THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20KTexas Penal Code (PC) § 31.03(e)(4)(f)
“THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K” stands for Theft of Aluminum, Bronze, Copper or Brass Under $20,000, a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 31.03(e)(4)(f). 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 OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K” mean?
“THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K” stands for Theft of Aluminum, Bronze, Copper or Brass Under $20,000, a state jail felony under Texas PC § 31.03(e)(4)(f).
Texas Penal Code § 31.03 defines theft as unlawfully appropriating property with intent to deprive the owner of it, ordinarily graded by the value of the property. This charge, under § 31.03(e)(4)(F), is the variant in which the property stolen is aluminum, bronze, copper, or brass and the value of the property is less than $20,000; that combination makes the offense a state jail felony even though property of the same value in another form would be graded as a misdemeanor. The provision targets metal theft, such as stripped wiring, pipe, cable, plumbing fixtures, and similar materials taken for scrap value. The State must prove the ordinary theft elements, unlawful appropriation without the owner's effective consent and intent to deprive, plus the metal-type allegation and a value below the $20,000 ceiling; at or above that amount, standard value grading applies.
What usually happens to a THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K charge?
32% ended without a conviction, 11% in deferred adjudication and 56% in a conviction.
How 479 resolved THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 13 counties (Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 275 | 39% | 7% | 53% | 295 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (3) 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 OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K case take to resolve?
Typically about 8 months: half of resolved cases closed within 236 days of filing.
Across 479 resolved THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 236 days. The middle half took between 82 and 419 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K 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 of Aluminum, Bronze, Copper or Brass Under $20,000 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 OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K in Texas?
The median bail is $7,500, and 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 3,692 Texas bail settings for this charge (29 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $7,500 (middle half: $3,500 – $15,000). 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 261 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (1,061 records), the median was $7,500 and 15% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 357 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 3% | 2% |
| Tarrant | 315 | $3,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 | 1% | 3% |
| Bexar | 271 | $7,500 | $5,000 – $10,000 | 3% | 14% |
| Travis | 183 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 24% | 3% |
| Harris | 166 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 70% | 1% |
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 THEFT OF MATERIAL ALUM/BRNZ/COPPER/BRASS <$20K?
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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.