The Texas Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you stole an unsigned check or received a stolen unsigned check with the intent to use, sell, or transfer it to another person.
FAQs about the
Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check law in Texas
- What is the current Texas law about Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order?
- How can I be charged with a Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check offense in Texas?
- What is the statute of limitation for Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check in Texas?
- What is the penalty for a Texas Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check offense?
- Can you get probation for Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check in Texas?
- What level of crime is Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check in Texas?
The Texas legislature codified this criminal offense in Texas Penal Code Section 32.24. The legislature did not update this law in 2023. In fact, this law has not been amended since 1999.
The Penal Code codifies the Texas Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check law under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 32 “Fraud.” Learn more about the Texas offense of Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order below.
What is the current Texas law about Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order?
The current Texas law defines the offense of Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order in Penal Code Section §32.24 as follows:[1]
(a) A person commits an offense if the person steals an unsigned check or similar sight order or, with knowledge that an unsigned check or similar sight order has been stolen, receives the check or sight order with intent to use it, to sell it, or to transfer it to a person other than the person from whom the check or sight order was stolen.
How can I be charged with a Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check offense in Texas?
You can be charged with Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order in Texas if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 32.24(a) as described in the section above have been met.
What is the statute of limitation for Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check in Texas?
As a misdemeanor, Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check charges have a two-year limitations period.[2]
What is the penalty for a Texas Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check offense?
A conviction for Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check or Similar Sight Order 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 Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check in Texas?
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check, 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 Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check in Texas?
The Penal Code classifies the punishment for Stealing or Receiving Stolen Check as a Class A misdemeanor.
Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.
Legal References:
^1. Texas Penal Code §32.24. This law is current as of the 88th Legislature Regular Session.^2. See Code of Criminal Procedure 12.02(a)^3. Texas Penal Code §32.24(b)^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
