TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT
Tamper with Government Rcd LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT” means
Texas Penal Code § 37.10 prohibits tampering with a governmental record, including making a false entry or alteration, presenting or using a false record as genuine, destroying or concealing a record, or unlawfully possessing or selling a record or blank form. This charge, under § 37.10(c)(2)(A), applies when the governmental record was a license, certificate, permit, seal, title, letter of patent, or similar document issued by government, whether by Texas, another state, or the United States, or certain public school records, reports, or assessment instruments. The offense is a second-degree felony because the State further alleges the defendant acted with intent to defraud or harm another; the same conduct involving these record types without that intent is graded one level lower. Government-issued licenses and seals receive heightened treatment because falsifying them undermines documents the public relies on as authoritative.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second-degree felony | 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 TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT in Texas
Across 1,493 Texas bail settings for this charge (9 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $5,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $15,000). 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 117 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (218 records), the median was $7,500 and 34% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 474 | $5,000 | $3,000 – $10,000 | 2% | 7% |
| Grayson | 276 | $5,000 | $5,000 – $5,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Bexar | 135 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $35,000 | 1% | 20% |
| Harris | 120 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 58% | 8% |
| Dallas | 84 | $10,000 | $3,875 – $25,000 | 0% | 12% |
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 TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT 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
- TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD § 37.10(c)(1)
- TAMPER W/GOVERN RECORD DEFRAUD/HARM § 37.10(c)(1)
- TAMPER W/GOV REC-INS DOC (A)(1,3,4,6) IAT § 37.10(d)(2)
- TAMPER W/GOV REC-INS DOC-DEFRAUD/HARM IAT § 37.10(d)(3)
Charged with TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT?
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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.