Kyle R Sampson

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Houston Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer : Military Defense Attorney

* DWI/DUI - DWI/DUI is a very serious charge, and public policy is demanding that tougher penalties be imposed on those convicted of these charges, especially those who are convicted of DUI/DWI for the second time or more. Therefore, anyone charged with this offense needs to do everything possible to assert his or her Constitutional rights and available defenses.

* Mail Fraud/Wire Fraud/Bank Fraud - Mail and wire fraud are both crimes that have been in existence for many years, but the advent of the Internet has only made the opportunities to be charged with these offenses more likely given the access to information that’s more available now than ever before. These crimes are prosecuted in federal court and often require precharging investigation, creating the need to build an immediate and strong defense.

* White Collar Cases - Many people mistakenly believe that being convicted of what’s traditionally known as a ‘white collar’ crime is not serious relative to the penalties faced for a conviction on a ‘violent crime’ charge. Nothing could be further from the truth, and operating under this assumption is a mistake that could cost a defendant his or her freedom for many years.

* Securities Fraud - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is as aggressive a regulatory agency as you will find within the investigation and enforcement arms of the federal government. The Department of Justice routinely prosecutes cases arising from SEC investigations.

* Murder/Capital Murder - No charge is as serious as capital murder or murder. In cases like these, the citizen’s life literally could be on the line, and this is a situation where every effort needs to be made to present the strongest defense possible.

* Rape/Sexual Assault/Aggravated Sexual Assault - These sorts of charges not only carry severe penalties if the individual is convicted, but the facts that surround these cases make it very difficult for a jury to understand how false allegations can be made.

* Drug/Controlled Substances Offenses - The War on Drugs rages on throughout the United States, and it’s especially intense in Texas given its border with Mexico and other factors. Drug-related charges can force an individual to defend himself or herself on both state and federal levels, and long-term prison sentences are becoming the norm rather than the exception in many instances.

* Military Criminal Law - Those who are defending our country are often charged with crimes similar to those found in civilian courts. The military justice system, however, requires representation by counsel familiar with the procedures which are similar to, but different from, those found in civilian courts. Often persons charged under the UCMJ prefer to exercise their right to be represented by civilian counsel before military courts at trial or on appeal.

* Administrative Discharges - The nature of a soldier’s discharge can carry a lifetime of consequences, especially if that discharge is negative in nature. This battle is generally administrative in nature and requires a criminal defense attorney with a high degree of experience and skill.

Board Certified Criminal Lawyer - National Board of Legal Specialty Certification

Kyle R Sampson
Zimmermann, Lavine, Zimmermann & Sampson PC
770 S Post Oak Ln #620
Houston TX 77056
Tel: 713 552-0300
Fax: 713 552-0746

Practice areas: Criminal Defense (70%), Criminal Defense: White Collar (30%)

Kyle R. Sampson is a former prosecutor and chief of the Legal Assistance Office at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, for which he was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal. A 1995 graduate of the Texas Tech School of Law in Lubbock, Texas, he is licensed to practice law in Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where he was a distinguished student, a squadron commander in the Corps of Cadets, and a member of the Ross Volunteer Company, which serves as the Honor Guard for the Governor of Texas. He is admitted to all of the state courts in Texas, as well as the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Texas, and all United States courts-martial.

Mr. Sampson represents clients at trial and on appeal in state, federal, and military courts, as well as before professional licensing boards. He also represents individuals and corporate clients as witnessess, suspects, or targets in grand jury investigations. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association; and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the American Association for Justice; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Houston Bar Association; and Houston Young Lawyers Association. He joined our firm in 2000, after serving as a Marine Corps prosecutor, trying major cases such as rape, drug importation, and counterfeiting. Mr. Sampson has been a shareholder since 2007 and is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Sampson has obtained acquittals by juries for several clients at trial against charges of driving while intoxicated. He has also successfully litigated motions to suppress evidence, resulting in the dismissal of criminal charges. Mr. Sampson served as lead counsel in the re-trial of a rape case, where the client was acquitted after receiving a prison sentence when represented by a different counsel at the first trial. Mr. Sampson also served as co-counsel with Mr. Zimmermann in a two-and-a-half-week federal trial where the client was acquitted in 45 minutes of conspiring to steal government property worth more than seven million dollars. Mr. Sampson was co-counsel with Mr. Zimmermann in the homicide prosecution of a Marine accused of killing an Iraqi prisoner who was a high ranking official of Saddam Hussein's party. All charges were dismissed after a six day Article 32 preliminary hearing. Mr. Sampson was lead counsel in a case where the jury acquitted a truck driver of failure to stop and render aid after a fatal accident when a car struck the front of his truck. Mr. Sampson was lead counsel in a family violence case where a mother was acquitted of assaulting her 16-year-old honor student daughter. Mr. Sampson was co-counsel with Mr. Zimmermann in the acquittal of an Army surgeon charged with nineteen specifications of distribution of controlled substances, disobeying orders, false statement, and obstruction of justice. He also served as co-counsel in the trial of an Army Special Forces officer, who was acquitted of charges of rape and indecent acts. Mr. Sampson served as lead counsel in the trial of a Marine recruiter acquitted of disobeying a direct order, dereliction of duty, and making a false offical statement.

Mr. Sampson was co-counsel with Mr. Zimmermann and Ms. Zimmermann representing LCpl Stephen Tatum, USMC, who originally was charged with the murder of Iraqi civilians during a counter-attack in response to an ambush in Haditha, Iraq.Click here for a description of the Article 32 Investigation hearing featured in the Texas Lawyer. All charges were dismissed with prejudice on the first day of trial in this case that had drawn international media attention.

Mr. Sampson was a captain in the Marine Corps Reserve, and served as an appellate defense counsel in Washington, D.C. from 2000-2003 after fulfilling his active duty obligation. Mr. Sampson was named a Rising Star lawyer under age 40 by Texas Monthly magazine in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Mr. Sampson is married and has three children.