CRUELTY NON-LIVESTK ANIM:KILL/POISON/SBI
Cruelty NON-LIVESTK ANIM:KILL/POISON/SBI in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “CRUELTY NON-LIVESTK ANIM:KILL/POISON/SBI” means
Cruelty to nonlivestock animals, Texas Penal Code § 42.092, protects domesticated animals — including stray or feral cats and dogs — and wild creatures that have previously been captured; livestock is covered by a separate statute. This charge reflects the felony grading in § 42.092(c-1) and the court-record label 'kill/poison/serious bodily injury.' The State must prove that the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly either tortured an animal or in a cruel manner killed or caused serious bodily injury to an animal, or, without the owner's effective consent, killed, administered poison to, or caused serious bodily injury to an animal. These kill, poison, torture, and serious-injury forms are the statute's most serious conduct, distinguishing this third-degree felony charge from the Class A misdemeanor forms of the same statute, such as neglect, abandonment, cruel transport, or overworking.
| 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.
Bail for CRUELTY NON-LIVESTK ANIM:KILL/POISON/SBI in Texas
Across 1,776 Texas bail settings for this charge (11 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $20,000). 5% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 103 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (650 records), the median was $10,000 and 10% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 353 | $5,000 | $3,000 – $10,000 | 1% | 4% |
| El Paso | 164 | $5,000 | $4,000 – $15,000 | 10% | 9% |
| Anderson | 86 | $15,000 | $7,500 – $50,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Dallas | 84 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 1% |
| Fort Bend | 83 | $25,000 | $10,000 – $75,000 | 0% | 39% |
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.
How real CRUELTY NON-LIVESTK ANIM:KILL/POISON/SBI cases ended
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
Related charges
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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.