Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest: Texas Penal Code §32.44

The Texas Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you interfered with a public contest, that includes anything from a horse race or football game, by bribing or threatening officials or participants as well as tampering with anything that could affect the outcome of the contest.

This law makes it illegal to cheat in one of the specified ways, but it does not cover every means of cheating. This law covers only bribery, threats, and tampering with things.

The Texas legislature codified this criminal offense in Texas Penal Code Section 32.44. The legislature did not update this law in 2023. In fact, this law has not been amended since 1994.

The Penal Code codifies the Texas Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest law under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 32 “Fraud.” Learn more about the Texas offense of Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest below.

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 a Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest offense in Texas?

You can be charged with the offense of Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest in Texas 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 statute of limitation for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest in Texas?

As a misdemeanor, Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest charges have a two-year limitations period.^[2]

What is the penalty for a Texas Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest offense?

A conviction for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest in Texas is punished as a Class A misdemeanor,^[3] 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 here.

Can you get probation for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest in Texas?

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest, and judges are also allowed to accept deferred adjudication plea deals.^[4]

Note, however, that judges may not grant community supervision after a conviction if (1) the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the felony or immediate flight thereafter and (2) the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon himself or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited.^[5]

What level of crime is Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest in Texas?

The Penal Code classifies the punishment for Rigging Publicly Exhibited Contest as a Class A misdemeanor.

Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §32.44. This law is current as of the 88th Legislature Regular Session.^2. See Code of Criminal Procedure 12.02(a)^3. Texas Penal Code §32.44(c)^4. See Chapter 42, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 42A.054, Art. 42A.056, Art. 42A.102 .^5. Art. 42A.054(b), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure