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

Tex. Penal Code § 20.04 (2026)

Aggravated Kidnapping

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Sec. 20.04. AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person with the intent to:

(1) hold him for ransom or reward;

(2) use him as a shield or hostage;

(3) facilitate the commission of a felony or the flight after the attempt or commission of a felony;

(4) inflict bodily injury on him or violate or abuse him sexually;

(5) terrorize him or a third person; or

(6) interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.

(d) At the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the issue as to whether he voluntarily released the victim in a safe place. If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence, the offense is a felony of the second 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; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 518 cases (62 in the last 5 years), 1976–2026 · leading case: Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
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Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). · cites it 8× “[58] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 20.04 (Vernon 1995).”
Butcher, Charles E. Ii, 454 S.W.3d 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). · cites it 10× “Tex. Penal Code § 20.04. When construing a statute, we first look to its literal language to ascertain its meaning.”
Storr v. State, 126 S.W.3d 647 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004). · cites it 8× “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 20.04(d) (Vernon Supp.”
Brown v. State, 98 S.W.3d 180 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 6× “The statute remained unchanged until 1973 when the 63rd Legislature enacted the aggravated kidnapping statute in Texas Penal Code, Section 20.04. The 63rd Legislature provided that the punishment level for aggravated kidnapping would be reduced from a first degree felony to a…”
Oliva v. State, 548 S.W.3d 518 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20.04, 22.02, 22.021, 29.”
Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “[74] Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a). [75] Id. at 235, 240.”
Ballard v. State, 193 S.W.3d 916 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “" Appellant acknowledges that aggravated kidnapping is a first-degree felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment for 5-99 years, or life; except as provided by TEX. PENAL CODE § 20.04(d), which provides that "[a]t the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the…”
Teer v. State, 895 S.W.2d 845 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995). · cites it 9× “See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 20.04(a) (Vernon 1994).”
Prudholm v. State, 333 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). · cites it 3× “Tex. Pen.Code § 20.04(a). 7 . Prudholm v.”
Campbell v. State, 128 S.W.3d 662 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004). · cites it 4× “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. §§ 20.04 (aggravated kidnaping), 22.”
Franks v. State, 90 S.W.3d 771 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002). · cites it 2× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 20.04 (a)(4), (5); see also Chew v.”
Williams v. State, 273 S.W.3d 200 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “04(d); TEX. PEN.CODE § 20.04(b)(1992); See Williams v.”
Show all 518 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(2)(b): 1 case
Juan Jose Lopez Jr. v. State, No. 13-14-00733-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi July 8, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(B): 1 case
Jeffery Noblett v. State, No. 07-14-00412-CR (Tex. Crim. App. May 11, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a): 34 cases
Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). “[58] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 20.04 (Vernon 1995).”
Curry v. State, 30 S.W.3d 394 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). “[74] Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a). [75] Id. at 235, 240.”
Prudholm v. State, 333 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Tex. Pen.Code § 20.04(a). 7 . Prudholm v.”
Jenkins v. State, 248 S.W.3d 291 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008).
Culton v. State, 95 S.W.3d 401 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(1): 2 cases
Teer v. State, 895 S.W.2d 845 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995). “See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 20.04(a) (Vernon 1994).”
Henry Ramos v. State, No. 08-10-00338-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Aug. 15, 2012).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(2): 2 cases
Teer v. State, 895 S.W.2d 845 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995). “See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 20.04(a) (Vernon 1994).”
Joseph Gonzales v. State of Texas, No. 07-21-00225-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 14, 2022).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(3): 18 cases
State v. Colyandro, 233 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
Butler, Billy Dean, 459 S.W.3d 595 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).
Brittin Robinson v. State, 568 S.W.3d 718 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2019).
Hines v. State, 40 S.W.3d 705 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001).
Gonzalez v. State, 734 S.W.2d 178 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1987).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(4): 48 cases
Laster v. State, 229 S.W.3d 788 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007).
Duvall v. State, 59 S.W.3d 773 (Tex. App.—Austin 2002).
Prudholm v. State, 274 S.W.3d 236 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2009).
Harner v. State, 997 S.W.2d 695 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1999).
David Shane West v. State, 406 S.W.3d 748 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(4)(5): 1 case
Curry v. State, 1 S.W.3d 175 (Tex. App. 1999).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(5): 12 cases
Padgett v. State, 683 S.W.2d 453 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1983).
Teer v. State, 895 S.W.2d 845 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995). “See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 20.04(a) (Vernon 1994).”
January v. State, 695 S.W.2d 215 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1985).
Girdy v. State, 175 S.W.3d 877 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2005).
Arevalo v. State, 749 S.W.2d 271 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1988).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(a)(l): 1 case
White v. State, 702 S.W.2d 293 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1985).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(b): 54 cases
Brown v. State, 98 S.W.3d 180 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “The statute remained unchanged until 1973 when the 63rd Legislature enacted the aggravated kidnapping statute in Texas Penal Code, Section 20.04. The 63rd Legislature provided that the punishment level for aggravated kidnapping would be reduced from a first degree felony to a…”
Oliva v. State, 548 S.W.3d 518 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20.04, 22.02, 22.021, 29.”
Brittin Robinson v. State, 568 S.W.3d 718 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2019).
Butcher, Charles E. Ii, 454 S.W.3d 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). “Tex. Penal Code § 20.04. When construing a statute, we first look to its literal language to ascertain its meaning.”
Anderson v. State, 125 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(b)(1992): 1 case
Williams v. State, 273 S.W.3d 200 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). “04(d); TEX. PEN.CODE § 20.04(b)(1992); See Williams v.”
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(b)(1993): 1 case
Landers v. State, 957 S.W.2d 558 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(c): 23 cases
Buchanan v. State, 911 S.W.2d 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
Butcher, Charles E. Ii, 454 S.W.3d 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). “Tex. Penal Code § 20.04. When construing a statute, we first look to its literal language to ascertain its meaning.”
Teer v. State, 895 S.W.2d 845 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995). “See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 20.04(a) (Vernon 1994).”
John Christopher Dominguez v. State, 467 S.W.3d 521 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015).
Prudholm v. State, 333 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Tex. Pen.Code § 20.04(a). 7 . Prudholm v.”
Tex. Penal Code § 20.04(d): 49 cases
Storr v. State, 126 S.W.3d 647 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004). “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 20.04(d) (Vernon Supp.”
Butcher, Charles E. Ii, 454 S.W.3d 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). “Tex. Penal Code § 20.04. When construing a statute, we first look to its literal language to ascertain its meaning.”
Ballard v. State, 193 S.W.3d 916 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). “" Appellant acknowledges that aggravated kidnapping is a first-degree felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment for 5-99 years, or life; except as provided by TEX. PENAL CODE § 20.04(d), which provides that "[a]t the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the…”
York v. State, 342 S.W.3d 528 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
Ex Parte Watkins, 73 S.W.3d 264 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
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