The Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest crime in the state of Texas gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you interfered with a public contest, like a horse race or football game, in a way that could be considered cheating.

The specific types of cheating covered by the statute include bribing officials, making threats and tampering with anything that could affect the outcome of the contest.

Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest is classified in the Texas Penal Code under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 32 “Fraud.”

What is the current Texas law about Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest in Penal Code Section §32.44 as follows:^[1]

(a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to affect the outcome (including the score) of a publicly exhibited contest:

(1) he offers, confers, or agrees to confer any benefit on, or threatens harm to:

(A) a participant in the contest to induce him not to use his best efforts; or

(B) an official or other person associated with the contest; or

(2) he tampers with a person, animal, or thing in a manner contrary to the rules of the contest.

(b) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit the conferring of which is an offense under Subsection (a).

How can I be charged with Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest?

You can be charged with the offense of Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of either 32.44(a) or 32.44(b) as described in the section above have been met.

What is the punishment for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest?

A conviction for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest is punished as a Class A misdemeanor,^[2] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $4,000 and jail time of up to one year. Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §32.44^2. Texas Penal Code §32.44(c)