Penal Code § 22.05(b) · Third-degree felony

DEADLY CONDUCT DISCHARGE FIREARM

Deadly Conduct Discharge Firearm in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.

$15,000
Median cash bail
2%
Released on personal bond
9,455
Bail records

What “DEADLY CONDUCT DISCHARGE FIREARM” means

Felony deadly conduct, Texas Penal Code § 22.05(b), is committed when a person knowingly discharges a firearm at or in the direction of either one or more individuals, or a habitation, building, or vehicle while being reckless as to whether the habitation, building, or vehicle is occupied. The required mental state is knowledge as to the discharge; for the habitation, building, or vehicle branch, the State must additionally prove recklessness — conscious disregard of a substantial and unjustifiable risk — regarding occupancy. No injury needs to result, and the State need not prove intent to kill or hurt anyone; the offense is complete upon the qualifying discharge. This citation refers to subsection (b) generally, without specifying which branch is alleged; both branches are third-degree felonies, which distinguishes them from the Class A misdemeanor reckless-endangerment form of deadly conduct in § 22.05(a).

Charged asShare of bail recordsPossible confinementFineSource
Third-degree felony100% 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 DEADLY CONDUCT DISCHARGE FIREARM in Texas

Across 9,455 Texas bail settings for this charge (55 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $15,000 (middle half: $8,000 – $35,000). 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 505 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (2,005 records), the median was $20,000 and 5% got a personal bond.

CountyRecordsMedian cash bailMiddle halfPersonal bondDenied
Tarrant 1,237 $10,000 $5,000 – $20,000 0% 5%
Travis 714 $15,000 $10,000 – $30,000 9% 5%
Bexar 597 $30,000 $16,250 – $75,000 0% 9%
Dallas 541 $25,000 $10,000 – $50,000 0% 4%
Ector 373 $15,000 $15,000 – $15,000 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.

Recent DEADLY CONDUCT DISCHARGE FIREARM cases

CaseCountyFiledDisposedOutcome
196529401010HarrisMay 22, 2026Aug 28, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
197558701010HarrisAug 7, 2026Aug 28, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
195536101010HarrisMar 10, 2026Aug 26, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
196480001010HarrisMay 19, 2026Aug 26, 2026Deferred adjudication
197516301010HarrisAug 4, 2026Aug 25, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
25-08-12670MontgomeryAug 6, 2025Aug 25, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
195599801010HarrisMar 15, 2026Aug 24, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
195699501010HarrisMar 23, 2026Aug 24, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
335-F-017BastropMay 13, 2025Aug 19, 2026Deferred adjudication
F-25-35235DallasFeb 26, 2026Aug 18, 2026Guilty or no-contest plea

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Bail 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.