Texas Criminal Punishment Levels

June 25, 2010

By Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

(972) 369-0577

texasdefensefirm.com

Offense Levels in Texas (updated as of January, 2018):

Class C Misdemeanors:  Punishable by a fine not to exceed $500:

  • Traffic offenses
  • Assault by contact
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • Disorderly conduct (other than firearm related)
  • Theft under $100 (unless theft committed by check)
  • Insufficient funds
  • Minor in possession (MIP)
  • Minor in Consumption

Class B Misdemeanors: Fine not to exceed $2,000 and not more than 180 days confinement in county jail:

  • DWI (72 hours minimum jail; 6 days minimum with open container)
  • Possession of Marijuana (less than 2 oz.)
  • Theft over $100 but less than $750
  • Theft by check (over $20 but less than $500)
  • Criminal mischief over $100 but less than $750 (vandalism)
  • Violation of a protective order
  • Indecent exposure
  • Racing on a public road
  • Prostitution
  • Disorderly Conduct with Firearms (display or discharge)

Class A Misdemeanors:  Fine not to exceed $4,000 and not more than 180 days confinement in county jail:

  • DWI (2nd offense) (minimum 72-hours jail)
  • DWI over 0.15 BAC
  • Possession of marijuana (between 2 oz. and 4 oz.)
  • Possession of dangerous drugs (usually the possession of legal drugs without a valid prescription)
  • Assault causing bodily injury
  • Theft between $750 and $2,500 (whether by check or otherwise)
  • Criminal mischief over $750 but less than $2,500
  • Evading on foot

State Jail Felonies:  Fine not to exceed $10,000 and confinement in state jail institution for no less than 180 days and no more than 2 years.

  • Possession of controlled substance less than 1 gram (typically methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin)
  • Credit card abuse (using another person’s credit card without authorization)
  • Third theft conviction of any amount
  • Theft between $2,500 and $30,000
  • Forgery
  • DWI with a minor under the age of 15 in the vehicle
  • Evading with a vehicle
  • Car Theft (Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle)

Third Degree Felonies:  Fine not to exceed $10,000 and confinement in Texas Department of Corrections for no less than 2 years and no more than 10 years.

  • Possession of controlled substance between 1 and 4 grams;
  • Aggravated assault
  • Assault causing bodily injury (enhanced from prior finding of family violence)
  • Burglary of a building
  • Theft between $30,000 and $150,000
  • DWI (3rd offense)
  • Indecency with a child (by exposure)
  • Solicitation of a minor

Second Degree Felonies: Fine not to exceed $10,000 and confinement in Texas Department of Corrections for no less than 2 years and no more than 20 years:

  • Possession of a controlled substance over 4 grams but less than 200 grams
  • Burglary of a habitation
  • Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
  • Theft between $150,000 and $300,000
  • Indecency with a child (by contact)
  • Injury to a child
  • Sexual Assault of a Child (Under 17 but not 14)
  • Sexual Assault
  • Attempted murder
  • Intoxicated manslaughter

First Degree Felony:  Fine not to exceed $10,000 and confinement in Texas Department of Corrections for no less than 5 years and no more than 99 years.

  • Murder
  • Possession of a controlled substance over 200 grams
  • Possession of a controlled substance between 4 and 200 grams with intent to distribute
  • Arson
  • Theft over $300,000
  • Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
  • Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 6 (25 – Life w/o Parole)
  • Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child or Young Children (25 – Life w/o Parole)

It should be understood that though many of these offenses carry mandatory minimum jail sentences, virtually every offense other than Murder has provisions whereby sentence may be probated or suspended for community supervision (probation).

Other points:

There are some offenses referred to as “hybrid” offenses which mean they can straddle boundaries of punishment — but for the most part the levels remain fairly consistent.  Some offenses like Driving While Intoxicated raise the minimum punishment level but are still considered to be in that general category.

Also many offenses are subject to what are known as enhancements.  Enhancements are other surrounding factors that can enhance — or increase the base punishment level for certain offenses.  The enhancement can be for something surrounding the transaction (like possession of drugs in a drug free zone), or as is often the case because of prior criminal history.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice about any specific issue you should consult an attorney directly.


What is the Punishment for a First DWI Offense in Texas?

March 23, 2010

All the hype and rhetoric over DWI enforcement in Texas causes people who get arrested to have the expectation of a very harsh punishment — like a felony conviction, having their arm lopped off, or a bright orange DD tattooed on their forehead.

DWI punishment isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s not quite that bad.

A first offense is a class b misdemeanor — which is in the middle of the misdemeanor range.  It’s punishable by a minimum confinement of 72 hours jail and/or a $2,000 fine.  While no lawyer can guarantee you any particular result, statistically the vast majority of convictions on first DWI arrests result in probation.  This means that any jail time assessed may be put off while you complete community service and various other tasks such as a victim impact panel.  There is no deferred adjudication for DWI cases in Texas on any level.

Also if you’re convicted of DWI in Texas for a first offense — you will be assessed a surcharge for three years to retain your driver’s license of $1,000.00.  If you have a breath test result of above a 0.15, then the surcharge is bumped to $1,500 per year.

What I’ve been describing so far are the criminal aspects of a DWI.  The driver’s license suspension for a breath test refusal is a separate, civil matter, but is usually handled in conjunction with your DWI defense.

Jeremy F. Rosenthal, Esq.

(972) 562-7549

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice you should consult an attorney directly.


Punishment for a 2nd DWI in Texas

February 22, 2010

By Collin County Criminal Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

Convictions for DWI’s are like stacking bricks higher and higher.  To recap, a first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas.  A second DWI is a Class A Misdemeanor.  The punishment range is between 72 hours of jail and 365 days, an/or a fine between $0 and $4,000.

A 2nd DWI means that you’ve been convicted of the first — regardless of how long ago that may have been.

Like a 1st DWI, probation is often the result of a conviction for a 2nd DWI — but clearly there is more jeopardy involved in a 2nd offense.  The maximum probation is 2 years and the probation itself gets stickier.  For example, in Texas we have what is called jail as “a term and condition” of probation.  What this means is that the Judge can send you to jail for up to 30 days as a part of your probation.  The minimum community service for a 2nd DWI is 80 hours.

Additionally, the Judge is required to place an interlock device on your car when you are originally released on bond from jail in the case while you await trial.  You can expect it to stay on during probation with a conviction.

As for driver’s license suspensions — the term of the suspension increases to 2 years (from the max of 180 days).  A person can qualify for an occupational license to assist them in driving to work, however, if the 2nd DWI was within 5 years of previous law enforcement contact involving alcohol, then the person doesn’t qualify for the occupational for 180 days after the suspension begins.  This is what DWI lawyers in Dallas and Collin Counties call a “hard suspension.”  It means no driving for six months.

Also the surcharge is $1,500 per year for 3 years.  Again, the surcharge is $2,000 for a breath test score over 0.16 for 3 years.

In Texas, some County Courts at Law have DWI programs for 2nd time DWI convictions.  In Collin County they have courts with intensive treatment but that offer some incentives to join the program such as lesser fines.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. This article is not intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice you should consult an attorney.


What is the Result or Punishment for a 1st DWI in Texas?

February 22, 2010

By Collin County Criminal Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

In Dallas and Collin County where I practice, DWI’s are statistically very winnable.  Today’s blog, though, deals with what happens if you plead guilty or are found guilty at trial.

A first DWI in Texas is a Class ‘B’ misdemeanor.  A first DWI conviction in Texas is not a felony.  Even as a misdemeanor a conviction stays on your criminal record forever.

The punishment range for a Texas DWI is between 72 hours an 180 days of jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine.

Don’t panic!  That time is usually probated — meaning you’re on probation for DWI and only if you violate your probation do you look at going back to jail.  I can safely say in my experience as a prosecutor and a DWI defense lawyer the vast majority of persons arrested for DWI spend no time in jail after their original arrest.  Of course, no lawyer can guarantee you any result.

With the punishment range as it is, your lawyer must admonish you that it is legally possible for you to be assessed 180 days and a $2,000 fine.  This is not to minimize the consequences, but most experienced DWI lawyers in Dallas and Collin Counties will tell you that result is highly unlikely.

You should also be aware that if you’re convicted of DWI and your breath test result was a 0.15 or above, you’re legally required to have a deep lung device installed on your car for at least half of the probation period.

Beginning in September, 2011, a DWI with a blood alcohol concentration above a 0.15 is now a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year of jail — again — typically probated.

Also there is a surcharge for renewing your driver’s license of $1,000 upon conviction for 3 years following the conviction.  The surcharge goes up to $2,000 per year if your breath and/or blood is a 0.16 or higher.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice please consult an attorney.