Along with violent crimes, terroristic threats are taken very seriously in Texas. Accordingly, it’s important for you to understand what exactly constitutes a terroristic threat and the types of punishments that may be possible. Depending on the exact circumstances, you could be faced with fines, court costs and even jail time based on the details of the incident in question.
According to the Texas Constitution and Statutes, terroristic threats cover a lot of different areas. While threats typically involve some degree of bodily harm, this is not always the case; claims of committing an offense against another person’s property would fall into the category of terroristic threats. Additionally, terroristic threats can also involve things like preventing the public from using a space by causing a disturbance that people perceive as inherently threatening.
Intent plays a major role in determining what constitutes a terroristic threat. The person making the threat must have the intent to put the fear of significant harm into the person being threatened. Threats must also be immediate. The person making the claim must show that bodily or property harm is forthcoming, not something that might occur in the future.
In terms of punishments, in many cases terroristic threats will be classed as a misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors are the most serious in this category, as they can incur jail sentences of up to one year along with associated fines. Class B misdemeanors are slightly less serious, but can still result in jail time. Terroristic threats can also be considered third degree felonies, such as when the public in general is fearful as a result of a threat, or when a threat unduly influences the actions of state or local government officials.