La Salle County Felony Records
La Salle County felony records are maintained by the District Clerk in Cotulla, Texas, covering all criminal cases filed in the county's district court. This page explains how to search, access, and request those records.
La Salle County Overview
La Salle County District Clerk
The La Salle County District Clerk maintains all felony records for the county. The office is at the La Salle County Courthouse in Cotulla, Texas. All felony case filings, indictments, and final judgments are stored here. Staff can search by name or cause number and produce copies for the public during regular business hours.
La Salle County is served by the 81st District Court, which sits in Cotulla and covers multiple South Texas counties on a rotating schedule. All felony matters heard in the county are filed with the District Clerk. The clerk tracks every step of each case from indictment through final disposition.
La Salle County sits along Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Laredo, and its location near the US-Mexico border contributes to a significant volume of drug-related felony cases. The La Salle County Courthouse is at 707 Hutchins Ave., Cotulla, TX 78014. Phone: (830) 879-4432. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The La Salle County official website lists department contacts and general county government information for Cotulla and the surrounding area.
Use the county website to confirm the current contact details for the District Clerk and other La Salle County departments before calling or visiting.
Felony Cases and Court Records
All felony cases in La Salle County require a grand jury indictment before proceeding to trial. Once the grand jury issues an indictment, the District Clerk opens a file and all subsequent proceedings are documented. Each motion, plea record, trial proceeding, and judgment becomes part of the permanent case file. These records are public unless the court has ordered them sealed.
La Salle County sees a notable number of drug trafficking and immigration-related felony cases due to its location along a major highway corridor near the border. State felony cases are handled by the 81st District Court in Cotulla. Federal cases involving immigration or federal drug charges go to the federal court system in the Southern District of Texas.
Texas felony levels run from state jail felonies (180 days to 2 years) through capital offenses (death or life without parole). All five levels are handled in La Salle County's district court. Third-degree felonies bring 2 to 10 years, second-degree 2 to 20 years, and first-degree up to 99 years or life.
Searching La Salle County Records
The re:SearchTX portal is the best free online option for finding La Salle County felony records. This statewide system covers all 254 Texas counties. Search by name or cause number to find district court cases. Basic case information is free. Document images may require a subscription for some counties.
For in-person access, visit the District Clerk's office in Cotulla. Staff can search by name or cause number and produce copies. Fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certification. A research fee of $5 per name may apply when no cause number is provided. Public access terminals may be available in the clerk's office lobby.
Mail requests go to the La Salle County District Clerk, 707 Hutchins Ave., Cotulla, TX 78014. Include the defendant's full name, approximate year, and cause number if available. Include payment or ask for an invoice. Allow extra time for processing.
State and Federal Resources
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service provides name-based criminal history searches for $3. Fingerprint-based searches give more complete results for formal background check purposes. Both require a CRS Public Website Account.
The TDCJ offender search covers people currently in Texas state prisons. If someone from a La Salle County case is serving state time, they appear in the TDCJ database. For federal cases prosecuted in Laredo or San Antonio, the PACER system at pacer.uscourts.gov provides access to federal court records.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by county and includes all registered offenders in La Salle County. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, conviction records are public. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government page explains how to file a records request complaint if an agency fails to respond properly.
Nearby Counties
La Salle County is in South Texas along I-35. These neighboring counties also maintain felony records through their District Clerk offices.