PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATRTexas Penal Code (PC) § 21.16(g)
“PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR” stands for Publishing or Threatening to Publish Intimate Visual Material (Revenge Porn), a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 21.16(g). It is punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR” mean?
“PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR” stands for Publishing or Threatening to Publish Intimate Visual Material (Revenge Porn), a state jail felony under Texas PC § 21.16(g).
Texas Penal Code § 21.16, often called the revenge-pornography statute, prohibits unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material. The disclosure form requires proof that a person, without the depicted person's effective consent and with intent to harm that person, disclosed visual material showing the depicted person's intimate parts exposed or the person engaged in sexual conduct; that the material was obtained or created under circumstances in which the depicted person had a reasonable expectation it would remain private; that the disclosure caused harm to the depicted person; and that it revealed the depicted person's identity in some manner. A separate form covers intentionally threatening to disclose such material, without the depicted person's consent, to obtain a benefit in return for not disclosing or in connection with the threatened disclosure. Subsection (g), cited in the court record, is the section's classification provision.
What usually happens to a PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR charge?
36% ended without a conviction, 43% in deferred adjudication and 22% in a conviction.
How 138 resolved PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Bastrop, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, 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 PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR case take to resolve?
Typically about 10 months: half of resolved cases closed within 312 days of filing.
Across 138 resolved PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 312 days. The middle half took between 150 and 597 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR 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 Publishing or Threatening to Publish Intimate Visual Material (Revenge Porn) in Texas?
180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State jail felony | 180 days to 2 years in a state jail | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.35 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR in Texas?
The median bail is $8,000, and 5% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 2,081 Texas bail settings for this charge (21 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $8,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $15,000). 5% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 85 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (714 records), the median was $8,000 and 8% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 255 | $3,000 | $2,000 – $6,000 | 1% | 3% |
| Collin | 118 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 2% | 1% |
| Gillespie | 103 | $5,000 | $5,000 – $5,000 | 0% | 0% |
| El Paso | 101 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 1% | 3% |
| Travis | 89 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 29% | 7% |
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 PUBLISH/THREAT TO PUBLISH INTIMATE VISUAL MATR?
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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.