Houston Sexual Assault Lawyer

Sexual assault allegations move fast. Law enforcement contact, digital evidence collection, and charging decisions can all occur within hours of an accusation. Whether you’re an accused individual concerned about your freedom and career or a survivor seeking accountability and justice, the legal steps you take in the earliest hours matter enormously. The right attorney doesn’t just respond to what’s already happened. They work to get ahead of it.

At Hochglaube & DeBorde, PC, we provide strategic, evidence-driven representation for clients navigating these high-stakes situations throughout Harris County and Montgomery County. We offer confidential consultations, 24/7 availability, Spanish-speaking representation, and virtual consultations so that cost, language, or logistics don’t stand between you and legal guidance when you need it most.

Call our Houston sexual assault lawyers at (713) 526-6300 for a confidential consultation. We’re available 24/7 and offer Spanish-speaking representation and virtual consultations.

Inside Knowledge of How Harris County Prosecutes These Cases

Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube spent more than 8 years as a Harris County District Attorney, personally prosecuting sexual assault cases, murders, drug cases, and financial crimes. She also worked in the Public Integrity Division, prosecuting police officers and politicians. That firsthand experience inside the same prosecution units now handling cases against our clients isn’t just background. It informs our strategic approach. She also coordinated a TCDLA seminar entitled Defending Sex Crimes Against Children, bringing her insight to defense attorneys and judges across Texas, and has received Super Lawyers recognition for sex offense cases. Mark Hochglaube is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is one of the few Houston attorneys who both tries and appeals cases. Together, our team brings over 60 years of combined criminal defense experience to every matter we take on.

What That Experience Means for Your Defense

Our time on both sides of these cases shapes how we build and challenge arguments. That prosecutor-informed approach allows us to:

Anticipate prosecution tactics. We understand how units in Harris and Montgomery Counties sequence evidence requests and build complainant testimony because we’ve done it ourselves.
Identify evidence weaknesses. We examine chain-of-custody gaps in digital evidence, question the reliability of forensic interviews, and challenge the authenticity of AI-generated or manipulated materials.
Pursue pre-arrest intervention. Some of the most consequential work in a sexual assault investigation often happens before charges are filed. We work to present exculpatory evidence to authorities early, before charging decisions are made.

Texas Sexual Assault Charges: What You’re Facing

Sexual assault in Texas covers a broad range of conduct, and the penalties are severe. Under Texas Penal Code 22.011, standard sexual assault is a second-degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison, fines up to $10,000, and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. It’s also a 3g offense under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.054, meaning a convicted person must serve at least half their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Standard community supervision also isn’t available to a judge at sentencing.

Key charges include:

Aggravated sexual assault. A first-degree felony carrying 5 to 99 years and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Applies when serious bodily injury, a weapon, or a minor is involved.
Continuous sexual abuse (§21.02). Two or more acts over 30 or more days against a child under 14. A first-degree felony with a mandatory 25-year minimum and no early release.
Sexual assault of a child. Carries mandatory sex offender registration and significant prison terms. Consent provisions include conduct related to intoxication or impairment.
Digital sexual misconduct (§21.165). Prohibits producing or distributing manipulated images or videos, including AI-generated content, depicting non-consensual sexual acts.

Texas doesn’t require physical evidence for a conviction. Cases frequently proceed on complainant testimony alone, and digital forensics now play a central role in how investigations are built. What looks manageable at the outset can escalate quickly without early legal intervention.

Steps to Protect Your Rights & Career After an Accusation

Don’t make statements to law enforcement without an attorney present, regardless of whether you believe you’re innocent. Anything said can become part of the charging decision. Acting promptly on every front is essential.

Bail & Pretrial Custody

Texas judges can set or deny bail for violent or sexual assault charges based on public safety considerations. Bail decisions typically rely on risk assessments and an evaluation of the alleged conduct. Our attorneys can challenge those determinations when appropriate, which may reduce the time a client spends in pretrial custody.

Professional Licenses & Title IX Proceedings

Convictions and even deferred adjudications may trigger automatic revocation of professional licenses for doctors, nurses, teachers, and other licensed professionals in Texas. Students, faculty, or staff at schools and universities may also face separate Title IX investigations: administrative proceedings that operate independently of criminal court and require a distinct advocacy strategy. We coordinate criminal defense strategy alongside these proceedings to help limit disruption to your academic standing and professional future.

Why Early Legal Action Shapes the Outcome

In a sexual assault case, timing isn’t just important. It’s often highly consequential. Retaining a sexual assault attorney in Houston early allows our team to preserve digital evidence before it’s lost or altered: social media messages, GPS data, metadata, and device records that can establish or undermine the prosecution’s narrative. We work with forensic professionals to examine how that evidence was collected, whether the chain of custody holds, and whether authenticity challenges are available.

Early engagement also shapes what you say and to whom. Statements made to investigators before an attorney is involved frequently become central evidence at trial. We provide guidance on communication from the moment we’re retained so information isn’t handed to prosecutors unnecessarily. If the case ultimately resolves in your favor, we can handle any opportunities to clear your record under Chapter 55A. Expunction completely removes an arrest record. Non-disclosure seals it from public view while preserving it from destruction. Both may be available for dismissed or acquitted cases, and non-disclosure is available after certain deferred adjudication completions, subject to eligibility rules and waiting periods.

Support & Legal Options for Survivors

Survivors often seek accountability beyond the individual, from institutions like schools or employers that had notice of a problem and failed to act. At Hochglaube & DeBorde, PC, we pair practical legal strategy with straightforward, empathetic guidance. Recent Texas law changes prevent confidentiality agreements from silencing survivors of sexual abuse, allowing those previously restricted from speaking out to pursue accountability without fear of retaliation.

Paths to recovery may include:

Investigating whether an institution ignored prior complaints or failed to maintain a safe environment.
Pursuing compensation for therapy, medical bills, and relocation costs.
Accessing extended timeframes to file civil claims against public organizations when applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Digital Messages Be Used as Evidence?

Yes. Texts, social media messages, and metadata frequently play a central role in Texas sexual assault cases. The chain-of-custody integrity of that evidence directly affects whether it’s admissible. We work with forensic professionals to examine how the evidence was collected, assess its authenticity, and identify potential challenges to its admission.

What Is the Difference Between Expunction & Non-Disclosure?

An expunction removes an arrest record entirely, as if it never existed. A non-disclosure keeps the record but prevents the public from accessing it. Both can limit the long-term personal and professional consequences of a case, and eligibility depends on how the case resolved.

Can I Hold My Employer Liable for a Coworker’s Assault?

Possibly. If an employer ignored known risks or failed to provide a safe workplace and an assault resulted, a civil negligence or premises liability claim may apply.

Houston Sexual Assault Attorney

Sexual assault allegations demand immediate, strategic action. At Hochglaube & DeBorde, PC, our sexual assault lawyers in Houston combine former-prosecutor insight with over 60 years of combined defense experience to protect your rights, reputation, and future and to help survivors pursue the accountability they deserve. We serve clients throughout Harris County and Montgomery County and are ready to help from the first call.

Call (713) 526-6300 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation. We’re available 24/7 to provide guidance at every stage of your case.

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At Hochglaube & DeBorde, PC, we're always ready to take your call! Give us a call at (713) 526-6300 or fill out the form below to contact one of our team members.

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Over 60 Years of Combined Experience

Handling Criminal Defense & Serious Injury Cases

Proven, Successful Trial Attorney in Texas
Persistent, Thorough, and Prepared Advocacy
Former Prosecutors With a Long Track Record of Respect

Client Testimonials

Proven Results, Trusted Representation

At the lowest point in my life, I found Nicole DeBorde
“At the lowest point in my life, I found Nicole DeBorde after a thorough AI search for top-notch criminal law firms led me to HOCHGLAUBE & DEBORDE, PC in Houston, TX. I was drawn to the firm’s 60 years of combined legal experience and its direct communication model, where clients work closely with named partners rather than simply junior associates or paralegals.

Nicole did not disappoint me. As expected, she is competent, thorough, and comfortable in the courtroom. In addition, I was deeply appreciative that she showed a great deal of empathy and compassion for me as a person during my ordeal.

Nicole was very proactive in my case. I believe she played a huge role in securing a “No Bill” return from the grand jury. I have no doubt that her wealth of experience as a former Harris County prosecutor (from 1994 to 2002) and skilled defense attorney since was instrumental in producing the grand jury’s decision not to indict.

Nicole removed what felt like the weight of the world from my shoulders. I am extremely thankful for the outcome of the case and forever grateful for her experience, dedication, preparedness, and strong work ethic.”
Thank you, Nicole, and your team, for saving my life.
“I don't know where to begin to explain how thorough, professional, effective and awesome this law firm is. Nicole Deborde and her team did a fantastic job in representing me in a very serious, 2nd-degree felony criminal case. End result, the case was dropped. God forbid any of you ever need a criminal defense attorney in the state of Texas, but if you do, I recommend this firm, 100%. Thank you, Nicole, and your team, for saving my life”

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