CRUELTY TO LIVESTOCK ANIM NEGLECT/OVERWORK
Cruelty to Livestock Anim NEGLECT/OVERWORK in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “CRUELTY TO LIVESTOCK ANIM NEGLECT/OVERWORK” means
Cruelty to livestock animals, Texas Penal Code § 42.09, governs animals the statute defines as livestock — cattle, sheep, swine, goats, ratites (such as emus and ostriches), poultry commonly raised for human consumption, horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, and other hoofstock or fowl raised under agricultural practices. This charge reflects the Class A misdemeanor grouping in § 42.09(c), labeled on court records as neglect or overwork. The State must prove the person intentionally or knowingly did one of the following: failed unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, or care for a livestock animal in the person's custody; abandoned unreasonably a livestock animal in the person's custody; transported or confined a livestock animal in a cruel and unusual manner; or seriously overworked a livestock animal. These forms are distinguished from the statute's felony variants, such as torturing a livestock animal or administering poison.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in county jail | Fine up to $4,000 | Penal Code § 12.21 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
Bail for CRUELTY TO LIVESTOCK ANIM NEGLECT/OVERWORK in Texas
Across 760 Texas bail settings for this charge (5 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $3,500 (middle half: $2,000 – $7,500). 24% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 10 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (251 records), the median was $3,000 and 23% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis | 220 | $3,000 | $2,500 – $4,000 | 61% | 0% |
| Bexar | 86 | $4,000 | $2,500 – $5,000 | 1% | 8% |
| Anderson | 64 | $1,500 | $1,500 – $7,500 | 0% | 0% |
| Brazoria | 35 | $25,000 | $21,250 – $25,000 | 0% | 3% |
| Nueces | 30 | $1,000 | $1,000 – $1,000 | 0% | 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.
How real CRUELTY TO LIVESTOCK ANIM NEGLECT/OVERWORK 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
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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.