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.
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 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 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.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
How real DEADLY CONDUCT DISCHARGE FIREARM 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
Charged with DEADLY CONDUCT DISCHARGE FIREARM?
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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.