

In addition to representing clients facing criminal trials, our firm is well known for the appellate work we do for other firms and individuals unsuccessfully represented by others. We often handle appeals for clients whose previous lawyers lost at trial. We submit quality appellate briefs based on the computer assisted research of 30-year veteran appeals attorney Phil Spicer and Ray Taylor's 40 years' experience. We are confident that our experience and knowledge of the complex procedures required in the state and federal appellate courts will result in the best possible presentation of your case.

It is far better to have an experienced criminal trial attorney qualified to handle appeals in the case from the beginning and trained in creating and preserving error. Indeed, in the thirty years Ray Taylor and Phillip R. Spicer have worked together, not one Court of Appeals has ruled that Ray Taylor waived an error.

Remember, generally speaking, in order to get a criminal case reversed on appeal, the error of the court must be clearly pointed out, by the defense lawyer, and a ruling obtained on the record, or error is waived and the appeal will fail, short of violation of some basic constitutional right.

However, in order to raise the issue of error, the defense lawyer must know how to raise the issue, and know how to preserve the error for appeal.

Then he must write a significantly convincing brief with cited cases and precedent to persuade the Court of Appeals to reverse.

Case Study in Preserving Error for Reversal on Appeal

Mr. Taylor's first appeal following his defense of a client was in 1973.

In Byrom v. State, 528 SW2nd 244, the court reversed. The defendant was indicted for passing as true forged check.

The facts showed the bank teller counted out the money and sat it down inside the teller's cage, then became suspicious of the check, and turned to check his "check scanner.” While his back was turned, the defendant fished the money out with the eraser end of a pencil, and fled.

The defense was that the state had indicted for forgery, but since the teller did not accept the check, the state had proved theft - a completely different and uncharged crime.

Mr. Taylor moved for a directed verdict on the record, cited the appropriate cases and, pointed out the defect in the state's case, and later, filed a motion for new trial, specifying in writing the particular error and citing the appropriate case precedents.

The Court of Criminal Appeals reversed Mr. Taylor's first appeal, and he has been handling, and enjoying doing appellate work ever since.

Handling High-Profile Criminal Cases in South Texas and the San Antonio Area

Our criminal law practice has included many high-profile cases. Ray Taylor has appeared many times on local and national television and has been the subject of many print and broadcast stories. We defend criminal cases, including sex and Internet crimes, sexual assault, drug crimes, professional misconduct (grievance defense) by attorneys and other professionals, licensing matters for professional people, white collar crimes, firearms crimes and juvenile matters. Our attorneys also handle a number of post-conviction matters such as appeals, parole representation and writs of habeas corpus, particularly for ineffective assistance of counsel.

Contact Our Bexar County Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers

To speak with a Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, contact us at our San Antonio law firm to arrange a free initial consultation and case analysis at out office. Call us at (210) 807-9916.

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