You can be charged with terroristic threat if you threaten to commit a criminal act that could result in harm to a person, or to property. Additionally, to be successfully prosecuted for terroristic threats, it must be further alleged that your intent was to place a person, or a group of people, in immediate fear of imminent bodily injury. Terroristic threat charges typically arise when you are alleged to engage in conduct that is intended to cause an emergency-related agency to react, or you are otherwise accused of attempting to thereby cause public disruption.
Terroristic Threat Can be Charged As
a class B misdemeanor, a class A misdemeanor, or a third-degree felony, depending upon the conduct in which you are alleged to have engaged. Please see the Texas Penal Code statute regarding the terroristic threat, set forth below, for more details. In Texas, class B misdemeanor terroristic threat charges carry a penalty range of up to 6 months in the county jail and a fine of up to $2000. Class A misdemeanor terroristic threat charges can land you in the county jail of up to 1 year, and a fine of up to $400. And third-degree felony terroristic threat cases can result in a prison term of not less than 2 years, nor more than 10 years, and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Texas Penal Code Section 22.07.
TERRORISTIC THREAT
(a) A person commits an offense if he threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to: (1) cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; (2) place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; (3) prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place;
(4) cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service; (5) place the public or a substantial group of the public in fear of serious bodily injury; or (6) influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the offense: (1) is committed against a member of the person’s family or household or otherwise constitutes family violence; or (2) is committed against a public servant.
(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(3) is a Class A misdemeanor unless the actor causes pecuniary loss of $1,500 or more to the owner of the building, room, place, or conveyance, in which event the offense is a state jail felony.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4), (a)(5), or (a)(6) is a felony of the third degree.
(f) In this section: (1) “Family” has the meaning assigned by Section 71.003, Family Code. (2) “Family violence” has the meaning assigned by Section 71.004, Family Code. (3) “Household” has the meaning assigned by Section 71.005, Family Code.
(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.
Dallas Terroristic Threat Lawyers
Have you been charged with making a terroristic threat? Call the Dallas terroristic threat lawyers at Berlof & Newton, P.C. and speak with one of our experienced attorneys today!
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