Asked 7/18/17 – Dallas, TX

Back in 2005 I was arrested and issued a citation and paid a fine for a public intox in Texas. They said my only option was to plead guilty or no contest and I plead no contest. The arrest still shows on my background check. Can this be expunged?

Answer

If a final conviction was entered on the case, the only way you can remove the arrest from your criminal record is through pardon from the Governor. It is the final disposition of a case, not the passage of time or the type of plea entered, that determines whether a case can be expunged or non-disclosed. If you are not sure what the final disposition of your case was, contact an attorney in the county where the case was filed.