Houston-area criminal defense attorney. Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Liberty, Brazoria, and Matagorda Counties.
Born with a passion for justice, Shawn R. Roberts has dedicated his life to fighting for individual rights and the freedom of others. He has been a criminal defense trial lawyer licensed in Texas since November 1995.
His work also extends to sports. He began with Professional Sports Planning, the Houston agency founded by Carl Poston, and worked with Greg Hill, Rodney Thomas, and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. After passing the Bar on the first attempt, he worked with Michael Sullivan and Jeff Sperbeck from 1995–2000 and then with Octagon from 2000–2003. He signed first- and second-round picks in the NFL and MLB drafts, including David Carr, the first pick of the Houston Texans, and Quentin Jammer, the fifth pick of the San Diego Chargers.
The courtroom
In 1996, at 26, he tried his first murder case. In State of Texas v. Jarrett Mitchell, a 15-year-old tried as an adult, the State offered life. The jury hung. The case later resolved for 10 years.
In 1997 he was accepted into Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College — the youngest lawyer ever admitted. He later received Trial Lawyer of the Year recognition from that institution.
Brazoria County civil rights trials
He consecutively represented three Black men in Brazoria County and obtained results that drew both praise and hostility.
In State of Texas v. Brent Woodard, the client was charged with assault on a public servant as a habitual offender and was offered 40 years. An all-white jury found him not guilty of all charges.
In State of Texas v. Warren Castile, tried with co-counsel Steve Gonzales, the client faced murder and life in prison. The jury found him not guilty — reported as the first Black man in Brazoria County history acquitted of murder.
In State of Texas v. Quentin Richardson, a 10-count indictment included intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The jury found the client not guilty of all charges, including misdemeanor DWI.
Areas of practice
- Drug crimes
- DWI / DUI
- Family violence
- Murder and other homicide charges
*Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.