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THE TEXAS DEFENDER TexasCriminalDefenseGroup.com | (888) 818-7130 MAY 2025
Jonathan Michell Uses Experience and Knowledge to Secure Better Outcomes The Power of Proactivity
If you were to ask a group of attorneys when they first realized they wanted to pursue a career in law, most would tell you they knew from a young age. Maybe they liked arguing, and their loved ones told them they would make a good attorney, or they became inspired while watching legal dramas like “Perry Mason” or “Law & Order.” While these may have influenced their decision, many were drawn to the field thanks to their desire to help others. We help others through one of the most challenging moments they’ll face in life, and I’m proud I’ve been able to do this successfully for those in our community for several years. My name is Jonathan Michell, and I’m the lead attorney for Texas Criminal Defense Group’s San Antonio office. While I’ve always had a passion for helping others and knew I wanted to pursue a career in law, my journey was slightly different from that of other attorneys. Before committing to an undergraduate program, I contacted several law schools to see which degree would give me the best chance of getting into their program. They essentially said it didn’t matter and I should pursue an undergraduate degree in something that interested me. I was a band nerd in grade and high school, so I obtained a degree in music performance from UT Arlington. During my first day of law school at Texas Tech University School of Law, everyone shared what they got their bachelor’s degree in. Most people said business or political science, but I was the only one with a musical performance degree. I remember seeing everyone look at me like, “What is happening?” I have to say my degree has been much more useful than I ever would have imagined. Doing a jury trial is much like a performance, and my degree has made it easier to get juries to respond positively to my client or me. Additionally, you have to practice and work diligently to refine your craft, which has transitioned easily into my legal career.
After a little over a decade in the field, I joined the Texas Criminal Defense Group. After three years with the team, I love the work we do. I worked as a prosecutor for seven years, but my time doing defense work has been so much more rewarding. I can assist people facing a crisis that could impact their livelihood by stepping in and providing them with the help they need to win their case or get it dismissed altogether. One thing that’s really important for my clients to know when facing a criminal case is that they need to be proactive and put in the effort to see the best results possible. If you’re accused of drunk driving, I’ll likely tell you to embrace sobriety, quit drinking, make good decisions going forward, and comply with all conditions to see success with your case. You may even need to attend a class or two. You can’t just sit back and expect the case to resolve itself without putting forth any effort. Your case will require patience and action. I love what I do but still need a break occasionally. I love to travel and recently had a great experience visiting Vietnam for a friend’s wedding. I’m a big animal person and enjoy taking my dog to off-leash hiking trails. I’m also big into cooking. I often joke that I would be a short-order cook at a restaurant if I weren’t a lawyer!
When you work with me or anyone else at Texas Criminal Defense Group, you can rest easy knowing we’ll do everything possible to fight for you and your rights!
—Jonathan Michell
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The Ultimate Mother’s Day Breakfast Plan
Treat Mom to a Magical Morning
We should all show appreciation for the moms in our lives year-round, but Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to do something extra special. For many busy moms, a relaxing, stress-free breakfast in bed is the ultimate treat. But Mother’s Day breakfast doesn’t have to be an over- the-top display or super complicated to prepare. A little planning, a few thoughtful details, and helping hands make all the difference. Start with a menu she’ll love. Mother’s Day breakfast in bed should be simple but meaningful. Breakfast go-tos like pancakes and French toast are delicious and easy to make, and you can add a parfait or fresh fruit and a cup of freshly squeezed juice for a special touch. If she loves eggs and toast, go in that direction. Preparing Mom’s favorite dish or incorporating ingredients that remind her of a family tradition can take the meal to the next level. Present it beautifully. You can elevate even a simple breakfast with a few thoughtful additions. Ditch the disposables and use real
plates, silverware, and linen napkins. Deliver the breakfast with care on a lovely tray accompanied by a small vase of flowers. Keep everything organized neatly, and include a handwritten card or note to add a heartfelt message to the meal. Make it a team effort. Get the whole family involved — minus Mom, of course! Even young kids can pitch in by spreading butter, arranging fruit, or folding napkins. Older kids can help out more with the actual cooking. To make Mother’s Day morning stress- free for everyone, do prep work the night before. Chop fruit, prepare the coffeemaker, and premix the pancake batter. And don’t forget the cleanup. Working as a team to wash dishes and put things away will ensure a dirty kitchen doesn’t ruin Mom’s special day when she gets up.
Remember, you don’t have to prepare the perfect meal to make Mother’s Day memorable. It’s all about showing your love and appreciation. The holiday is an opportunity to bring the entire family together to create a special moment for the most important woman in your life. May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Why Drinking and Riding Don’t Mix
motorcycle are often much more severe. Consuming alcohol slows your reaction time, making ordinary traffic situations incredibly dangerous. You might be unable to react to a sudden light change, debris in the road, or another vehicle cutting in front of you. Your concentration will become more spotty with every drink you consume. After having one too many, you may drift into other lanes, reach high speeds, and tailgate closely behind other vehicles without even realizing it. With your focus shaken, you may also make improper decisions, like pulling out quickly in front of other vehicles or completely disregarding the rules of the road. You might start participating in distracted driving behaviors, such as using your cellphone, adjusting your radio, or striking up conversations with other drivers.
Everything we’ve mentioned should already be concerning, but it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the most life-changing risks. Riding your motorcycle with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.08% or higher is illegal. If pulled over, you could receive a DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge with a fine of up to $2,000, up to 180 days in jail, a driver’s license suspension for up to one year for first-time offenders, and more, depending on the circumstances. While that sounds like the worst-case scenario, you could experience a serious accident, and injuries stemming from a motorcycle accident are often serious. If you make the mistake of drinking and riding and get charged with a DWI, call our office immediately. Our team specializes in DWI defense and will work diligently to protect your rights.
Riding a motorcycle requires intense focus. If you’re not paying attention and pull out in front of someone, ride too close to the vehicle in front of you, or drive in someone’s blind spot, it could cause an accident that leaves you with serious injuries or worse. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a great reminder to keep safety at the front of your mind whenever you hop on your bike. While we focus much attention on the risks of drinking and driving, the dangers of drinking and riding a
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Many people believe they have what it takes to be a lawyer without needing the education, experience, or knowledge most attorneys possess. They’ve watched plenty of courtroom dramas and know the situation around their case better than anyone, so why would they waste money hiring legal counsel? While it’s legal to represent yourself in court, it’s incredibly challenging and can hurt you and your case, especially if you face criminal charges. Here are a few pitfalls that those representing themselves in court are likely to experience. Failing to Understand Proper Legal Procedures Legal dramas are notorious for showcasing the exciting parts of a court case, like the process of building a defense and everything that goes on in the courtroom. However, they rarely discuss the necessary procedures lawyers have to adhere to. If you file a document late or fail to format your motions correctly, you could severely damage your case. It’s worth noting that the Texas legal system has many rules and procedures that can be confusing for experienced lawyers. Letting Your Emotions Take Control You need a cool, calm mind to succeed in the courtroom. If you let your emotions run wild, you’ll struggle to present your arguments, ask witnesses vital questions, and remain objective. To effectively build a defense, you have to look at the facts of your case, the evidence involved, and any potential legal arguments the opposing counsel will present. Emotions will only get in the way of any arguments you build and could reflect negatively on you in the courtroom. Underestimating the Time Commitment Taking your case to trial requires a lot of time-consuming work. You must research applicable laws, write motions, attend hearings, build your defense, consider evidence and witnesses, and much more. This is not a quick and easy process. Building your case and going to trial could take months of consistent work. This can be incredibly difficult for someone to manage, especially if they have other responsibilities. Here’s What Could Go Wrong Going to Court Without a Lawyer?
HAPPY TCDG CLIENTS “Their team is professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to fighting for their clients. They kept me informed every step of the way and achieved an outstanding outcome in my case. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of top-tier legal representation.” -Josh
Silky Chocolate Mousse
Inspired by TheKitchn.com
Ingredients • 1 1/2 cup heavy cream, divided
• 1 cup milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips (6 oz) • Optional garnish: grated chocolate, crushed nuts, toffee, or brittle Directions 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, put 1/2 cup of cream in the microwave for 1 minute. 2. Stir in chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. 3. In a separate bowl, beat the remaining 1 cup of cream with a hand mixer or whisk until soft peaks form. 4. Set aside 1/2 cup of whipped cream for topping, and continue whipping the remaining cream until stiff peaks form. 5. Gently fold whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture in batches, mixing until combined but still light and fluffy. 6. Spoon into four ramekins or glasses, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. 7. Top with reserved whipped cream and garnish if desired.
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Jonathan Michell’s Dedication to Protecting Your Rights
Mother’s Day Breakfast Ideas to Wow Mom The Consequences of Drinking and Riding a Motorcycle Why Representing Yourself in Court Could Be a Dangerous Gamble Silky Chocolate Mousse
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Mindset Coaching: A New Path to Savoring Life
Attitude Adjustment
Embrace Your Capacity for Growth
In a fast-changing world, it’s easy to get bogged down in self-doubt and negativity. Mindset coaching, a new route to self-improvement, applies psychological tools to instill a more upbeat, hopeful attitude toward life. Mindset coaching helps people break away from habitual negative thinking and behaviors that prevent them from seeing and reaching their potential. It is a relatively new field that evolved from two influential bodies of research — cognitive psychology, which helps individuals recognize and change negative thought patterns, and the work of psychologist Carol Dweck on “growth mindset,” a perspective that teaches people they can change and develop through effort and learning.
It’s important to understand that mindset coaches are not therapists, nor are they licensed or regulated. Interested individuals should seek a qualified coach trained and certified by a reputable coaching organization. The training equips mindset coaches with tools to help clients cultivate resilience and positivity, including mindfulness, journaling, visualizing achievements, and cognitive restructuring or replacing negative thought patterns with more realistic, balanced views. Mindset coaches also help clients uproot limiting beliefs about themselves and reduce their fear of being evaluated negatively by others. For example, mindset coaching might help a software engineer struggling
with self-doubt and fear of failure to reframe their thinking and view criticism as constructive feedback to help improve their skills. Also, a manager striving for a promotion might learn to value their skills and cultivate a belief in their ability to expand and acquire new competencies. Ultimately, clients are taught to reframe life as a journey of self-discovery and learning — a mindset so empowering that it can change lives!
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