Texas Felony Penalties, Drug Schedules and The Death Penalty

The Law Office of Frank A. Perez
– Fighting for Clients to Minimize Penalties

If you have been convicted of a crime in Texas, you will face substantial penalties, especially if you are convicted for a felony. Texas is known for being tough on crime, and this toughness bears itself out by way of the penalties attached to a conviction in criminal court. Below is a look at a few examples of these penalty issues, but if you are facing criminal prosecution, you need to contact the Law Office of Frank A. Perez, P.C. as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.

The Death Penalty

Texas does allow for the death penalty to be sought by the prosecution, and these cases are called ‘capital felony’ cases. A defendant must be convicted of a capital felony in order to face the potential for such a sentence, and examples of these crimes include:

Murder of a public safety officer
Felony murder – Occurs when someone is killed during the commission of a different major felony, regardless of whether the death was intentional
Murder for remuneration
Murder during an escape attempt from prison
Murder of anyone under the age of 6

Texas Drug Schedules

Texas also generally classifies penalties in drug cases based on drug schedules, meaning that if a person is convicted of possessing or distributing controlled substances, the drug schedule will govern what sort of penalty the convicted defendant could face. These penalties range from a fine to life in prison, depending on the amounts involved and the defendant’s criminal history, among other factors.

Federal Drug Schedules

Much like in Texas cases, the federal government has a complete schedule of illegal substances, and these are classified into 5 categories, each representing a different sort of substance. Penalties are tied to the amounts involved and the surrounding facts of the case, as is the case in Texas, and the penalties can be relatively minor up to life in federal prison.

Texas Felony Penalties

Aside from the death penalty in Texas discussed above, the schedule of penalties for felony convictions can also be quite severe. There are three degrees of felonies in Texas, and each of the penalty ranges appears below:

First degree felony – Between 5 and 99 years
Second degree felony – Between 2 and 20 years
Third degree felony – Between 2 and 10 years

Your Next Step

If you face any of the problems listed above, you need a criminal defense attorney. Contact the Law Office of Frank A. Perez, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.