Houston Terroristic Threat Attorneys
Harris County Terroristic Threat Lawyers
For most people the word terroristic conjures up images of vicious threats or horrific attacks by ISIS against innocent people. However, the term terroristic threat has a broader meaning and is generally understood as a threat of violence to a person in order to place that person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. In Texas, law enforcement takes terroristic threats very seriously. Both adults and juveniles can be arrested and charged with making terroristic threats.
Terroristic threats are used for purposes of intimidation or coercion, but sometimes a person is accused of making such a threat based on statements that were taken mostly out of context. While Americans have a right to free speech, the First Amendment does not protect all types of speech, such as language that is meant to incite the masses toward lawless action. In order to be convicted of making a terroristic threat, the prosecutor has the burden to prove that the person had the necessary criminal intent and that burden can sometimes be difficult to make.
Defense Attorneys for Terroristic Threat charges in Harris County
If you or your loved one was arrested in southeast Texas for allegedly making terroristic threats, you should have legal representation before speaking with the authorities. The defense attorneys of James G. Sullivan & Associates can fight for you with the goal to get these charges dismissed, reduced or won at trial.
Our experienced criminal defense attorneys represent clients in all the Greater Houston area, including Katy, Cypress, Jersey Village, Bellaire, Spring, Humble, Pasadena, Channelview, Conroe, The Woodlands, Hempstead, Richmond, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pearland, and Angleton. Call James G. Sullivan and Associates at (281) 546-6428 for a free consultation and case evaluation. Each attorney has over 25 years of criminal defense experience.
What is a terroristic threat in Texas?
According to Texas Penal Code § 22.07, a person commits an offense if he threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to:
- cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;
- place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury;
- prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place;
- cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service;
- place the public or a substantial group of the public in fear of serious bodily injury; or
- influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.
Punishment for Terroristic Threat in Texas
Depending on the specific types of alleged activity involved, a terroristic threat charge can be filed as a:
- Class B Misdemeanor (punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000);
- Class A Misdemeanor (punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $4,000);
- State Jail Felony (punishable by up to two years in jail and/or a fine up to $10,000); or
- Third Degree Felony (punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000).
A Class B Misdemeanor charge can be filed against an alleged offender who threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies.
A Class A Misdemeanor charge can be filed against an alleged offender who threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to place in fear of imminent serious bodily injury a member of the alleged offender’s family or household (or otherwise constitutes family or dating violence) or a public servant, or prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place.
A State Jail Felony charge can be filed against an alleged offender who threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place causing pecuniary loss of $1,500 or more to the owner of the building, room, place, or conveyance.
A Third Degree Felony charge can be filed against an alleged offender who threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service; place the public or a substantial group of the public in fear of serious bodily injury; or influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.
Contact James G. Sullivan & Associates | Houston Terroristic Threat Lawyers
James Sullivan graduated from Baylor University in 1990 with a degree in Journalism, the ideal degree for investigating, discovering and telling winning stories in court. In 1993, Sullivan graduated from South Texas College of Law, which is nationally recognized as the top law school for trial advocacy.
James Sullivan later graduated from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming. Founded in 1994, it is the most selective and prestigious trial advocacy program in America. The methods taught at TLC are not taught anywhere else. The 1150 graduates form an extremely unique community of the most accomplished trial lawyers in the United States.
If you or your loved one are being investigated or were already arrested for allegedly making a terroristic threat in the Greater Houston area, you should immediately retain legal counsel. James G. Sullivan & Associates can help determine your best possible defense and fight to obtain the most favorable result.
Our Houston criminal defense lawyers represent clients all over Harris County, Montgomery County, Fort Bend County, Waller County, and Brazoria County. Call (281) 546-6428 for a free and confidential consultation.
Client Reviews on Terroristic Threat Cases
The best attorney you will ever hire
Last year our teenage son got into serious trouble and we needed representation for him. We initially hired a different attorney but after seeing Jim Sullivan’s demeanor in court representing someone else, we switched to him immediately. Our son was being held in juvenile detention and was charged with terroristic threat and criminal mischief. Out of jealousy, he had texted threats to his then girlfriend when he learned she was with another guy. Our son is not a violent person and would not have harmed the girl, but words do have meaning and his impulsive act got him in trouble.
Jim Sullivan was able to get our son released back to us under strict rules of supervision. He had to stay at home and under our supervision when he was not in school. As it happened, this court order was a blessing in disguise because it helped clear him from more serious false charges.
A few weeks later our son was falsely accused of assault against a prior ex-girlfriend at a time when he was at home with us. At about the same time, another girl claimed our son had sent her threatening text messages at school. We later learned she had been misled by a boy at school. Despite our insistence to the officer that our son was innocent, he was re-arrested on new charges of assault and terroristic threat. Our son was devastated. We didn’t think we could get him out of detention again.
Jim Sullivan told us he had never heard of a child being released on PAT Team supervision for a second time after picking up new charges, but he would do his best. Jim did tell us about a previous case that he had quickly taken to a jury trial and won for a client after the same judge wouldn’t release his client from detention…
Our son was visibly distraught when he was brought before the judge. Jim told the judge he could prove our son’s innocence and that if the DA did not dismiss the new charges then he would be asking for the earliest possible jury trial. Jim asked the judge to release our son with an ankle monitor, and incredibly the judge did so. Jim’s earnestness, experience and reputation made the difference.
After Jim Sullivan read the offense report of the assault charge, he said it was clear our son was set up and that the girls all knew each other. The girl who was assaulted didn’t even report it. Instead, it was our son’s recent girlfriend who first had him arrested that did so. I mean, what are the odds? We believe the girl was assaulted by her then boyfriend and was pressured by him to blame our son instead. The girl’s story was so incredulous, the details so over the top that it belonged in a soap opera. Jim referred to these girls as the Pretty Little Liars after the Netflix show.
Jim Sullivan worked for nine months on our son’s cases. He hired investigators to interview witnesses and subpoena records. He combed through witness statements and phone records, identifying discrepancies in them. He arranged for our son to take a polygraph test which he passed. Jim came to court ready to fight for our son. He said if the prosecutor did not dismiss the two new charges that he was ready to fight them at a jury trial. In the end, the prosecutor backed down and agreed to dismiss them. Our son received probation at home for the first two cases. At age 18 our son can get all of his juvenile records sealed.
Jim Sullivan has an extensive list of contacts within the juvenile system that enabled him to get things done quickly and correctly. He gave us very good advice and made excellent decisions regarding the handling of our son’s cases. His knowledge of the law is impressive, and he has an established reputation within the Harris county juvenile system as an honest and capable attorney. Most importantly, Jim helped our son. He spent a lot of time with him, comforted him in very difficult times, and made us all feel optimistic in some rather distressing situations.–Avvo review posted by a client’s father on October 22, 2018
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James Sullivan knows what he’s doing!
Our pre-teen daughter was handcuffed, arrested, and had ‘terroristic threat’ charges leveled against her due to zero tolerance and ‘mandatory procedure’ policies at our child’s elementary school after a childish comment was grumbled in frustration, was overheard and reported.
Understandably, our child (an exemplary student who has never had disciplinary issues) was terrified. James has a way with words (to put it lightly!), and after our first family sit-down with him, our daughter reported feeling a sense of great relief about how things would turn out. That trust was well founded.
James is very knowledgeable in the field, is very honest, and was always realistic about our options and prospects each step of the way. We really appreciated how he took the time to walk us through and explain each step of the process as needed!
In the end, shortly after our first and only court appearance, James was able get her case dismissed, to our great relief. As he explained to us, James shamed the prosecutor for filing the outrageous charges against a young girl and told him he would set the case for a jury trial if the prosecutor did not dismiss the case.
Now, because of the work Mr. Sullivan did for our family, things are back to normal again. Instead of facing a suspension, my daughter can stay at her home school.
I cannot stress enough how much we appreciate the work James did for our family!
–Avvo review posted by Christopher on August 14, 2018
