El Paso Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in El Paso, the most important thing you can do is stay silent and speak with a defense lawyer before your first court date. West Texas Trial Lawyers defends people in El Paso County courts and in federal court in El Paso, handling DWI, assault and family violence, drug, sex crime and other charges. Attorney Adam Setra prepares every case for trial from day one. Call (915) 279-0000 for a free, confidential consultation.

How criminal cases move through El Paso courts

After an arrest in El Paso County, you will see a magistrate who sets bond and conditions of release. Felony cases are reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office for the 34th Judicial District and, if indicted, heard in the district courts at the El Paso County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio Ave., El Paso, TX 79901. Misdemeanors are generally heard in the El Paso County Criminal Courts at Law (Nos. 1 through 4).

El Paso cases we see most often

• DWI arrests. El Paso County recorded 648 alcohol-related crashes in 2025, with 22 people killed, according to TxDOT crash records processed as of April 7, 2026. Enforcement on I-10, Loop 375 and Mesa Street is constant, and the 15-day ALR deadline applies to every arrest.
  Source: TxDOT, “DUI (Alcohol) Crashes and Injuries by County 2025.”
• Checkpoint and port-of-entry drug cases. Searches at the Border Patrol checkpoints on I-10 near Sierra Blanca and on US 62/180 east of El Paso, and at El Paso’s international bridges, can lead to state or federal charges. The legality of the stop and the search is often the decisive issue.
• Family violence. Emergency protective orders can bar you from your home immediately after arrest.
• Military service members. Soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss face both civilian charges and possible command action, so the two must be handled together.

Areas we serve around El Paso

El Paso (Downtown, Westside, Northeast, Eastside, Mission Valley), Socorro, Horizon City, Canutillo, Anthony, Vinton and Fabens, and El Paso County communities along the Mission Valley.

El Paso criminal defense FAQ

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in El Paso?

It depends on the charge and whether the case goes to trial. Your first consultation is free, and you will receive a fee quote before hiring us.

Can a lawyer get my El Paso DWI dismissed?

Sometimes. DWI cases can be dismissed or reduced when the stop was unlawful, the field sobriety or breath testing was flawed, or the blood evidence was mishandled.

Do you handle federal cases in El Paso?

Yes. We defend federal cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division.