Why These El Paso Criminal Lawyers?
We help connect consumers with top-rated criminal defense attorneys in El Paso. To determine which are the best of the best, we scored each criminal defense attorney or law firm across a half-dozen metrics covering three categories. Each firm or attorney’s results were analyzed to bring you a handpicked list of the very best criminal defense lawyers in El Paso.
- Attorneys reviewed: 20
- Top picks: 5
If you or a loved one have been arrested, do not delay seeking the assistance of an attorney. The sooner an attorney can get involved in your case, the better your chances of having a strong defense.
The attorney you hire may start right away, studying the authorities’ against you, doing legal research, and preparing legal motions. That’s why the sooner they begin, the better, as they work to chip away at the prosecution’s case against you.
Skilled criminal defense attorneys in El Paso handle everything from DUIs to simple misdemeanors to white-collar crimes to violent felonies. Get the best legal defense in El Paso by choosing from this list of best criminal defense attorneys.
Read the profiles below and choose the attorney or law firm that best aligns with your needs.
Best El Paso Criminal Defense Lawyers
Here are the best criminal defense law firms and attorneys in El Paso:
- Felix Valenzuela
- Benjamin Law Firm
- Joseph R. Veith
- Robert Navar
- Jon Joseph
Best El Paso Criminal Defense Lawyers for 2021
If you or a loved one are looking for an outstanding criminal defense attorney in El Paso, these lawyers are the best of the best.
Felix Valenzuela
221 N. Kansas St., Suite 1200
El Paso, TX 79901
Phone: (915) 209-2719
Attorney Felix Valenzuela is an El Paso native who has spent his entire professional legal career advocating for people in the local community. Valenzuela maintains 10.0 ratings on Avvo and was honored by SuperLawyers in 2017.
His primary practice areas include defending individuals accused of crimes, and he specializes in both criminal and civil appeals. He has successfully represented clients in both Texas and federal courts in having previous decisions overturned.
Visit law firm website: https://valenzuela-law.com/
Benjamin Law Firm
609 B Myrtle Ave
El Paso, TX 79901
Phone: (915) 412-5858
The two attorneys of Benjamin Law Firm each have prosecutorial experience, which gives them unique insight into how district attorneys and prosecutors construct their cases — and how to attack those cases. Partner Brock Morgan Benjamin is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Benjamin Law Firm is highly rated, being honored by Super Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers and Avvo. Their primary criminal defense specialties include drug crimes, DWI, theft, assault, sex crimes, white-collar crimes, and more.
Visit law firm website: https://www.brockmorganbenjamin.com/
Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bmblaw/
Joseph R. Veith
2511 N Stanton St.
El Paso, TX 79902
Phone: (915) 600-6045
Attorney Joseph R. Veith has served the public on both sides of the criminal justice process, both as a public defender and a prosecuting attorney. Since opening his private practice, his primary practice areas include criminal law, personal injury, and estate planning.
Veith has a 9.4 rating on Avvo and was recently featured in the HBO documentary “Zero Tolerance,” which focused on the fight to reunite an immigrant family. His primary criminal defense practice areas include DWI, assault, drug possession, domestic violence, and records expungement.
Visit law firm website: https://www.jveithlaw.com/
Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JoeVeithLaw/
Robert Navar
12324 Tierra Arroyo Dr
El Paso, TX 79938
Phone: (915) 613-3993
Attorney Robert Navar is a tireless advocate for his clients, whether they face charges related to traffic offenses or more serious crimes, though his primary practice is in fighting traffic tickets and warrants.
With his practice focused on defending against traffic tickets, Navar is an expert at helping his clients avoid having to pay pesky tickets or, worse, lose their rights to drive altogether. He’s assisted individuals charged with traffic violations like running stop signs and red lights, speeding in school zones, commercial violations, and much more.
Visit law firm website: https://elpasotrafficticket.com/
Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/trafficfirmelpaso/
Jon Joseph
310 N. Mesa, Suite 420
El Paso , TX 79901
Phone: (915) 800-0911
El Paso native Jon Joseph’s unique educational path took him from the University of Texas El Paso to the Netherlands, where he spent a summer internship in The Hague studying international criminal law. Today, he practices much closer to home from his office in downtown El Paso.
Joseph’s main criminal defense practice areas include drug possession, theft, assault, burglary, DWI, theft, indecent exposure, and more.
Visit law firm website: https://www.jonjosephlaw.com/
Visit law firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AskJosephLaw/
What Types of Crimes Are Most Common in El Paso?
In 2019, about eight in 10 crimes reported in El Paso were property crimes like larceny, auto theft, or burglary. Just over 10,000 property crimes were reported in the city in 2019, according to federal data on crime across the country, while just over 2,400 violent incidents were reported in El Paso. Larceny-theft, which is the simple taking of property without the use of force, accounted for about two in three crimes.
Those figures equate to an overall population-adjusted property crime rate in El Paso of about 1,500 per 100,000 residents and a violent crime rate of about 350 per 100,000. Those rates are both lower than the equivalent statistics for the nation. The U.S. has a population-adjusted property crime rate of about 2,100 per 100,000 and a violent crime rate of 367 per 100,000.
Crimes in El Paso, by number and per 100,000 people
| Crime | Number | Per 100,000 people |
| All violent crimes | 2,422 | 353 |
| Murder | 40 | 6 |
| Rape | 310 | 45 |
| Robbery | 338 | 49 |
| Aggravated assault | 1,734 | 252 |
| All property crimes | 10,378 | 1,511 |
| Burglary | 1,048 | 153 |
| Larceny-theft | 8,479 | 1,235 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 851 | 124 |
| Arson | 29 | 4 |
Compared to other major cities in Texas, El Paso tends to have lower rates of crime. In fact, among the 10 biggest cities in the state, El Paso ranks outside the top five for each crime category, and the city’s highest ranking is sixth place for its murder rate about six per 100,000 people. That rate is less than half the rate of the leading city, San Antonio (14 per 100,000). Similarly, El Paso tends to have a favorable position when compared to other large U.S. cities. Among the 50 biggest, El Paso’s crime rates place in the top half only once, with the city ranking 23rd for its murder rate.
Many other U.S. cities have been experiencing an uptick in crime since the pandemic, but El Paso has seen crime rates fall. Murders fell by 30 percent, which is attributed to the 2019 figure having been elevated by a mass shooting. However, other crimes also fell in El Paso, led by a 49 percent decline in motor vehicle theft, while burglary dropped by 20 percent.
It’s important to note that police- and FBI-reported data does not cover closed cases or incidents for which a person was convicted.