Houston Terroristic Threat Defense Attorney

Terroristic Threats Lawyer in the City of Houston, TX, Fights for Favorable Outcomes to Clients’ Criminal Cases in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Texas

Were you arrested or charged with making terroristic threats? The crime of terroristic threats is most frequently charged in the domestic context between family or household members. A conviction for terroristic threats can have significant consequences for your personal life, reputation, and future. Get the legal help you need to protect your interest from a seasoned Houston terroristic threat defense attorney from Chernoff Law.

I am criminal defense lawyer Ed Chernoff. I have more than 35 years of legal experience with the criminal justice system. My experience includes five years serving as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s office, where I consistently ranked as one of the top-performing prosecutors and gained significant experience. In 1991, I began working as a criminal defense attorney, using my knowledge and insights from being a prosecutor to offer aggressive legal representation for people facing criminal charges. I have developed a reputation in Texas and nationwide as a tough defender of my client’s interests, having also received Board Certification in Criminal Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which highlights my trial expertise.

Reach out to my firm for a free initial case review with a terroristic threats lawyer in the city of Houston, TX, after being arrested and charged with terroristic threats. Let me advocate for your rights and interests and fight to secure a favorable resolution to your charges. 

What Is the Crime of Terroristic Threats?

The criminal offense of making terroristic threats is defined by Title 5, Section 22.07 of the Texas Penal Code. The statute makes it illegal to commit any offense involving violence to a person or property with intent to:

• Cause a reaction from an official or volunteer agency established to respond to emergencies (Class B misdemeanor)
• Place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury (Class B misdemeanor, or a Class A misdemeanor if committed against a family or household member or a public servant, or a state jail felony if committed against a peace officer or judge)
• Prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a public building or public place, place of employment, automobile, aircraft, or other vehicles (Class A misdemeanor, or a state jail felony if causing a pecuniary loss of $1,500 or more)
• Impair or interrupt public communications, public transportation, or public utilities (third-degree felony)
• Place the public or a substantial group in fear of serious bodily injury (third-degree felony)
• Influence the conduct of a branch or agency of the federal government, state government, or a political subdivision of the state (third-degree felony)

The crime of terroristic threats is frequently charged in the context of a domestic violence offense. A person may be charged with terroristic threats if they place a family or household member in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. 

Penalties for a Terroristic Threats Conviction in Texas

Terroristic threats may be graded anywhere from a Class B misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, depending on the specific subsection of the statute that is violated. Penalties for a conviction for terroristic threats include:

• Class B misdemeanor: Jail term of up to 180 days, and/or a fine of up to $2,000
• Class A misdemeanor: Jail term of up to one year, and/or a fine of up to $4,000
• State jail felony: State jail term of 180 days to two years, and a potential fine of up to $10,000
• Third-degree felony: Imprisonment for two to 10 years, and a potential fine of up to $10,000

In addition, committing the offense of terroristic threats against a family or household member may also result in the issuance of a protective order in favor of the victim. 

Turn to a Houston Terroristic Threat Defense Attorney for Help Facing Your Charges

Get the legal advocacy you need from a terroristic threats lawyer in the City of Houston, TX, to protect your reputation and future if you have been accused or charged with terroristic threats. I will help you through each step of pursuing a favorable resolution to your charges, including:

• Working quickly to secure your release following arrest
• Investigating your case to recover evidence to begin building your case
• Identifying viable defense strategies I can assert on your behalf
• Going over your legal options, the potential outcomes of your charges, and what to expect during the criminal justice process
• Moving to exclude statements you made to police or evidence that was unlawfully obtained from you
• Challenging the sufficiency of the prosecution’s case against you by filing motions to dismiss or reduce your charges
• Aggressively pursuing the best possible outcome in your case, whether that means negotiating a favorable plea deal or advocating a strong defense if you choose to go to trial and assert your innocence

Contact Chernoff Law to Learn More About Your Legal Options in Your Case from a Terroristic Threats Lawyer in the City of Houston, TX

Contact me today for a confidential consultation to learn more about how a Houston terroristic threat defense attorney can impact the outcome of your case. I will leave no stone unturned in pursuing the best possible outcome for your charges. 

Houston Terroristic Threat Defense Attorney Chernoff Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Terroristic Threats in Houston, TX