Penal Code § 20.05(b) · Third-degree felony

SMUGGLING OF PERSONS

Smuggling of Persons 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
11%
Released on personal bond
25,291
Bail records

What “SMUGGLING OF PERSONS” means

Texas Penal Code § 20.05 defines smuggling of persons. The State must prove the person knowingly did one of three things: used a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other means of conveyance to transport an individual with intent to conceal the individual from a peace officer or special investigator, or with intent to flee from a person the actor knew was a peace officer or special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest or detain the actor; encouraged or induced a person to enter or remain in the United States in violation of federal law by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection; or assisted, guided, or directed two or more individuals to enter or remain on agricultural land without the effective consent of the land's owner. Subsection (b), cited in the court record, is the grading provision, listing aggravating circumstances that move the offense above its base level.

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 SMUGGLING OF PERSONS in Texas

Across 25,291 Texas bail settings for this charge (60 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $15,000 (middle half: $10,000 – $35,000). 11% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 961 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (5,971 records), the median was $20,000 and 4% got a personal bond.

CountyRecordsMedian cash bailMiddle halfPersonal bondDenied
Val Verde 4,052 $20,000 $10,000 – $50,000 1% 1%
Kinney 2,678 $10,000 $10,000 – $10,000 81% 0%
El Paso 2,657 $10,000 $5,000 – $25,000 2% 7%
Bexar 2,256 $50,000 $10,000 – $100,000 0% 0%
Travis 1,303 $10,000 $10,000 – $10,000 2% 2%

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 SMUGGLING OF PERSONS cases

CaseCountyFiledDisposedOutcome
CR2025-730EComalAug 27, 2025May 5, 2026Guilty or no-contest plea
NA26-303ComalMar 19, 2026Mar 20, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA26-301ComalMar 20, 2026Mar 19, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA26-302ComalMar 20, 2026Mar 19, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
22-DCR-099258FortBendApr 25, 2022Oct 27, 2025Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA25-357ComalAug 11, 2025Aug 11, 2025Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA25-350ComalAug 7, 2025Aug 7, 2025Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA25-343ComalJul 29, 2025Jul 29, 2025Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA25-317ComalJul 8, 2025Jul 8, 2025Dismissed by the prosecutor
NA25-317ComalJul 8, 2025Jul 8, 2025Dismissed by the prosecutor

Related charges

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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.