ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IATTexas Penal Code (PC) § 28.02(d)(2)
“ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT” stands for Arson of a Habitation or Place of Worship, a first-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 28.02(d)(2). It is punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT” mean?
“ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT” stands for Arson of a Habitation or Place of Worship, a first-degree felony under Texas PC § 28.02(d)(2).
Texas Penal Code § 28.02(d)(2) denotes the first-degree variant of arson in which the property targeted was a habitation or a place of assembly or worship. The State must prove the base arson offense under § 28.02(a): the defendant started a fire, regardless of whether it continued after ignition, or caused an explosion, with intent to destroy or damage a building, habitation, or vehicle under one of the statute's listed circumstances — for example, knowing the property belonged to another or being reckless about endangering another person's life or property. The distinguishing element under subsection (d)(2) is that the property the defendant intended to damage or destroy was a habitation — a structure or vehicle adapted for the overnight accommodation of persons — or a place of assembly or worship. The parallel provision, § 28.02(d)(1), instead elevates arson when bodily injury or death resulted.
What usually happens to a ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT charge?
41% ended without a conviction, 24% in deferred adjudication and 34% in a conviction.
How 85 resolved ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 10 counties (Bastrop, Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Travis, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (1) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT case take to resolve?
Typically about 9 months: half of resolved cases closed within 262 days of filing.
Across 85 resolved ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 262 days. The middle half took between 168 and 470 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT cases end?
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Arson of a Habitation or Place of Worship in Texas?
5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-degree felony | 5 to 99 years or life in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.32 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for ARSON INTEND DAMAGE HAB/PLACE OF WORSHIP IAT in Texas?
The median bail is $40,000, and 3% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 1,176 Texas bail settings for this charge (7 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $40,000 (middle half: $15,000 – $75,000). 3% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 111 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (611 records), the median was $50,000 and 4% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 216 | $20,000 | $7,500 – $40,000 | 0% | 5% |
| Bexar | 193 | $50,000 | $28,750 – $75,000 | 0% | 13% |
| Travis | 114 | $20,000 | $7,750 – $35,000 | 22% | 3% |
| Dallas | 91 | $50,000 | $25,000 – $100,000 | 1% | 9% |
| Harris | 88 | $40,000 | $25,000 – $50,000 | 3% | 0% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.