Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 5. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON · CHAPTER 20. KIDNAPPING, UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT, AND SMUGGLING OF PERSONS
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 20.03 (2026)

Kidnapping

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Sec. 20.03. KIDNAPPING. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person.

(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:

(1) the abduction was not coupled with intent to use or to threaten to use deadly force;

(2) the actor was a relative of the person abducted; and

(3) the actor's sole intent was to assume lawful control of the victim.

(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 156 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: Llorens v. State, 520 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017).
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Llorens v. State, 520 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017). · cites it 9× “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20.03, 25.03. The statute governing kidnapping is found in chapter 20 of title 5 of the Penal Code, whereas the statute pertaining to interference with child custody is found in chapter 25 of title 6.”
Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “[6] TEX. PENAL CODE § 20.03(a). [7] TEX. PENAL CODE § 20.”
Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “At the time of the enactment of § 19.03, the penal code provided for the aggravated commission of three of the offenses listed within § 19.”
Herrin v. State, 125 S.W.3d 436 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “Point of error six, which pertains to the punishment phase, is rendered moot by our reformation of the conviction and remand for a new punishment hearing.”
Harner v. State, 997 S.W.2d 695 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1999). · cites it 3× “Tex. PeN.Code Ann. § 20.03 (Vernon 1994).”
Brimage v. State, 918 S.W.2d 466 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 20.03 (Vernon supp.”
Gordon v. Neugebauer, 57 F. Supp. 3d 766 (N.D. Tex. 2014). · cites it 5× “The only predicate act for which Plaintiff actually alleges specific facts is violation of Tex. Penal Code § 20.03, which criminalizes kidnapping—a state law crime that is considered a predicate act under section 1961(1).”
King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). “TexPenal Code § 20.03(a). 19 . TexPenal Code § 20.”
Rayford v. State, 125 S.W.3d 521 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “Id. at § 20.01(2). Restrain means to restrict a person’s movements without consent so as to interfere substantially with the person’s liberty by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person.”
State v. Bennett, 415 S.W.3d 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 20.03 , 20.04 (Vernon’s 1974).”
Kenny v. State, 292 S.W.3d 89 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008). · cites it 2× ““Abduct” means to restrain a person with intent to prevent his liberation by (a) secreting or holding him in a place where he is not likely to be found or (b) using or threatening to use deadly force. See id. § 20.01(2) (Vernon 2003).”
Griffin v. State, 491 S.W.3d 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). “Texas Penal Code section 20.03(a) provides that a person commits kidnapping if he intentionally of knowingly abducts another person.”
Show all 156 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 20.03(3): 1 case
Roberto Perez-Garcia v. State of Texas, No. 07-24-00126-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Jan. 23, 2025).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.03(a): 56 cases
Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). “[6] TEX. PENAL CODE § 20.03(a). [7] TEX. PENAL CODE § 20.”
Llorens v. State, 520 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017). “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20.03, 25.03. The statute governing kidnapping is found in chapter 20 of title 5 of the Penal Code, whereas the statute pertaining to interference with child custody is found in chapter 25 of title 6.”
Herrin v. State, 125 S.W.3d 436 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). “Point of error six, which pertains to the punishment phase, is rendered moot by our reformation of the conviction and remand for a new punishment hearing.”
King v. State, 29 S.W.3d 556 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). “TexPenal Code § 20.03(a). 19 . TexPenal Code § 20.”
Rayford v. State, 125 S.W.3d 521 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “Id. at § 20.01(2). Restrain means to restrict a person’s movements without consent so as to interfere substantially with the person’s liberty by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person.”
Tex. Penal Code § 20.03(a)(2005): 1 case
United States v. Garcia-Gonzalez, 168 F. App'x 564 (5th Cir. 2006).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.03(b): 7 cases
Llorens v. State, 520 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017). “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20.03, 25.03. The statute governing kidnapping is found in chapter 20 of title 5 of the Penal Code, whereas the statute pertaining to interference with child custody is found in chapter 25 of title 6.”
Green v. State, 881 S.W.2d 27 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1994).
Lugo v. State, 923 S.W.2d 598 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995).
Johnny Lee Evans, Sr. v. State of Texas, No. 12-21-00123-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Apr. 29, 2022).
Tutankhamun Holt v. State, No. 03-18-00755-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 19, 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.03(b)(1): 2 cases
Lugo v. State, 923 S.W.2d 598 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995).
Tutankhamun Holt v. State, No. 03-18-00755-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 19, 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.03(c): 6 cases
Llorens v. State, 520 S.W.3d 129 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017). “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20.03, 25.03. The statute governing kidnapping is found in chapter 20 of title 5 of the Penal Code, whereas the statute pertaining to interference with child custody is found in chapter 25 of title 6.”
State v. Bennett, 415 S.W.3d 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 20.03 , 20.04 (Vernon’s 1974).”
Johnny Lee Evans, Sr. v. State of Texas, No. 12-21-00123-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Apr. 29, 2022).
Jonathan Russell Shook v. State of Texas, 649 S.W.3d 823 (Tex. App.—Waco 2022).
State of Texas v. Bennett, Carl Alan, No. PD-0354-12 (Tex. Crim. App. Nov. 27, 2013).
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