UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELONTexas Penal Code (PC) § 46.04(e)
“UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON” stands for Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon, a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 46.04(e). It is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON” mean?
“UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON” stands for Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon, a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 46.04(e).
Texas Penal Code § 46.04(a) defines unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. A person previously convicted of a felony commits the offense by possessing a firearm either at any location before the fifth anniversary of the person's release from confinement or from supervision under community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision, whichever is later, or, after that five-year window, at any location other than the premises at which the person lives. Possession means actual care, custody, control, or management, and can be proved through circumstances linking the defendant to the weapon rather than physical holding. For this statute, an out-of-state or federal conviction counts as a felony if it is designated a felony, contains the elements of a Texas felony, or is punishable by a year or more in a penitentiary. Under § 46.04(e), this offense is a third-degree felony.
What usually happens to a UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON charge?
46% ended without a conviction, 12% in deferred adjudication and 42% in a conviction.
How 9,476 resolved UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 15 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 6,382 | 52% | 13% | 35% | 368 |
| Montgomery | 573 | 48% | 3% | 49% | 200 |
| Dallas | 554 | 28% | 27% | 44% | 176 |
| Collin | 439 | 23% | 8% | 69% | 244 |
| Galveston | 437 | 33% | 3% | 64% | 366 |
| Brazoria | 240 | 23% | 4% | 72% | 241 |
| Hays | 224 | 28% | 3% | 70% | 368 |
| FortBend | 185 | 54% | 12% | 34% | 416 |
| Williamson | 150 | 31% | 5% | 64% | 334 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (68) 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 UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON case take to resolve?
Typically about 11 months: half of resolved cases closed within 334 days of filing.
Across 9,474 resolved UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 334 days. The middle half took between 171 and 571 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON 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 Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon in Texas?
2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.34 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON in Texas?
The median bail is $10,000, and 3% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 51,684 Texas bail settings for this charge (138 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $25,000). 3% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 3,875 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (8,406 records), the median was $14,500 and 10% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 6,597 | $5,000 | $3,000 – $12,000 | 0% | 4% |
| Dallas | 5,699 | $15,000 | $5,000 – $40,000 | 0% | 7% |
| Travis | 3,514 | $10,000 | $7,000 – $20,000 | 14% | 8% |
| Bexar | 2,970 | $20,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 14% |
| Harris | 2,369 | $15,000 | $7,500 – $25,000 | 30% | 4% |
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 UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON?
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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.