THEFT FROM PERSONTexas Penal Code (PC) § 31.03(e)(4)(b)
Theft From Person is a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 31.03(e)(4)(b). 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 “THEFT FROM PERSON” mean?
Theft From Person is a state jail felony under Texas PC § 31.03(e)(4)(b).
Texas Penal Code § 31.03 defines theft as unlawfully appropriating property with intent to deprive the owner of it. Appropriation is unlawful if it is without the owner's effective consent, if the property is stolen and the actor appropriates it knowing it was stolen by another, or if the property is in law enforcement custody and was explicitly represented to the actor as stolen. This variant, § 31.03(e)(4)(B), is a state jail felony regardless of the property's value because the property is alleged to have been stolen from the person of another, meaning taken directly from the victim's body, clothing, or immediate physical possession, as in pickpocketing or purse snatching, or from a human corpse or grave, including a military grave marker. Because the offense involves no proof of force or threat against the victim, it is distinguished from robbery under Texas Penal Code § 29.02.
What usually happens to a THEFT FROM PERSON charge?
20% ended without a conviction, 12% in deferred adjudication and 67% in a conviction.
How 1,301 resolved THEFT FROM PERSON charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 994 | 21% | 8% | 69% | 265 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (15) 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 THEFT FROM PERSON case take to resolve?
Typically about 8 months: half of resolved cases closed within 249 days of filing.
Across 1,301 resolved THEFT FROM PERSON charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 249 days. The middle half took between 131 and 449 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real THEFT FROM PERSON 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 Theft From Person 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 THEFT FROM PERSON in Texas?
The median bail is $5,000, and 9% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 2,206 Texas bail settings for this charge (12 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $5,000 (middle half: $3,000 – $10,000). 9% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 226 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (694 records), the median was $6,750 and 20% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis | 393 | $5,500 | $4,000 – $10,000 | 16% | 8% |
| Tarrant | 363 | $3,000 | $2,000 – $5,000 | 1% | 3% |
| Dallas | 265 | $10,000 | $2,500 – $25,000 | 0% | 6% |
| Harris | 222 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 46% | 3% |
| Bexar | 122 | $7,500 | $5,000 – $12,500 | 2% | 20% |
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.
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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.