UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON
Unlawful Possession of Metal or Body Armor by Felon in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON” means
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).
| 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.
Bail for UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON in Texas
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.
How real UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON cases ended
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
Related charges
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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.