Today we’d like to introduce you to Beaux Hodges.
Beaux, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After leaving the Army in 2006, I thought the logical transition was to go into law enforcement. I worked as a jailer in Sulphur, LA for almost a year before moving back to Houston where I was born. I worked a few jobs until I got on with Harris County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Officer in 2008. During my 6 years with HCSO, I worked with inmates every day, often in the same pod with the same 50 or so inmates for several months at a time. For about a year, I also worked in a maximum security, double-door lock down pod for high profile and violent individuals. I saw and learned a great deal in that time. But, above all, the most important lesson for me was that our criminal justice system is not the idealistic cops versus robbers, “innocent until proven guilty” institution that we are taught to believe.
Sometimes, the criminals wear badges, and everyone not wearing a badge is a suspect. Unfortunately, as many “good apples” as there might be, the system is just not set up to get rid of the bad. So, initially, I started going to school to become an attorney — criminal defense or civil rights. However, one day, I happened to meet a private investigator who was visiting an inmate. Our conversation wasn’t long or all that interesting, but it inspired me to spend the next week researching all things private investigation. I haven’t looked back since.
With the approval of my beautiful wife, I took a certificate course with the University of North Texas, pulled my retirement from the County, and dove in feet first starting my own company. Luckily, I had a great mentor to learn from and to keep me from drowning. I started this adventure in 2014 with just my passion and my dining room table at my office. Now, my wife and I employ 3 other investigators and have a beautiful office just minutes from downtown. Since then, we’ve investigated hundreds of cases involving everything from infidelity to murder.
Has it been a smooth road?
Any new business is hard, but I think criminal defense investigation tops the chart in terms of difficulty acquiring new clients. When I started, I didn’t think about the perception of being new and inexperienced. Even putting that aside, attorneys are probably the hardest group of people to sell. They’re smart, cynical, and are usually only swayed by word of mouth testimonials from trusted colleagues. I don’t think I would have made it without my mentor, Sonja Raffeet. She took me under her wing, taught me what I couldn’t learn in books, and coaxed a couple of her clients to take a chance on me. From a financial perspective, there were (and still are) a ton of challenges. Being that 95% of those criminally charged cannot afford an attorney (not to mention an investigator), most of my caseload is indigent, the court-appointed defendants. This translates to rates (less than half of the industry standard) set by the County and minimal overall funds to actually work with. In fact, the initial funds approved by the courts amount to less than 15 hours worth of investigation. In many cases, that doesn’t go very far before the attorney you’re working with has to go back to the judge and ask for more. Luckily, we work with great attorneys and judges who recognize the importance and need for thorough investigations.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Hodges Investigative Group is a full-service investigation agency specializing in criminal defense, surveillance, and background investigations. We are really good at finding people and information. Aside from the pride that my work gives me, I’m especially proud of my team. I have a pretty diverse group who handle the brunt of our caseload. They have their individual strengths, but they’re all super smart, resourceful, and loyal. Loyalty goes a long way in my book, and I believe we are different from other companies because of that loyalty. We are committed to our clients and their interests, not the system.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is the perfect place for a private investigation business. It has an enormous population and businesses of all sizes and industries. Thus, an endless supply of potential clients. On the other hand, a small town may be easier to get a start if you knew the people and had less competition. I’m only speculating though.
Contact Info:
- Address: By appointment only
2190 North Loop West, Suite 406
Houston, TX 77018 - Website: https://www.hodgesinvestigations.com/
- Phone: 281-755-8990
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hodgesinvestigations/
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