SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: UNDER 18 YOA
Smuggling of PERSONS: under 18 Years of Age in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: UNDER 18 YOA” means
Texas Penal Code § 20.05 defines smuggling of persons: knowingly using 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 to flee from an officer attempting a lawful arrest or detention; knowingly encouraging or inducing 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 knowingly assisting, guiding, or directing two or more individuals to enter or remain on agricultural land without the owner's effective consent. This charge, under § 20.05(b)(1)(B), is the second-degree felony variant alleging that the smuggled individual was a child younger than 18 years of age at the time of the offense. The child's age is the aggravating fact distinguishing this charge from base-level smuggling of persons.
| Charged as | Share of bail records | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second-degree felony | 100% | 2 to 20 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.33 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
Bail for SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: UNDER 18 YOA in Texas
Across 2,759 Texas bail settings for this charge (15 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $20,000 (middle half: $10,000 – $35,000). 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 77 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (256 records), the median was $20,000 and 3% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Val Verde | 794 | $20,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 0% | 1% |
| El Paso | 452 | $15,000 | $2,000 – $25,000 | 1% | 10% |
| Webb | 383 | $20,000 | $10,000 – $30,000 | 5% | 0% |
| Kinney | 151 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 | 54% | 0% |
| Uvalde | 100 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $20,000 | 6% | 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: UNDER 18 YOA cases
| Case | County | Filed | Disposed | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA26-695 | Comal | Nov 17, 2023 | Jul 17, 2026 | Dismissed by the prosecutor |
| 23-09-13552 | Montgomery | Sep 14, 2023 | Apr 2, 2024 | Guilty or no-contest plea |
| CR-23-0130-B | Hays | Mar 1, 2023 | Oct 4, 2023 | Found guilty at trial |
| CR-23-0130-B | Hays | Mar 1, 2023 | Oct 4, 2023 | Found guilty at trial |
| 22-12-16841 | Montgomery | Dec 14, 2022 | Mar 16, 2023 | Dismissed by the prosecutor |
Related charges
- SMUGGLING OF PERSONS § 20.05(b)
- SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: PECUNIARY BENEFIT § 20.05(b)(1)(c)
- SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: FLEEING § 20.05(b)(1)(e)
- SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: LIKELIHOOD SBI OR DEATH § 20.05(b)(1)(a)
- SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: FIREARM § 20.05(b)(1)(d)
Charged with SMUGGLING OF PERSONS: UNDER 18 YOA?
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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.