THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30KTexas Penal Code (PC) § 31.04(e)(4)
“THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30K” stands for Theft of Servant at least $2,500 under $30K, a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 31.04(e)(4). 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 SERV >=$2,500<$30K” mean?
“THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30K” stands for Theft of Servant at least $2,500 under $30K, a state jail felony under Texas PC § 31.04(e)(4).
Texas Penal Code § 31.04 defines theft of service, abbreviated THEFT OF SERV on court records. The State must prove the defendant, intending to avoid payment for a service the defendant knew was provided only for compensation, either secured performance of the service by deception, threat, or false token; diverted another person's services, over which the defendant had control but no entitlement, to an unauthorized benefit; held rented personal property past the rental period without the owner's effective consent, depriving the owner of its use in further rentals; or secured performance by agreeing to pay and then failed to make full payment after the service was rendered and a demand notice was received. This variant, § 31.04(e)(4), is the state jail felony tier alleging the value of the service obtained was at least $2,500 but less than $30,000; amounts obtained under one scheme or continuing course of conduct may be aggregated.
What usually happens to a THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30K charge?
63% ended without a conviction, 24% in deferred adjudication and 13% in a conviction.
How 62 resolved THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30K charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 11 counties (Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Travis, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) 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 SERV >=$2,500<$30K case take to resolve?
Typically about 13 months: half of resolved cases closed within 385 days of filing.
Across 62 resolved THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30K charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 385 days. The middle half took between 227 and 621 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real THEFT OF SERV >=$2,500<$30K 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 Servant at least $2,500 under $30K 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 SERV >=$2,500<$30K in Texas?
The median bail is $7,500, and 9% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 1,246 Texas bail settings for this charge (9 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $7,500 (middle half: $4,000 – $15,000). 9% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 110 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (526 records), the median was $6,000 and 17% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 129 | $2,500 | $1,500 – $4,000 | 7% | 3% |
| Harris | 104 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 43% | 4% |
| El Paso | 78 | $7,500 | $5,000 – $20,000 | 15% | 1% |
| Dallas | 42 | $5,000 | $2,500 – $10,000 | 7% | 0% |
| Travis | 39 | $15,000 | $7,500 – $15,000 | 18% | 8% |
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 SERV >=$2,500<$30K?
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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.