10 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Denton, TX

Jurisdiction: Texas, Denton County

An arrest in Denton rarely comes with a warning. It can follow a traffic stop on I-35, a night out near the Square, a party near the UNT or TWU campuses, a domestic call in one of the neighborhoods off Loop 288, or a shoplifting accusation at a store on the Rayzor Ranch side of town. What follows is almost always the same: a bond to arrange, a court date that arrives faster than expected, a prosecutor who has already read the police report, and, after a DWI arrest, a driver’s license clock that starts running on the day of the arrest.

Criminal cases in Denton are prosecuted in state court. Felony cases are heard in the Denton County district courts, misdemeanors in the county criminal courts, and the trial courts sit in the Denton County Courts Building on East McKinney Street. Cases are prosecuted by the Denton County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, and appeals from Denton County go to the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth.

Below is a selection of criminal defense lawyers serving Denton, based on factors such as criminal defense focus, local courthouse experience, prior prosecutor background, attorney credentials, publicly available reviews, and relevant legal experience.

Quick View: Top 3 Criminal Defense Law Firms

1. Vrba Law, PLLC

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Rudy “Glynn” Vrba, Lindsey Pruitt, Sydney McCaulley
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; Rudy Vrba’s Avvo profile shows roughly 13 years of licensure
• Headquarters: 121 W. Hickory Street, #115, Denton, TX 76201
• Phone: (469) 240-9080
• Website: vrbalaw.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.vrbalaw.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI, Drug Crimes, Domestic Violence Defense, Juvenile Defense, Traffic Tickets, Assault, Felonies, Misdemeanors, Theft Defense
• Firm Size: Small firm, 3 attorneys, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 4.6 ★★★★★ (57 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: VRBA Law is a criminal-defense-only practice in downtown Denton built around Rudy “Glynn” Vrba, a Lewisville native and Lake Dallas High School graduate who earned a business degree at the University of North Texas and a law degree with honors from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He describes his practice as 100 percent criminal defense, and he says that sometimes means trying a high-BAC DWI with a bad video just to make prosecutors work for it.

What sets the firm apart is how its clients describe the service. The testimonials on its website repeatedly mention fast call-backs, plain-spoken fee conversations, and a lawyer who will tell a caller when a traffic ticket does not need an attorney. The firm’s practice list runs from tickets and misdemeanors up through felonies, and it serves clients across Denton County and the surrounding area, including Collin, Cooke and Dallas Counties. Mr. Vrba is a member of the Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the site displays a Best of Denton County recognition graphic. The firm offers consultations, and his Avvo profile lists the first 20 minutes as free.

2. Sanjay Biswas Attorney at Law

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Sanjay Biswas
• Founded: Practicing since 1997 (more than 28 years)
• Headquarters: 1005 North Elm Street, Denton, TX 76201
• Phone: (940) 353-1334
• Website: dentonlawtx.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.dentonlawtx.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI Defense, Assault and Domestic Violence, Drug Crimes, Theft and Burglary, Felony Defense, Murder, Sex Crimes, White Collar Crimes, Child Protective Services, Expunctions and Nondisclosures, Probation Violations
• Firm Size: Solo practice, Denton office plus a Dallas office by appointment only
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (142 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Sanjay Biswas Attorney at Law is a criminal defense practice on North Elm Street in Denton, led by Sanjay Biswas, who has practiced since graduating from Tulane Law School in 1997. He is licensed in Texas and Louisiana, holds an LL.M. in Admiralty Law, and is a designated ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer Scientist, with memberships including the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the DUI Defense Lawyers Association.

The firm positions itself around scientific defense, with a forensic background used to challenge blood tests, breathalyzers and lab reports in DWI and drug cases, and it states that every case is prepared as if it will go to trial. The docket centers on DWI, assault and family violence, drug and theft charges, and record clearing in Denton County and across North Texas. Consultations are free.

3. Magaña & Van Dyke, PLLC

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Jenna Magaña, Jason Van Dyke, Katie Klinke (of counsel)
• Founded: 2007
• Headquarters: 1417 East McKinney Street, Suite 110, Denton, TX 76209
• Phone: (940) 382-1976
• Website: maganavandyke.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.maganavandyke.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI, Drug Crimes, Juvenile Defense, Violent Crimes, Theft, White Collar Crimes, Domestic Violence, Driving With an Invalid License, Resisting Arrest, Pretrial Diversion, Probation Violations, Expunction and Non-Disclosure, plus Divorce and Family Law
• Firm Size: Small firm, 2 attorneys plus of counsel, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 4.4 ★★★★★ (103 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Magaña & Van Dyke has served Denton County since 2007 and pairs a full criminal defense practice with divorce, custody and child support work. The firm’s website cites 33 years of combined experience and describes a team approach in which paralegals and office staff keep case files, evidence and correspondence organized so someone is always available to help.

The criminal side of the practice is broad. Its pages cover first-offense and repeat DWI, drug possession and distribution, sex crimes, violent crimes up to murder, theft and white-collar charges, and the diversion and record-clearing options that can follow a case. Pretrial diversion and expunction or non-disclosure are listed as stand-alone services. The overlap with family law is a practical advantage for clients whose criminal charge also affects a divorce or custody matter, such as a family-violence accusation. The site notes that the free consultation applies to criminal defense, and it offers Spanish-language service.

4. The Law Offices of Nathan Miller, PLLC

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Nathan Miller
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; a directory profile says he began his private criminal defense practice in 2010
• Headquarters: 1701 N. Locust Street, Denton, TX 76201; additional office in Southlake, TX
• Phone: (940) 293-0550
• Website: nathanmillerlaw.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.nathanmillerlaw.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI, DWI Record Sealing, Pretrial Diversion, Drug Crimes, Theft Crimes, Assault and Family Violence, Sex Crimes, Weapons Crimes, Sealing Records, Juvenile Defense, Personal Injury and Civil Representation of Crime Victims
• Firm Size: Boutique, attorney-led, with support staff; offices in Denton and Southlake
• Google Rating: 4.8 ★★★★★ (86 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Nathan Miller began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Denton County, handling cases from simple misdemeanors to complex felonies, before opening his own firm. He says he has tried more than 100 cases to a jury verdict, including more than 100 DWI cases, and that he has completed training in field sobriety testing and the laboratory analysis of blood for alcohol and drugs.

Diversion and rehabilitation programs are a particular focus. His firm lists pretrial diversion, DWI record sealing and general record sealing as separate services, and it provides application materials for the local drug court, DWI court and veterans court programs. That makes it a natural fit for first-time defendants, students and professionals who need to protect their futures as well as win their cases. The firm’s Southlake office extends its reach toward Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller and Trophy Club, and the practice also represents crime victims in civil cases. Consultations are free and confidential, and Avvo lists Mr. Miller with a 10.0 “Superb” rating.

5. Law Offices of Tim Powers

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Tim Powers (managing attorney), Grace Wren, Hayley M. Brown, Monica Lopez, Alesha Nichols, Sophia Sanchez, Alexis Griffin, plus of counsel James Angelino and Scott Davenport
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; the firm says it has handled criminal cases in Denton and Collin Counties since 1996
• Headquarters: 215 West Oak Street, Denton, TX 76201; additional offices in McKinney and Plano (by appointment) and Austin
• Phone: (940) 483-8000
• Website: timpowers.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.timpowers.com/
• Practice Areas: Assault and Family Violence, Theft, Drug Charges, DWI, Felonies, Misdemeanors, Sex Crimes, Violent Crimes, Probation Violations and Revocation, Juvenile Defense, Expunction and Non-Disclosure, Firearm Offenses, White Collar Crimes, Search and Seizure, Warrants, Appeals
• Firm Size: Large local firm, 7 attorneys plus 2 of counsel, with offices in Denton County, Collin County and Austin; accepts only Denton and Collin County cases
• Google Rating: 4.7 ★★★★★ (674 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: The Law Offices of Tim Powers is the largest criminal-only defense team on this list, and it is built around its founder’s unusual judicial and prosecutorial background. Tim Powers is a former Denton County Assistant District Attorney and Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor who was voted 1997 Denton County Prosecutor of the Year, and he is a former municipal court judge. He graduated cum laude from Tulane University School of Law and formerly taught criminal law and procedure as an adjunct at UNT.

The firm reports that it has defended more than 7,500 cases in Denton County and says 665 cases have been dismissed since 2023 across Denton and Collin Counties, including 54 DWI cases and 268 expunctions. Those are the firm’s own figures and have not been independently verified. Tim Powers’ Avvo profile carries a 10.0 rating and about 675 aggregated reviews; the firm displays Best of Denton County wins for 2022 through 2025, and Mr. Powers is a regular legal commentator on North Texas television and radio. Free in-person evaluations and payment plans are offered, and the website has a Spanish-language version.

6. Sarah Roland, Attorney at Law

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Sarah Roland, George Roland III
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; Sarah Roland was admitted to the Texas bar in November 2006
• Headquarters: 903 N. Elm Street, Suite 101, Denton, TX 76201
• Phone: (940) 323-9305
• Website: sarahroland.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://sarahroland.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI and DUI, Drug Offenses, Juvenile Defense, Child Injury, Assaultive Offenses, Sexual Offenses, Weapons Offenses, Homicide, Theft Crimes, Probation Revocations and Motions to Adjudicate, Early Release, Nondisclosures and Expunctions, Appeals, Tickets
• Firm Size: Boutique, 2 attorneys, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (71 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Sarah Roland practices only criminal defense, from tickets to murder charges, and she describes herself as a trial lawyer who is unwilling to plead a case just to collect a fee. She is a Texas Tech law graduate who worked in the school’s Innocence Clinic and Criminal Defense Clinic, and she grew up wanting to be a defense lawyer like her late father, George Roland.

Her credentials are deep for a two-lawyer office. She has been named a Super Lawyer every year from 2014 through 2026 (after Rising Star recognition from 2012 to 2014), has been listed among America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, and was a Best of Denton County finalist in 2024 and 2025. She serves on the board of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Innocence Project of Texas, was president of the Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2010 and 2011, and holds a 10.0 “Superb” Avvo rating. Her brother, associate George Roland III, joined her out of law school, regularly represents students in disciplinary hearings and Title IX investigations, and tries cases alongside her.

7. Daniel K. Peugh, Attorney at Law

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Daniel K. Peugh
• Founded: 2002 (private practice)
• Headquarters: 721 W. Mulberry Street, Denton, TX 76201
• Phone: (940) 566-0271
• Website: peughlawfirm.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://peughlawfirm.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI, Drug Offenses, Assault Offenses, Probation Violations, Theft, Fraud and Forgery, Criminal Record Clearing, Juvenile Defense
• Firm Size: Solo, attorney-led, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 4.4 ★★★★★ (69 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: The Peugh Law Firm is led by Daniel K. Peugh, who spent his early career in the Denton County Criminal District Attorney’s Office as Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor and then Chief Juvenile Prosecutor before going into private practice in 2002. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1998 and was admitted to the Texas bar that year.

The prosecutor-turned-defender background is paired with a hands-on service model. The firm says Mr. Peugh defends clients personally rather than passing cases to junior associates, starts building the defense the day a client is hired, keeps clients informed in writing at each new stage, and emails copies of court documents and discovery the firm is allowed to share. Its website says it has stopped cases at the police-agency stage and negotiated with intake prosecutors to avoid charges being filed. Mr. Peugh holds a 10.0 Avvo rating with more than 150 client reviews and a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating. His juvenile prosecutor history also makes the firm a strong option for families facing juvenile charges. Consultations are free.

8. Buchanan & Meyer

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Bryan Buchanan (family law), Mick Meyer (criminal defense)
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; a directory lists 2003, the year Mick Meyer entered private practice
• Headquarters: 103 S. Woodrow Lane, Suite 1, Denton, TX 76205
• Phone: (940) 312-6748
• Website: lawyerdentontx.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.lawyerdentontx.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI, Drug Crimes, Assault, Homicide and Murder, Sex Crimes, Burglary and Theft, Fraud and Forgery, Weapons Charges, Driving License Suspension, plus Divorce, Child Custody, Adoption and other Family Law
• Firm Size: Small firm, 2 attorneys, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 2.9 ★★★★★ (27 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Buchanan & Meyer is a Denton criminal defense and family law firm located across from the Denton County courthouse in the Tejas Building. Mick Meyer handles the criminal defense work. He spent nine years as an assistant district attorney in Tarrant County, rising to chief of a felony court, and he tried cases ranging from Class C misdemeanors to death-penalty felonies before moving into private defense practice in 2003. He holds a J.D. from Southern Methodist University and a B.A. from Notre Dame.

The firm’s website highlights client reviews that describe contested license hearings won, a felony DWI reduced to a misdemeanor, and a case in which prosecutors declined to file charges. The practice covers everything from assault and drug crimes to homicide and weapons charges, and it serves Denton, Tarrant and neighboring counties. Because the firm also practices family law, it can be useful when a criminal charge and a divorce, custody or protective-order issue overlap. Consultations are free.

9. Hunsucker Legal Group

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Benjamin “Ben” Hunsucker
• Founded: Over 20 years of legal experience
• Headquarters: 903 East McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209
• Phone: (940) 484-5000
• Website: hunsuckerlegalgroup.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://hunsuckerlegalgroup.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI and DUI, Assault and Family Violence, Drug Crimes, Marijuana Possession, Theft and Burglary, Robbery, Fraud and Forgery, Weapons Crimes, Probation Violations, ALR Hearings, Occupational Driver’s Licenses, Pre-Trial Diversion, Sealing or Erasing Criminal Records
• Firm Size: Boutique, one named attorney with a legal team, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (39 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Hunsucker Legal Group is a criminal defense practice on East McKinney Street in Denton, serving Denton, Cooke and Wise counties. Ben Hunsucker is a former Assistant District Attorney with more than 20 years of legal experience, and the firm says that background shows him how prosecutors think and argue. His memberships include the Denton County Bar Association, the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the National College for DUI Defense.

The firm positions itself around being local and former-prosecutor experienced, and it speaks directly to students at UNT, TWU and NCTC and to professionals whose careers are at risk. The docket centers on DWI and DUI cases, including license hearings and occupational licenses, along with drug, theft, fraud, weapons and probation matters. Free case evaluations are offered by phone or in the office.

10. Brent D. Bowen Attorney At Law

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Brent D. Bowen
• Founded: 2008 (as Bowen Law Group, PLLC; exclusively criminal defense since 2016)
• Headquarters: 101 S. Woodrow Lane, Suite 102, Denton, TX 76205
• Phone: (940) 222-2488
• Website: brentbowen.com
• Criminal Defense Law Page: https://www.brentbowen.com/
• Practice Areas: DWI and DUI, Drug Crimes, Juvenile Law, College Crimes, Violent Crimes, Robbery, Domestic Assault and Family Violence, Theft, Embezzlement, Forgery, Probation and Deferred Adjudication, First Offender Programs, Expunction and Non-Disclosure
• Firm Size: Boutique, attorney-led, single Denton office
• Google Rating: 4.8 ★★★★★ (83 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: Brent Bowen is a former prosecutor who has seen criminal law from several sides of the courtroom: he worked in the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office in Kansas, as an assistant county attorney in Johnson County, Kansas, and as an assistant district attorney in Denton County from 2003 to 2004. He earned his law degree at Washburn University in 2002, is licensed in Texas and Kansas, and started Bowen Law Group in 2008 before narrowing the practice to criminal defense for juveniles and adults in 2016.

He has been named Best Juvenile Attorney in Denton County by Murray Media Group several times, most recently in 2025, and Best Criminal Defense Attorney in 2016 and 2018. That juvenile focus is reflected in the website’s coverage of minor-in-possession charges, underage drinking, juveniles transferred to adult court and juvenile delinquency. The firm also covers first-offender and diversion programs, deferred adjudication, and expunction and non-disclosure. Mr. Bowen holds a 10.0 Avvo rating and is a member of the National College for DUI Defense. Initial consultations are free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense Lawyers in Denton

How soon should I hire a lawyer after an arrest in Denton?

As soon as you can. Criminal cases move quickly, and several of the firms above say that early involvement can affect whether charges are filed at all, what bond or release conditions are set, and how the case is negotiated. If you were arrested for DWI there is also a short separate deadline: generally you have 15 days from the date you are served the notice of suspension to request an Administrative License Revocation hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and if you miss it the suspension goes into effect on day 40. That is a civil process separate from the criminal case, so ask any lawyer you call about it immediately.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer in Denton cost?

Criminal defense lawyers do not work on contingency, because Texas ethics rules prohibit contingent fees in criminal cases. Most charge a flat fee or a tiered fee based on the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, and whether it is likely to go to trial. Several of the firms above offer payment plans. Ask for the fee agreement in writing and confirm what it covers (for example, whether a license hearing, a probation violation or a later record-sealing petition is included) before you sign.

Do I need a lawyer for every criminal charge?

Not always for the most minor citations, and a few of the firms above will tell a caller so. But even fine-only offenses can lead to a driver’s license suspension or show up on a background check, so it is worth at least a consultation. Get a lawyer involved when you face any charge that carries jail time, a DWI, a drug or family-violence charge, a probation violation, a sex-crime allegation, a juvenile referral, or any case where you have been contacted by police or told a warrant exists.

Should I talk to the police if I’m arrested or under investigation?

Several firms on this list advise clients to stay silent. If police want to question you, say clearly that you want a lawyer and that you will not answer questions without one, then stop talking. Vague statements can be treated as a waiver of your rights. You can tell your own lawyer everything, because those conversations are privileged.

Where will my case be heard?

Felony cases are filed in the Denton County district courts, and misdemeanor cases in the county criminal courts. Both sit in the Denton County Courts Building at 1450 E. McKinney Street. Juvenile matters go through the juvenile court system rather than adult criminal court, although a serious juvenile case can sometimes be transferred. Municipal and justice courts handle fine-only citations. Appeals from Denton, TX go to the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth.

Can my record be cleared after a case ends?

Sometimes. In Texas, an expunction destroys arrest and court records in limited situations, such as certain dismissals and acquittals. An order of nondisclosure seals records from most public view for certain offenses and deferred adjudications, usually after a waiting period. Eligibility depends on the offense, the outcome and the time that has passed, and the rules have expanded in recent years, so check current eligibility with a lawyer. Several of the firms above, including those of Tim Powers, Sarah Roland, Nathan Miller and Brent Bowen, list record clearing as a stand-alone service.

Does hiring a former prosecutor help?

It can. Seven of the ten firms here are led or staffed by former prosecutors or, in one case, a former elected district attorney, and they know how local prosecutors build cases and negotiate. It is not a substitute for trial experience, though. Ask how many cases the lawyer has tried to a verdict, how often your type of charge goes to trial in Denton County, and who will actually handle your case.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, a formal attorney referral, or the formation of an attorney-client relationship. It is not a ranked, sponsored, or endorsed list; inclusion here does not imply an affiliation with or recommendation by the publisher. Law firm details, including attorney credentials, office locations, contact information, ratings, and practice areas, are subject to change and should be independently verified with the respective firm or the State Bar of Texas before making a hiring decision. Past case outcomes, such as dismissals, reductions, or acquittals in Denton County proceedings, do not guarantee, warrant, or predict similar results in any future case.

Furthermore, an arrest in Texas can trigger strict deadlines, including the requirement in a DWI case to request an Administrative License Revocation hearing within 15 days of being served notice of suspension. Reading this guide does not fulfill or toll any legal deadlines. Please consult directly with a qualified criminal defense attorney regarding your specific matter.