L and L Law Group defends Texas assault, family violence, aggravated assault, and continuous-violence cases across DFW.
L and L Law Group defends Texas assault, family violence, aggravated assault, and continuous-violence cases across DFW. Avoiding the family-violence finding is the central goal. Free 24/7. (214) 466-1398.
L and L Law Group is a Frisco-based criminal defense firm. Reggie London prosecuted in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office before joining the defense bar; Njeri London is the firm's managing attorney. Together they have defended thousands of cases across Dallas, Collin, Denton, Tarrant, and the surrounding DFW counties. We answer the phone at any hour because that is when most cases need defense work.
“The family-violence finding under Article 42.013 changes lives more than the underlying conviction does. Lifetime federal firearm ban, no record sealing, presumptive evidence in custody court — that is the real fight. We organize every defense around avoiding it.”
“Family-violence intake at the Dallas County DA was about volume. Every report got filed. The bodyworn-camera footage and the affidavit of non-prosecution work decided which cases stayed filed. Those are still the levers — they have not changed.”
This page was written and reviewed by Njeri London, State Bar of Texas No. 24043266, and Reggie London, State Bar of Texas No. 24043514. Last reviewed: April 2026.
Texas assault under Penal Code Chapter 22 ranges from Class C (offensive contact) to first-degree felony (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, family violence). The affirmative finding of family violence under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.013 triggers permanent federal firearm disability and ineligibility for record sealing.
The affirmative finding of family violence under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.013 is the most consequential ruling in most Texas assault cases. It triggers a permanent federal firearm prohibition under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(9), even for misdemeanor convictions. It makes the case ineligible for sealing under Texas Government Code §411.0727. It creates a presumption of evidence in family-court custody disputes under Family Code §153.004. And it triggers immigration deportability under 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(2)(E).
Most plea negotiations in family-violence cases are about avoiding this finding. We structure plea offers around reduction to non-family-violence offenses (assault by threat without injury, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief) wherever the facts support it.
The Magistrate Order of Emergency Protection under Article 17.292 issues at magistration. Standard duration is 31 days; 61 days with deadly-weapon allegations; 91 days with serious bodily injury. The MOEP is criminal-court-issued and runs alongside any civil protective order under Family Code Title 4.
Civil protective orders require their own application and hearing within 14 days of the temporary order. The hearing is essentially a mini-trial on the family-violence allegations and serves as our first cross-examination of the complainant. Final protective orders run up to 2 years under Family Code §85.025.
Texas Penal Code §9.31 and §9.33 provide robust self-defense and defense-of-others doctrines. Where the facts support them, these are full affirmative defenses raised by the defendant. The standard requires reasonable belief of unlawful force; deadly force is justified only in qualifying circumstances under §9.32.
The single most important evidence in most family-violence cases is the body-cam footage. Initial offense reports routinely fail to match what officers actually recorded — at the scene, from the cars, on the body cams. The same is true of 911 audio, which is often more chaotic than the after-the-fact narrative suggests. Pulling all of it on day one and cross-referencing against the offense report breaks more family-violence cases than any other single tactic.
On the call, we confirm the Magistrate Order of Emergency Protection terms — duration, no-contact, firearm-surrender. Compliance with the MOEP under Article 17.292 from hour one is non-negotiable.
We pull body-cam, dash-cam, 911 audio, the offense report, and any photographs. We interview witnesses ourselves and develop any prior false-report or domestic-history evidence.
Penal Code §9.31 self-defense, §9.33 defense of another, complainant impeachment with prior statements, body-cam contradictions. We also work the affidavit of non-prosecution where the complainant supports it.
The Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.013 finding triggers permanent §922(g)(9) firearm disability and §411.0727 sealing ineligibility. Avoiding it is the single most important negotiation goal.
Civil protective orders under Family Code Title 4 are defended in their own forum within 14 days. Criminal trial readiness is built throughout. Post-resolution, we screen for record-clearing.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“False family-violence allegation during a custody fight. They documented the entire pattern of false reports, served subpoenas to her therapist and prior workplaces, and the DA dismissed at the third setting.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“Aggravated assault charge with a deadly-weapon finding pending. I was in shock. They walked me through bond, MOEP compliance, and got the deadly-weapon enhancement stricken before we ever reached trial.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I was the one who got hit. Police arrested both of us. They sorted out which version held up, the body cam supported my account, and the case against me was dismissed within thirty days.”
Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts and applicable law.
Under Texas Family Code §71.004, family violence is an act intended to cause physical harm or fear of harm by a family member, household member, or person with whom the actor has a dating relationship. The relationship — not the act — distinguishes family violence from regular assault.
An MOEP under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 17.292 issues at magistration in family-violence cases. Standard duration is 31 days; 61 days with deadly weapon allegations; 91 days with serious bodily injury. Violation under Penal Code §25.07 is a separate criminal offense.
Texas Penal Code §22.01 defines simple assault (Class A misdemeanor for bodily injury). Penal Code §22.02 defines aggravated assault (second-degree felony) when serious bodily injury occurs OR a deadly weapon is used or exhibited. The deadly-weapon finding alone elevates the charge.
Under Texas Penal Code §25.11, two or more family-violence assaults within 12 months can be charged as a single third-degree felony, even when each individual incident would only have been a Class A misdemeanor. Charging this way also bypasses speedy-trial protections.
An ANP is a sworn statement from a complainant requesting that the State not pursue prosecution. It does NOT bind the State — only the District Attorney can dismiss — but a properly drafted ANP combined with other defense work materially affects negotiation leverage.
If the conviction includes an affirmative finding of family violence under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.013, then yes — federal law (18 U.S.C. §922(g)(9)) imposes a permanent firearm prohibition. This applies even to misdemeanor convictions and is the single most important consequence in many family-violence cases.
No. Only the State can dismiss criminal charges in Texas. The complainant's wishes are considered but not controlling. Many family-violence cases proceed to disposition over the complainant's objection.
Texas Penal Code §9.31 provides a justification defense when a person reasonably believes force is immediately necessary to protect against another's use or attempted use of unlawful force. Penal Code §9.32 extends self-defense to deadly force in qualifying circumstances. Self-defense is an affirmative defense raised by the defendant.
An MOEP is criminal-court-issued at magistration and lasts 31 to 91 days. A protective order under Family Code Title 4 is civil-court-issued, requires application and hearing, and lasts up to 2 years. A final protective order has its own evidentiary standards and can be defended at the protective-order hearing.
Engagement fees vary by charge level (misdemeanor versus aggravated felony versus continuous violence), the existence of the family-violence finding, and trial likelihood. We offer free consultations. Call (214) 466-1398 for a confidential quote and payment-plan discussion.
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Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances.
L and L Law Group, PLLC attorneys are licensed in Texas. Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) is the attorney responsible for the content of this page. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514). None of the attorneys at L and L Law Group, PLLC are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization unless specifically and separately stated.
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