ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSONTexas Penal Code (PC) § 22.01(b)(8)
Assault of Pregnant Person is a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 22.01(b)(8). It is punishable by 2 to 10 years 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 “ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON” mean?
Assault of Pregnant Person is a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 22.01(b)(8).
Texas Penal Code § 22.01(b)(8) denotes third-degree-felony assault of a pregnant person. The State must prove the elements of bodily-injury assault under § 22.01(a)(1): that the defendant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury — physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition — to another person. The distinguishing element is the victim's condition and the defendant's awareness of it: the assault must have been committed against a person the defendant knew was pregnant at the time of the offense. The knowledge requirement means the State must prove more than the fact of pregnancy; it must show the defendant was aware of it. This enhancement operates independently of any family or dating relationship — it applies to any victim — which distinguishes it from the family-violence enhancements in § 22.01(b)(2) and § 22.01(b-3) that turn on relationships defined by the Texas Family Code.
What usually happens to a ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON charge?
70% ended without a conviction, 18% in deferred adjudication and 12% in a conviction.
How 1,441 resolved ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 13 counties (Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 1,068 | 76% | 14% | 9% | 329 |
| Collin | 119 | 45% | 37% | 19% | 216 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (9) 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 ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON case take to resolve?
Typically about 10 months: half of resolved cases closed within 310 days of filing.
Across 1,440 resolved ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 310 days. The middle half took between 174 and 533 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON 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 Assault of Pregnant Person in Texas?
2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.34 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON in Texas?
The median bail is $10,000, and 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 8,939 Texas bail settings for this charge (39 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $25,000). 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 488 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (3,935 records), the median was $10,000 and 1% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 1,257 | $5,000 | $2,500 – $10,000 | 0% | 5% |
| Bexar | 1,006 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 | 1% | 8% |
| Harris | 821 | $15,000 | $7,500 – $25,000 | 1% | 0% |
| Dallas | 798 | $15,000 | $7,500 – $25,000 | 0% | 3% |
| El Paso | 697 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $24,000 | 2% | 11% |
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.
Charged with ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON?
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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.