Cited or arrested in Converse?
Converse has its own police department and municipal court on South Seguin Road. A fine-only citation stays at that court, where the options depend on the charge, while a more serious arrest goes to Bexar County.
Public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft of something worth less than $100 and assault by contact are all Class C misdemeanors: criminal charges punished by a fine. When Converse police write one, it goes to the city's municipal court on South Seguin Road, and for most of them the court offers deferred disposition, which can end with the complaint dismissed.
Assault is the exception. The court lists assault cases among those it will not place on deferred disposition, along with defendants under 17 and commercial driver's license holders. For an assault-by-contact citation, that leaves the two main answers the court describes: paying, which it treats as a guilty plea, or pleading not guilty, which puts the case on a pretrial setting that cannot be rescheduled.
Paying is the quickest of the two, and it ends with a conviction for assault. Before you choose, it is worth knowing what the evidence actually shows. When we are hired, we file our paperwork with the court and ask for the evidence right away, then look at the facts, the law and what the officers did, so the decision rests on more than the citation itself.
If you have a Converse citation for any charge, or you were arrested and the case went to Bexar County, tell us the charge and the date on your paperwork, and we will explain which options apply to you.
These are the options and rules the Converse Municipal Court describes for a Class C case.
The judge sets conditions to follow for 90 days, and there is a $50 special expense fee. You can set it up in person or online before your scheduled court appearance, and the request must come before any payment. The court excludes assault cases, defendants under 17 and commercial driver's license holders.
Why it matters: if the conditions are met, the complaint is dismissed, and Texas law says there is then no final conviction.
You can dispute the citation by emailing the court your details and your plea, and the case is then set for a pretrial date. A defendant who asks for a jury trial is first set for a pretrial conference with the prosecutor.
Why it matters: pretrial dates cannot be rescheduled, and a defendant who misses a jury trial date can be charged the cost of calling the jury.
The court offers a payment arrangement with $50 per citation due up front and the rest within 30 days, but only if no plea has been entered. If you cannot pay without hardship, it asks you to contact the court before your court date.
Why it matters: a finding that you cannot pay can lead to a longer payment schedule, community service, a lower amount or a combination.
The court issues a warrant when someone misses their initial appearance or a show cause hearing. Warrant payments are taken by cashier's check, money order or online, not by personal check.
Why it matters: someone arrested only on a Converse city warrant is released on paying or posting a cash bond, or, if they cannot within 24 hours, on a personal bond with a hearing within 30 days.
Sources: City of Converse, Deferred Disposition, Disputing a Citation, Payment Information, Warrants and Standing Orders; Code of Criminal Procedure arts. 45A.302 and 45A.305. Court procedures can change, so confirm with the court.
Some charges can stay in the municipal court, and others start in Converse and move to Bexar County. These are some of the charges we handle.
A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours in jail, and a test result of 0.15 or more makes it a Class A. A test result of 0.08 or more, or a refusal, can also lead to a license suspension.
Why it matters: DPS must receive a request for a license hearing within 15 days of the suspension notice, separate from the criminal case. Read about our DWI defense.
Possession of drug paraphernalia is a fine-only Class C misdemeanor. THC oil, wax and vape cartridges are Penalty Group 2 substances, so even less than a gram of them is a state jail felony.
Why it matters: a paraphernalia citation can be heard in the municipal court, while a THC concentrate charge goes to the criminal district courts. See our page on drug crime defense.
Assault by offensive contact or by threat is usually a Class C misdemeanor, and assault causing bodily injury is usually a Class A. If the court finds the offense involved family violence, it must enter that finding in the judgment.
Why it matters: a family violence finding bars later sealing by nondisclosure, so the relationship between the people involved matters from the start. See our page on family violence charges.
Theft of property worth less than $100 is usually a fine-only Class C misdemeanor. From $100 to less than $750 it is usually a Class B, which goes to the county courts at law.
Why it matters: the dollar figure sets both the level and the court, so it is one of the first things we check. See our property crime defense page.
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Monica represents clients in San Antonio and across Bexar County in misdemeanor and felony cases, including DWI, drug, assault and family violence, and theft charges.
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Answers to the questions people ask most after a citation, arrest or warrant in Converse.
Ask about your caseYes. A Class C misdemeanor is a criminal offense, even though the punishment is a fine of up to $500 and no jail. The Converse court says paying a citation before your court date is the same as pleading guilty, so paying ends the case with a conviction.
Court sessions are held in person at 402 S. Seguin Rd., with check-in from 10:30 a.m. and court at noon, and the court says they often last three hours or more. You must be on the docket to appear before the judge. The court grants one continuance per party without good cause, and a request made the day of or the day before court is not granted without good cause.
In many cases, yes. The court accepts pleas by mail, takes not guilty pleas by email and accepts payment by mail, phone or online. Paying counts as a guilty plea, and the court requires some defendants to appear, including juveniles.
For a Class B misdemeanor or higher, the person goes before a magistrate at Bexar County's Central Magistrate office. Texas law requires that to happen without unnecessary delay and within 48 hours. The magistrate explains the charge and the person's rights, including how to ask for an appointed lawyer, and sets bond. The county gives people the chance to post bond there without being moved to the Adult Detention Center.
Often, depending on how it ends. Texas law says records of a complaint dismissed after deferred disposition may be expunged. If an arrest ends in a dismissal, you may be able to clear the arrest from your record, and some people can later ask for an order of nondisclosure instead.
Our San Antonio office also represents people charged in the cities around Converse and elsewhere in Bexar County.
Tell us whether you received a citation, were arrested or learned of a warrant, and the charge and court date on your paperwork. Our San Antonio office is at 101 Stumberg St., #112, San Antonio, TX 78204. You can call, use the form below, or reach us through our contact page.
(210) 942-4441Texas Defenders is committed to answering your questions about Criminal Defense law issues in Texas.
We offer a free consultation and we will gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
