July 22, 1977; Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 260, ch. In Aggravated Sexual Assault cases involving an adult victim, the punishment range is 5-99 years imprisonment since it is defined as a felony in the first degree. (a) A person commits an offense: (i) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person's consent; (ii) causes the penetration of the mouth of another person by the sexual organ of the actor, without that person's consent; or, (iii) causes the sexual organ of another person, without that person's consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; or. WebConnect with a professional bail bonds company to commit your attention to the judicial process and court appearances in the convenience of your home. 1101, Sec. 4.02, eff. Assault Family Violence charges in Texas carry punishment ranges that allow for a wide variety of outcomes and consequences. According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, bail is a security that the accused individual will appear at court on the given date to fight or accept the accusations brought against him. (2) the victim knew the conduct was a risk of: (C) a scientific experiment conducted by recognized methods. 399, Sec. Use of a deadly weapon during assault which causes serious bodily injury to a family or household member, or someone with whom the offender has or has had an intimate relationship (domestic assault). 461 (H.B. 273 (H.B. (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to promote or assist the commission of suicide by another, he aids or attempts to aid the other to commit or attempt to commit suicide. Deadly conduct with a firearm. 939, Sec. Sept. 1, 2003. 6.05, eff. A No Bill is the equivalent of a dismissal of your aggravated assault charges. It can be charged as a first-degree felony, with imprisonment of 99 years to life, if the assault is committed against a member of your family or household, someone with whom you have His bail has been set at $100,000. 688), Sec. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, other items like chairs, ropes, or baseball bats can be considered deadly weapons. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is: (1) younger than seven years of age; and. (3) "Disabled individual" means a person older than 13 years of age who by reason of age or physical or mental disease, defect, or injury is substantially unable to protect the person's self from harm or to provide food, shelter, or medical care for the person's self. 1031, Sec. A simple assault is considered if the offense is classified as a Class C misdemeanor and involves little contact and threats to the victim. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. Sept. 1, 1994. Misdemeanor assault charge penalties in Texas. If a non-sports participant provokes or threatens a sports participant, whether its a coach, referee, staff member, or instructor, the law will address the crime as a Class B misdemeanor. 361 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 164), Sec. Prostitution can result in a prison sentence of up to 2 years in prison depending on prior offenses. Here are a few examples: Additionally, there may be many reasons people will claim aggravated assault deadly weapon. (b) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (a) is not available to a defendant who commits an offense described by Subsection (a) as a condition of the defendant's or the victim's initiation or continued membership in a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01. September 1, 2009. 1808), Sec. If the assault is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, the penalty is a maximum fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail. This month we feature Eric Benavides a criminal attorney in Houston, Texas. 4, eff. An offense under Subsection (c) is a felony of the third degree. Are the permanently disfigured? 284 (S.B. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. Your attorney will advise you on the best options available to fight back against your charges. 223, Sec. 549), Sec. 334, Sec. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 467 (H.B. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 7, eff. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. Sept. 1, 1999. Consequently, a deadly weapon is any type of gun or anything that can be used to cause death or serious bodily. (936) 539-4444. September 1, 2005. To be charged with Aggravated Assault, there must have been an actual physical injury. 751 (H.B. (b) A sexual assault under Subsection (a)(1) is without the consent of the other person if: (1) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by the use of physical force, violence, or coercion; (2) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by threatening to use force or violence against the other person or to cause harm to the other person, and the other person believes that the actor has the present ability to execute the threat; (3) the other person has not consented and the actor knows the other person is unconscious or physically unable to resist; (4) the actor knows that as a result of mental disease or defect the other person is at the time of the sexual assault incapable either of appraising the nature of the act or of resisting it; (5) the other person has not consented and the actor knows the other person is unaware that the sexual assault is occurring; (6) the actor has intentionally impaired the other person's power to appraise or control the other person's conduct by administering any substance without the other person's knowledge; (7) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by threatening to use force or violence against any person, and the other person believes that the actor has the ability to execute the threat; (8) the actor is a public servant who coerces the other person to submit or participate; (9) the actor is a mental health services provider or a health care services provider who causes the other person, who is a patient or former patient of the actor, to submit or participate by exploiting the other person's emotional dependency on the actor; (10) the actor is a clergyman who causes the other person to submit or participate by exploiting the other person's emotional dependency on the clergyman in the clergyman's professional character as spiritual adviser; (11) the actor is an employee of a facility where the other person is a resident, unless the employee and resident are formally or informally married to each other under Chapter 2, Family Code; (12) the actor is a health care services provider who, in the course of performing an assisted reproduction procedure on the other person, uses human reproductive material from a donor knowing that the other person has not expressly consented to the use of material from that donor; (13) the actor is a coach or tutor who causes the other person to submit or participate by using the actor's power or influence to exploit the other person's dependency on the actor; or. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. Jan. 1, 1974. 2, eff. 399, Sec. 176), Sec. September 1, 2005. 2 min read. 1, eff. 840 (H.B. (1) "Child" means a person younger than 17 years of age. An offense under Subsection (a-1) is a state jail felony when the person, with criminal negligence and by omission, causes a condition described by Subsection (a-1)(1), (2), or (3). 977, Sec. Recklessness is acting with a conscious disregard to the results of that action. 11, eff. How much bail costs normally depends on the charge that the defendant is facing. 1286, Sec. Sec. 497, Sec. (3) "Security officer" means a commissioned security officer as defined by Section 1702.002, Occupations Code, or a noncommissioned security officer registered under Section 1702.221, Occupations Code. 604, Sec. For example, if a driver tries to cut off another driver or maneuvers his vehicle to potentially run another vehicle off the roadespecially on a highway or road with a high speed limithe places the other driver in danger of serious bodily injury because his actions could cause a motor vehicle accident or collision. (d) For purposes of an omission that causes a condition described by Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3), the actor has assumed care, custody, or control if the actor has by act, words, or course of conduct acted so as to cause a reasonable person to conclude that the actor has accepted responsibility for protection, food, shelter, or medical care for a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual. (4) "Sports participant" means a person who participates in any official capacity with respect to an interscholastic, intercollegiate, or other organized amateur or professional athletic competition and includes an athlete, referee, umpire, linesman, coach, instructor, administrator, or staff member. 14, Sec. Penal Code 12.21, 12.34, 22.05 (2022).). WebIn Texas, an aggravated assault is a second degree felony with punishments including 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. 1, eff. (i) was a victim of family violence, as that term is defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, committed by a person who is also charged with an offense against the child, elderly individual, or disabled individual under this section or any other section of this title; (ii) did not cause a condition described by Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3); and, (iii) did not reasonably believe at the time of the omission that an effort to prevent the person also charged with an offense against the child, elderly individual, or disabled individual from committing the offense would have an effect; or, (A) the actor was not more than three years older than the victim at the time of the offense; and. 6), Sec. 334, Sec. Search Texas Statutes. 549), Sec. 1.01, eff. 1, 2, eff. The offense becomes a first-degree felony when any of the following Woman accused of killing terminally ill husband in hospital released 1, eff. 584 (S.B. WebAggravated sexual assault is a 1 st degree felony and carries a potential 5 to 99 years in prison Child Pornography can be charged as up to a 2 nd degree felony which carries a 2 to 20 year prison term. A grand jury no bill is the equivalent of a dismissal. Anywhere between $5,000 and $50,000 is a reasonable range. 1095), Sec. 2, eff. 1038 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Texas Sexting Laws Felonies are the most serious types of crimes charged under the Pennsylvania criminal code, including such To act knowingly means to act in a manner that you are aware that your conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. For example, if someone shoots in the direction of someone knowing there are people around their target, it does not matter if they meant to shoot them. HARASSMENT BY PERSONS IN CERTAIN FACILITIES; HARASSMENT OF PUBLIC SERVANT. Texas law dictates three different types of assault charges intentional, deliberately threatening, and using physical contact in an offensive way. A conviction will result in a prison sentence of two to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000. DEADLY CONDUCT. the offender shoots a firearm from a motor vehicle at a house, building, or motor vehicle with reckless disregard for whether it's occupied and causes serious bodily injury to the victim. According to Tex. September 1, 2021. 62, Sec. 24, Sec. Harris County Bail Bonds - Houston Bail Bonds (2) "Elderly individual" means a person 65 years of age or older. A capital felony includes espionage, treason, or premeditated murder. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Lets break down the parts of that definition. 2, Sec. Was this reckless behavior under Texas criminal law? 10, eff. Sec. Updated: September 28, 2021; Original post: June 7, 2018. 1259), Sec. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 349, ch. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. (a) The victim's effective consent or the actor's reasonable belief that the victim consented to the actor's conduct is a defense to prosecution under Section 22.01 (Assault), 22.02 (Aggravated Assault), or 22.05 (Deadly Conduct) if: (1) the conduct did not threaten or inflict serious bodily injury; or. In rare circumstances, Aggravated Assault can be lowered to a Third Degree felony or a Class A misdemeanor. the Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Texas (a) In this section, "abandon" means to leave a child in any place without providing reasonable and necessary care for the child, under circumstances under which no reasonable, similarly situated adult would leave a child of that age and ability. (1) "Emergency services personnel" includes firefighters, emergency medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code, emergency room personnel, and other individuals who, in the course and scope of employment or as a volunteer, provide services for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations. (i) causes serious bodily injury or attempts to cause the death of the victim or another person in the course of the same criminal episode; (ii) by acts or words places the victim in fear that any person will become the victim of an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) or that death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping will be imminently inflicted on any person; (iii) by acts or words occurring in the presence of the victim threatens to cause any person to become the victim of an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) or to cause the death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping of any person; (iv) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the course of the same criminal episode; (v) acts in concert with another who engages in conduct described by Subdivision (1) directed toward the same victim and occurring during the course of the same criminal episode; or. Sec. Assault Offenses 3607), Sec. 2, eff. 284(23) to (26), eff. 1, eff. 29), Sec. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 719 (H.B. 27, eff. The fine for this felony can be a maximum of $1,500. (g) An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony when the person acts with criminal negligence. 977, Sec. To act intentionally means to act in such a way that it is your conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result. In other words, someone that picks up a weapon and points it directly at another person and pulls the trigger acted with a conscious desire to cause the result of the person being injured by the weapon. 495), Sec. When the conduct is engaged in recklessly, the offense is a felony of the second degree. Escape from felony custody. (4) the dispensation of a drug in accordance with law or administration of a drug prescribed in accordance with law. (2) not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older. If a criminal episode is prosecuted under both this section and another section of this code and sentences are assessed for convictions under both sections, the sentences shall run concurrently. The penalty for a 1st-degree felony in Texas carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In the following A good aggravated assault lawyer will examine the witness statements and determine if they make sense compared to what happened at the scene. (2) a conviction under the laws of another state for an offense containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed in those subsections is a conviction of the offense listed. 788 (S.B. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. Sept. 1, 2003. 2, eff. 139, Sec. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. Sept. 1, 2003. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. Let us start building your defense. 22.07. Simply breaking a bone or suffering a head injury is not, alone, sufficient to meet the standard required by law. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1114, ch. September 1, 2019. Causes impaired function or functional loss of a bodily organ or member. Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. September 1, 2021. 155, Sec. 184), Sec. 1306), Sec. 34, eff. 1019, Sec. In Texas, a person who threatens, causes, or recklessly places another at risk of serious bodily injury can face charges of aggravated assault or deadly conductboth of which carry felony penalties and the possibility of prison time. 15.02(b), eff. This chapter does not apply to conduct charged as having been committed against an individual who is an unborn child if the conduct is: (1) committed by the mother of the unborn child; (2) a lawful medical procedure performed by a physician or other health care provider with the requisite consent; (3) a lawful medical procedure performed by a physician or other licensed health care provider with the requisite consent as part of an assisted reproduction as defined by Section 160.102, Family Code; or. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 1, eff. 1 to 3, eff. recklessly engaging in any conduct that places another at imminent risk of suffering a serious bodily injury, or. WebBecause bail is 10% of a total bond, a $200 payment is required to get bail. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 688), Sec. If you or your loved one has been arrested for assault in Texas, make sure to contact a Texas based bail bond agent to post the bond on your behalf. 91), Sec. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. Start here to find criminal defense lawyers near you. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. September 1, 2009. 22.11. 24), Sec. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 1, eff. 14.829, eff. 1, eff. INJURY TO A CHILD, ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL, OR DISABLED INDIVIDUAL. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. Texas Sex Offenses 900, Sec. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 399, Sec. 28, eff. 623 (H.B. WebTexas Penal Code Sec. Here is where aggravated assault charges can get a little crazy. 260 (H.B. Texas Assault Charge: Simple & Aggravated Assault If you have a total bail amount set and you are curious the fee you will need to pay the bail bond agent, use our bail bond calculator. Sec. 2, eff. (f) For the purposes of Subsections (b)(2)(A) and (b-3)(2): (1) a defendant has been previously convicted of an offense listed in those subsections committed against a person whose relationship to or association with the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code, if the defendant was adjudged guilty of the offense or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in return for a grant of deferred adjudication, regardless of whether the sentence for the offense was ever imposed or whether the sentence was probated and the defendant was subsequently discharged from community supervision; and. 4170), Sec. (4) "Mental health services provider" means an individual, licensed or unlicensed, who performs or purports to perform mental health services, including a: (A) licensed social worker as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; (B) chemical dependency counselor as defined by Section 504.001, Occupations Code; (C) licensed professional counselor as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code; (D) licensed marriage and family therapist as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code; (F) psychologist offering psychological services as defined by Section 501.003, Occupations Code; or. His bail has been set at $100,000. Because simple assault normally yields a Class C misdemeanor charge (or Class A, when it involves an elderly or disabled person), most offenders end up paying a maximum fine of $500. 436 (S.B. Aggravated Assault By Threat Charges in Texas, Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Texas, Fighting Back against a Texas Sex Crime Charge. Criminal Lawyer Tip: Serious bodily injury must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that establishes a permanent or substantial loss of use of a bodily member or organ. Aug. 29, 1977; Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 365, ch. 1, eff. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. a fine of up to $10,000. 662, Sec. (3) the person injected, ingested, inhaled, or otherwise introduced a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1, Section 481.102, Health and Safety Code, or Penalty Group 1-B, Section 481.1022, Health and Safety Code, into the human body when the person was not in lawful possession of the substance as defined by Section 481.002(24) of that code. September 1, 2005. 164, Sec. 2, eff. (e) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(2): (1) that the actor was the spouse of the child at the time of the offense; or. (e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4), (a)(5), or (a)(6) is a felony of the third degree. Texas Penal Code 1.07(46) defines serious bodily injury as follows: Texas Penal Code Section 1.07(17) defines a deadly weapon as: (A) a firearm or anything manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury; or. 1, eff. 268 (S.B. (4) causes another person to contact the blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, saliva, urine, or feces of any person. (b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor. Sept. 1, 2003. (g) For purposes of Subsection (d), the amount of pecuniary loss is the amount of economic loss suffered by the owner of the building, room, place, or conveyance as a result of the prevention or interruption of the occupation or use of the building, room, place, or conveyance. Aggravated Assault Texas Jail Time, Punishment, Fines 91), Sec. 1, eff. A convicted felon loses the right to vote and carry firearms and can lose certain professional licenses. Lower-income states like Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia carry a bail amount of $25,000 for attempted kidnapping, general kidnapping, and kidnapping for extortion. September 1, 2017. 7, eff. (c-1) For purposes of Subsection (c), it is presumed that a person engaged in conduct that places a child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment if: (1) the person manufactured, possessed, or in any way introduced into the body of any person the controlled substance methamphetamine in the presence of the child; (2) the person's conduct related to the proximity or accessibility of the controlled substance methamphetamine to the child and an analysis of a specimen of the child's blood, urine, or other bodily substance indicates the presence of methamphetamine in the child's body; or. 2, eff. 1, eff. September 1, 2005. The penalties for assault on a family member can vary depending on what level of charge was brought against you. (d) An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the second degree unless a person suffers serious bodily injury, in which event it is a felony of the first degree. 1, eff. 1, eff. The statute increases that punishment to a minimum time behind bars of 25 years imprisonment when a child is involved. (c-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(2), an offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a state jail felony if the offense is committed against a person the actor knows is a peace officer or judge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney, Jeff Hampton, may be able to get your charges reduced or dismissed, or he could win you an acquittal in a court of law. The best criminal lawyers make it a practice to prepare a packet of evidence establishing the injury does not meet the requirements under Texas law. Contact our office today for a free initial consultation and learn what options are available to you.