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Violation of a Protective Order in Texas

If you are accused of violation of a protective order, you face a very serious criminal criminal charge. Under Texas law, violating a protective order can be prosecuted as either a felony or a misdemeanor. However, regardless of the classification of the charge, judges and prosecutors take this type of offense more seriously than almost any other type of criminal offense in Texas.

 

Austin Protective Order Violation Lawyer

If you have been accused of violating a protective order, you need a skilled and aggressive defense lawyer who will fight this serious criminal charge. If you have been arrested or charged with violation of a protective order in Austin, contact Attorney Kevin Bennett to schedule a free consultation to discuss the accusations against you. To get started on your defense, call  (512) 476-4626. You may also contact the Law Office of Kevin Bennett through email.

Violation of Protective Order: Texas Penal Code Section 25.07

§ 25.07. Violation of Protective Order or Magistrate’s Order, Texas Penal Code

(a) A person commits an offense if, in violation of an order issued under Section 6.504 or Chapter 85, Family Code, under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, or by another jurisdiction as provided by Chapter 88, Family Code, the person knowingly or intentionally:

(1) commits family violence or an act in furtherance of an offense under Section 42.072;

(2) communicates:

(A) directly with a protected individual or a member of the family or household in a threatening or harassing manner;

(B) a threat through any person to a protected individual or a member of the family or household; or

(C) in any manner with the protected individual or a member of the family or household except through the person’s attorney or a person appointed by the court, if the order prohibits any communication with a protected individual or a member of the family or household;

(3) goes to or near any of the following places as specifically described in the order:

(A) the residence or place of employment or business of a protected individual or a member of the family or household; or

(B) any child care facility, residence, or school where a child protected by the order normally resides or attends; or

(4) possesses a firearm.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Family violence,” ” family,” “household,” and “member of a household” have the meanings assigned by Chapter 71, Family Code.

(2) “Firearm” has the meaning assigned by Chapter 46.

(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both sections.

(d) Reconciliatory actions or agreements made by persons affected by an order do not affect the validity of the order or the duty of a peace officer to enforce this section.

(e) A peace officer investigating conduct that may constitute an offense under this section for a violation of an order may not arrest a person protected by that order for a violation of that order.

(f) It is not a defense to prosecution under this section that certain information has been excluded, as provided by Section 85.007, Family Code, or Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, from an order to which this section applies.

(g) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted under this section two or more times or has violated the protective order by committing an assault or the offense of stalking, in which event the offense is a third degree felony.

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