{"id":376675,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:55","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/texas-law\/texas-sexual-assault-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-02-27T10:16:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T15:16:37","slug":"texas-sexual-assault-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-sexual-assault-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Texas Sexual Assault Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Texas Sexual Assault Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/christie-nicholson-j-d\/\">Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            February 27, 2025\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>The State of Texas treats sexual assault as a serious criminal violation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sexual-assault-overview.html\">Sexual assault<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/rape.html\">rape<\/a>, happens when an offender engages in sexual contact with someone without their consent. There are different degrees of sexual assault, depending on the nature of the contact.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us\/docs\/pe\/htm\/pe.22.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Texas&#8217; sexual assault laws<\/a> identify several sexual activities that are unlawful without the victim&#8217;s consent. Specifically, it is against the law to engage in any of the following sexual acts without the other person&#8217;s consent:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Sexual intercourse<\/li>\r\n<li>Penetration of the mouth with a sex organ<\/li>\r\n<li>Penetration of the anus or vagina with a sex organ<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Essentially, the police can arrest you and charge you with <a href=\"https:\/\/rainn.org\/resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">non-consensual sexual assault<\/a> if you commit penetration of the victim&#8217;s mouth, anus, or sexual organs by any means.<\/p>\r\n<p>If law enforcement catches you doing any of these things or the victim reports your behavior to the authorities, you&#8217;ll face arrest and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges.html\">criminal charges<\/a>. The penalties for these sex crimes are severe. You should seek legal advice immediately upon arrest.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Texas&#8217; Sexual Assault and Rape Laws at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>The following chart includes details of Texas sexual assault charges, potential defenses, and penalties for these crimes. It also includes links to Texas&#8217; Code of Criminal Procedure for further information.<\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Statute<\/th>\r\n<td><p><a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/tx\/penal-code\/penal-sect-22-011.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Texas Penal Code Section<\/a> 22.011 and 22.021<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Elements of sexual assault<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Texas\u2019 criminal law defines the crime of sexual assault as follows:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The defendant acted intentionally or knowingly<\/li>\r\n<li>Penetration of the anus or sex organ by any means without the victim\u2019s consent<\/li>\r\n<li>Penetration of the mouth by the defendant\u2019s sexual organs<\/li>\r\n<li>Causing the victim\u2019s sex organ to contact or penetrate the defendant\u2019s sexual organs<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Determining consent<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Under Texas law, consent is lacking in the following situations:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The offender uses physical force, violence, or coercion.<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant threatens the use of force or violence, and the victim reasonably believes the defendant is capable of carrying out this threat.<\/li>\r\n<li>The victim is unconscious<\/li>\r\n<li>The victim has a mental disability.<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant gives the victim a drug or other substance to impair their ability to resist sexual contact.<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant threatens to harm a third party if the victim doesn\u2019t engage in the sexual activity.<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant is in a place of power or charged with the victim&#8217;s care.<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant is a health care professional, member of the clergy, public servant, or an employee of a facility where the victim lives.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Aggravated sexual assault<\/th>\r\n<td><p><br>\r\nThe state may elevate the charges in a sexual assault case to aggravated sexual assault if any of the following conditions exist:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The victim suffered serious bodily injury<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant threatened to kill, injure, or kidnap the victim<\/li>\r\n<li>The offender used or brandished a deadly weapon<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant acted with another individual<\/li>\r\n<li>The offender used a &quot;date rape drug&quot; (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dea.gov\/factsheets\/rohypnol\" title=\"Rohypnol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rohypnol<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dea.gov\/factsheets\/ketamine\" title=\"ketamine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ketamine<\/a>) to make it easier to commit the sexual assault<\/li>\r\n<li>The victim is less than 14 years old<\/li>\r\n<li>The victim is elderly or suffering from a disability<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Defenses against sexual assault charges<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Your Texas criminal defense attorney may cite any of the following defenses to the above criminal charges:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The defendant was providing medical care for the child victim and did not penetrate the child&#8217;s mouth, anus, or sexual organs.<\/li>\r\n<li>The defendant was married to the child at the time of the assault.<\/li>\r\n<li>At the time of the offense, the defendant was no more than three years older than the child, who was at least 14.<\/li>\r\n<li>Lack of intent<\/li>\r\n<li>Lack of knowledge<\/li>\r\n<li>Consent of the victim<\/li>\r\n<li>Insanity<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sexual-assault-defenses.html\">Sexual Assault Defenses<\/a> for more general information.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Age of consent<\/th>\r\n<td><p>The age of consent in Texas is 17.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Penalties and sentences<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Most sexual assaults are second-degree felonies. This carries a prison sentence of two to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000.<\/p>\r\n<p>The state may elevate the charges to a first-degree felony. A first-degree felony in Texas carries a prison sentence of five to 99 years and a fine of up to $10,000.<\/p>\r\n<p>Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony. The minimum prison sentence is 25 years if the victim is younger than six years old or if the victim is younger than 14 years of age. The state will also elevate the charges to a first-degree felony if the defendant used a deadly weapon, seriously injured the child, or threatened to kill the victim.<\/p>\r\n<p>If the court finds you guilty of sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault, you will likely have to register as a sex offender.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Statute of limitations<\/th>\r\n<td><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html\">statute of limitations<\/a> for sexual assault in Texas is ten years.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<p><i>Disclaimer: State laws are subject to change through new legislation, higher court rulings, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information, consult an attorney or conduct legal research to verify your state laws.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Facing Sexual Assault Charges? You Need Skilled Legal Representation<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>A sexual assault conviction could impact you for the rest of your life. Not only will you face jail time, fines, and registration as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/the-sex-offender-registry-what-you-need-to-know.html\">sex offender<\/a>, but you&#8217;ll also suffer significant damage to your reputation. A conviction of a sex crime can also impact your professional life.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re facing charges of sexual assault, contact an experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/sex-crime\/texas?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Texas defense attorney<\/a> today&nbsp;and learn how they can help.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>More Findlaw Resources<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/civil-commitment.html\">Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/statutory-rape.html\">Statutory Rape<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sex-offenders-and-sex-offenses.html\">Sex Offenders and Sex Offe<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sex-offenders-and-sex-offenses.html\">nses<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            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13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div 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data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Complex cases usually require a lawyer\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Experienced lawyers can seek to reduce or eliminate criminal penalties\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Sexual assaults &#038; sex crime convictions often have long sentences and lifelong consequences\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions. 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<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sexual assault is a very serious charge. 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