Misdemeanors and Felonies
In Texas offenses are classified as either misdemeanors(minor crimes) or felonies (major crimes). The different types of misdemeanors with their maximum penalties and examples of those types of offenses are shown in the tables below.
In many cases, a repeat offender might be exposed to higher penalties than is shown in these tables. So even though someone has committed a 3rd degree felony, if they are a repeat offender they might be convicted as if it were a 2nd degree felony. This is true even if someone was convicted for the earlier crime in a different state.
Also important to know is that the law mentions many aggravating or mitigating circumstances which can influence the severity of the penalty, so your exposure can differ from what is shown on this chart.
Additionally, drug crimes can have increased fines beyond what is shown on this table, which can go as high as $250,000.
Felonies
Offense
Prison
Fine
Drug Crime examples
Property Crime Examples
Violent Crime Examples
Sex Crime Examples
Capital
Execution or life
Murder of a police officer
1st Degree
5-99 years
or life
$10,000
Possession of more than 400 grams of a group 4 drugs (drugs with medicinal properties)
Fraudulent possession of identifying information of 50 or more persons
Intentionally causing serious bodily injury to a child
Continuous sexual abuse of a child
2nd Degree
2-20 years
$10,000
Manufacturing or delivering between 2 and 4 grams of a group 1 drug
Burglary of a home
Aggravated assault
Improper relationship between a teacher and a student
3rd Degree
2-10 years
$10,000
Possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a group 2 drug
Fraudulent transfer of a motor vehicle with a value between $30,000 and $150,000
Shooting at a home without knowing if it is occupied or not
Pimping
State jail
180 days-2 years
$10,000
Possession of less than 1 gram of a group 1 controlled substance
Forgery of a will, bribery
Criminally negligent homicide
Possession of child pornography
Offense
Prison
Fine
Drug Crime examples
Property Crime Examples
Violent Crime Examples
Sex Crime Examples
Class A
1 year
$4,000
Sellingmarijuana (¼ ounce or less)
Burglaryof a vehicle
Assault
Soliciting a prostitute
Class B
180 days
$2,000
Marijuana possession (2 ounces or less)
Theft between $100 and $750
Making terroristic threats
Prostitution
Class C
$500
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Criminal trespass
Helping someone to commit suicide, leaving a child in a vehicle
Recklessly displaying obscene material
