POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200GTexas Health & Safety Code (HSC) § 481.117(c)
“POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G” stands for Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 at least 28 g under 200 g, a third-degree felony under Texas Health & Safety Code (HSC) § 481.117(c). 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 “POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G” mean?
“POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G” stands for Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 at least 28 g under 200 g, a third-degree felony under Texas HSC § 481.117(c).
Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.117 makes it an offense to knowingly or intentionally possess a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 3 unless the substance was obtained directly from, or under a valid prescription or order of, a practitioner acting in the course of professional practice. Penalty Group 3 consists largely of prescription depressants and stimulants, including benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and diazepam, methylphenidate, barbiturate derivatives, and anabolic steroids. This variant, § 481.117(c), applies when the amount possessed is, by aggregate weight including adulterants and dilutants, 28 grams or more but less than 200 grams. Possession means actual care, custody, control, or management, and the State must prove the accused knew of the substance's presence and character. The 28-to-200-gram bracket separates this variant from § 481.117(b), which covers smaller amounts, and from the statute's larger-quantity variants.
What usually happens to a POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G charge?
65% ended without a conviction, 21% in deferred adjudication and 14% in a conviction.
How 107 resolved POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 11 counties (Bastrop, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) 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 POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G case take to resolve?
Typically about 7 months: half of resolved cases closed within 204 days of filing.
Across 106 resolved POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 204 days. The middle half took between 77 and 370 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G 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 Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 at least 28 g under 200 g 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 POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G in Texas?
The median bail is $8,000, and 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 2,678 Texas bail settings for this charge (23 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $8,000 (middle half: $3,000 – $15,000). 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 108 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (306 records), the median was $10,000 and 18% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis | 203 | $500 | $500 – $7,500 | 5% | 1% |
| Tarrant | 178 | $3,000 | $1,500 – $6,375 | 7% | 3% |
| Hidalgo | 150 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $30,000 | 6% | 1% |
| Taylor | 128 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 | 0% | 5% |
| Brazoria | 119 | $15,000 | $5,000 – $30,000 | 0% | 4% |
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 POSS CS PG 3 >= 28G < 200G?
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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.