{"id":376618,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:52","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/texas-law\/texas-extortion-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-03-28T10:13:28","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T15:13:28","slug":"texas-extortion-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-extortion-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Texas Extortion Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Texas Extortion Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Texas extortion<\/a> law charges the crime as theft (see Texas Theft Laws<\/a>). Extortion occurs when an individual gains property or money by some type of force or threat of violence, property damage, harm to reputation or unfavorable government action. The difference between this kind of threat and robbery is that the victim is not placed in imminent (or immediate) fear of physical danger. Instead, the threatened conduct could occur sometime in the future and could affect things other than the victim’s physical body, such as his or her reputation.<\/p>\n

Example: Bob goes to Joe’s home and threatens to vandalize Joe’s brand new car if Joe does not pay Bob $1,000. Bob agrees to pay Joe because he fears that Joe will in fact damage his new car.<\/p>\n

Proving extortion can be difficult without some type of audio or video recording of the threat made, since it can end up being one person’s word against the other in the absence of evidence.<\/p>\n

In the similar crime of bribery<\/a>, an individual offers or accepts something of value in exchange for influence on a public official or employee. Additionally, extortion charges often are related to the types of criminal enterprises targeted by racketeering<\/a> laws.<\/p>\n

Texas Extortion Laws: Overview<\/h2>\n

Below you will find key information on Texas extortion statutes, penalties, and possible defenses. Always consult with a criminal defense attorney before entering a plea deal or agreeing to plead guilty.<\/p>\n\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Possible Defenses <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Mistake<\/li>\n
  • Lack of intent to deprive the owner of the property<\/li>\n
  • Consent was given by the owner of the property<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNOTE: Entrapment is not a defense. Under this law, it is not a defense that law enforcement solicited, provided the facility for or deceived or strategized to get the defendant to commit the crime.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>

Penalties<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Texas extortion laws offer a wide variety of penalties. The factor that determines the severity of the punishment if convicted is the amount or value of the goods, services or cash that the defendant gains from the crime.