UNL POSS METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY FELON

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).

Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.

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.

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.