A homicide charge is the most serious allegation any person can face, and when that person is a child, the weight of it falls on the entire family. Whether your child has been charged with manslaughter, murder, or capital murder, the juvenile justice system will treat this case with the utmost severity. The risk of transfer to adult court is high, the potential consequences are life-altering, and the margin for error in the defense is zero.

Attorney Jerry Acosta has more than 20 years of experience defending juveniles in Texas, including cases involving the most serious charges the system can bring. As a former judge, he has seen these cases from both sides of the courtroom. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 10 consecutive years and brings the depth of knowledge and strategic insight that cases of this magnitude demand.

​​

Homicide Charges in the Juvenile System​

 

In Texas, homicide is not a single charge. It encompasses a range of offenses defined by the circumstances surrounding the death, the intent of the person involved, and the degree of culpability the law assigns. The most common homicide charges a juvenile may face include:​

• Manslaughter: causing death recklessly, without intent to kill
• Criminally Negligent Homicide: causing death through criminal negligence

• Murder: intentionally or knowingly causing death, or causing death during the commission of a dangerous felony

• Capital Murder: murder committed under specific aggravating circumstances that elevate it to the highest level of offense

​

​Each charge is different in its legal elements, its potential penalties, and the defenses available. Understanding exactly what your child is charged with and why is the first step in building an effective defense.

How the Juvenile System Handles This Charge

 

Because aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony, it receives the most serious treatment in the juvenile justice system. Possible outcomes include:
 

• Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for a determinate sentence
• Certification to stand trial as an adult
• Intensive probation with mandatory sex offender treatment
• Mandatory sex offender registration
• An incident that was reported by a third party rather than the alleged victim

​

The determinate sentencing system in Texas allows a juvenile adjudicated for aggravated sexual assault to receive a sentence that begins in the juvenile system and transfers to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) when the juvenile reaches age 19, if the court determines that continued juvenile supervision is inadequate. This means your child could face adult prison time even if they are tried in juvenile court.​​​​

 

The Risk of Transfer to Adult Court​

 

For any homicide charge, the risk of certification to adult court is among the most pressing concerns. In Texas, a juvenile who is 14 or older can be certified to stand trial as an adult for murder or capital murder. If your child is tried as an adult and convicted, they face adult criminal penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and, in capital cases, the possibility of life with the possibility of parole only after many decades.

​

Even for manslaughter charges, prosecutors may seek to have an older juvenile tried as an adult depending on the circumstances. Fighting certification is often the single most critical battle in a juvenile homicide case, and it must begin immediately.

Having served as a judge, Jerry Acosta understands exactly how certification hearings are evaluated, what evidence courts weigh most heavily, and how to present the most compelling case for keeping your child in the juvenile system.

​

Determinate Sentencing in Juvenile Homicide Cases​

 

Texas has a determinate sentencing system that applies to the most serious juvenile offenses, including murder. Under this system, a juvenile can be sentenced to a term of years that begins in the juvenile system but transfers to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) when the juvenile turns 19, if the court determines that continued juvenile supervision is inadequate.

​

This means that even if your child remains in the juvenile system, they could still face adult prison time. Determinate sentencing is one of the most serious outcomes available in juvenile court, and defending against it requires the same level of preparation and advocacy as a full adult criminal trial.

​

How We Defend Juvenile Homicide Cases

 

Homicide cases are the most complex and high-stakes matters in criminal defense. Every case begins with a thorough, independent investigation that proceeds in parallel with, and often ahead of, the prosecution's own investigation. Our approach includes:

• Retaining independent forensic and medical experts to evaluate the evidence

• Investigating the circumstances surrounding the death independently

• Reviewing all law enforcement reports, witness statements, and physical evidence

• Challenging the prosecution's theory of the case at every stage

• Examining whether your child's constitutional rights were violated during the investigation or arrest

• Fighting aggressively against certification to adult court

• Presenting comprehensive mitigating evidence at every stage of the proceedings

• Pursuing the most favorable resolution possible, whether through negotiation or trial

 

No two homicide cases are alike. The defense strategy must be built from the ground up based on the specific facts, and it must be ready to adapt as the case develops.

​

Why Experience Matters in These Cases

 

A juvenile homicide case is not the place for inexperience. The legal issues are complex, the stakes are the highest they can be, and the consequences of a poorly handled defense can follow a young person for the rest of their life. Jerry Acosta has spent more than two decades in Texas juvenile law, handling cases at every level of severity. His background as a former judge gives him an understanding of how courts approach these cases that very few defense attorneys can offer.

He is an active member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, the Houston Bar Association, the Mexican-American Bar Association, and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. These connections and this experience are put to work for every client from day one.

​

Protecting Your Child's Future

 

Even in the most serious cases, the outcome is not predetermined. Strong legal representation can mean the difference between a child remaining in the juvenile system or being tried as an adult, between a determinate sentence and a rehabilitative disposition, and between a record that follows them forever and one that can eventually be sealed. We fight for the best possible outcome at every stage, and we do not stop advocating for your child when the immediate case is resolved.

Contact Jerry Acosta Law today for a confidential consultation. If your child is facing a homicide charge, time is critical. With a former judge and 10-time Super Lawyer on their side, your child will have the most experienced juvenile defense available in Texas.