UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELONTexas Penal Code (PC) § 46.041(c)
“UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON” stands for Unlawful Possession of Metal or Body Armor by Felon, a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 46.041(c). 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 METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON” mean?
“UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON” stands for Unlawful Possession of Metal or Body Armor by Felon, a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 46.041(c).
Texas Penal Code § 46.041 defines unlawful possession of metal or body armor by a felon. A person who has been convicted of a felony commits the offense by possessing metal or body armor at any time after that conviction. The statute defines metal or body armor as any body covering manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of protecting a person against gunfire — bulletproof vests and similar ballistic protection. The elements are the prior felony conviction and possession of the qualifying armor, with possession meaning actual care, custody, control, or management. Unlike the firearm counterpart in Texas Penal Code § 46.04(a), the prohibition has no five-year limit and no exception for possession at the person's own home, so it applies permanently and in every location. The offense is a third-degree felony under § 46.041(c).
What usually happens to a UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON charge?
31% ended without a conviction, 7% in deferred adjudication and 62% in a conviction.
How 45 resolved UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 11 counties (Bastrop, 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 UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON case take to resolve?
Typically about 9 months: half of resolved cases closed within 259 days of filing.
Across 45 resolved UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 259 days. The middle half took between 138 and 405 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR 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 Metal or Body Armor 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 METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON in Texas?
The median bail is $10,000, and 3% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 1,161 Texas bail settings for this charge (7 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $6,000 – $25,000). 3% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 59 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (100 records), the median was $10,000 and 14% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexar | 131 | $20,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 2% | 13% |
| Tarrant | 123 | $7,000 | $3,000 – $15,000 | 0% | 2% |
| Dallas | 84 | $35,000 | $16,250 – $50,000 | 0% | 2% |
| Travis | 74 | $10,000 | $7,500 – $17,500 | 18% | 3% |
| Grayson | 66 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $10,000 | 0% | 0% |
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.