Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 5. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON · CHAPTER 21. SEXUAL OFFENSES
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 21.02 (2026)

Continuous Sexual Abuse Of Young Child Or Disabled Individual

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Sec. 21.02. CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG CHILD OR DISABLED INDIVIDUAL. (a) In this section:

(1) "Child" has the meaning assigned by Section 22.011(c).

(2) "Disabled individual" has the meaning assigned by Section 22.021(b).

(b) A person commits an offense if:

(1) during a period that is 30 or more days in duration, the person commits two or more acts of sexual abuse, regardless of whether the acts of sexual abuse are committed against one or more victims; and

(2) at the time of the commission of each of the acts of sexual abuse, the actor is 17 years of age or older and the victim is:

(A) a child younger than 14 years of age, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the offense; or

(B) a disabled individual.

(c) For purposes of this section, "act of sexual abuse" means any act that is a violation of one or more of the following penal laws:

(1) aggravated kidnapping under Section 20.04(a)(4), if the actor committed the offense with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually;

(2) indecency with a child under Section 21.11(a)(1), if the actor committed the offense in a manner other than by touching, including touching through clothing, the breast of a child;

(3) sexual assault under Section 22.011;

(4) aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021;

(5) burglary under Section 30.02, if the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and the actor committed the offense with the intent to commit an offense listed in Subdivisions (1)-(4);

(6) sexual performance by a child under Section 43.25;

(7) trafficking of persons under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8); and

(8) compelling prostitution under Section 43.05.

(d) If a jury is the trier of fact, members of the jury are not required to agree unanimously on which specific acts of sexual abuse were committed by the defendant or the exact date when those acts were committed. The jury must agree unanimously that the defendant, during a period that is 30 or more days in duration, committed two or more acts of sexual abuse.

(e) A defendant may not be convicted in the same criminal action of an offense listed under Subsection (c) the victim of which is the same victim as a victim of the offense alleged under Subsection (b) unless the offense listed in Subsection (c):

(1) is charged in the alternative;

(2) occurred outside the period in which the offense alleged under Subsection (b) was committed; or

(3) is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (b).

(f) A defendant may not be charged with more than one count under Subsection (b) if all of the specific acts of sexual abuse that are alleged to have been committed are alleged to have been committed against a single victim.

(g) With respect to a prosecution under this section involving only one or more victims described by Subsection (b)(2)(A), it is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor:

(1) was not more than five years older than:

(A) the victim of the offense, if the offense is alleged to have been committed against only one victim; or

(B) the youngest victim of the offense, if the offense is alleged to have been committed against more than one victim;

(2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against a victim at the time of the commission of any of the acts of sexual abuse alleged as an element of the offense; and

(3) at the time of the commission of any of the acts of sexual abuse alleged as an element of the offense:

(A) was not required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, to register for life as a sex offender; or

(B) was not a person who under Chapter 62 had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section or an act of sexual abuse as described by Subsection (c).

(h) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 25 years.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 8), Sec. 1.17, eff. September 1, 2007.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 24), Sec. 6.04, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 29), Sec. 31, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1038 (H.B. 1808), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 221 (H.B. 375), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 221 (H.B. 375), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2021.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,116 cases (486 in the last 5 years), 1976–2026 · leading case: Price, Jimmy Don, 434 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).
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Price, Jimmy Don, 434 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). · cites it 11× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (b)-(f) (West 2013).”
Buxton v. State, 526 S.W.3d 666 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017). · cites it 7× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (b). Section 21.”
Bill Boyd Kuhn v. State, 393 S.W.3d 519 (Tex. App.—Austin 2013). · cites it 8× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (h) (West 2011) (offense punishable by imprisonment for life or any term not more than 99 years or less than 25 years); Tex.”
Smith v. State, 340 S.W.3d 41 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011). · cites it 8× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (West Supp. 2010).”
Dale Fulmer v. State, 401 S.W.3d 305 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013). · cites it 6× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (West 2011).”
Render v. State, 316 S.W.3d 846 (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (Vernon Supp.”
Reckart v. State, 323 S.W.3d 588 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2010). · cites it 5× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (Vernon Supp.”
Williams v. State, 305 S.W.3d 886 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (Vernon Supp.”
Martinez v. State, 634 S.W.2d 929 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982). · cites it 14× “See Practice Commentary, Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (Vernon 1974).”
Carmichael v. State, 505 S.W.3d 95 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2016). · cites it 3× “]” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (e)(2) (West 2015).”
Gregory Pollock v. State, 405 S.W.3d 396 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2013). · cites it 4× “02(c)(2)-(4), (6). Here, Pollock confessed to taking between twenty and fifty nude photographs of Mary on his cell phone on three or four occasions in 2009.”
Leticia Bleil v. State, 496 S.W.3d 194 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2016). · cites it 5× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (West Supp. 2015).”
Show all 1,116 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(2): 4 cases
Chafin v. State, 95 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003).
Rodriguez v. State, 24 S.W.3d 499 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000).
Michael Edwards v. State of Texas, No. 05-23-00169-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 25, 2024).
Manuel Perales v. State, No. 03-13-00511-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 10, 2014).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(2)(c): 1 case
Jesus Rodriguez v. State of Texas, No. 09-23-00100-CR (Tex. App.—Beaumont Apr. 23, 2025).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(E): 1 case
Raymond Casillas v. State of Texas, No. 13-23-00560-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 30, 2025).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(a): 19 cases
United States v. Rodolfo Martinez, 962 F.2d 1161 (5th Cir. 1992).
Rivera v. State, 653 S.W.2d 119 (Tex. App.—Austin 1983).
Urdiales v. State, 751 S.W.2d 269 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1988).
Mario Antonio Rivera Rivera v. State, No. 01-17-00418-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 7, 2018).
Charles Chavez v. State, No. 07-17-00004-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 2, 2018).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(a)(1): 1 case
Ruth Elaine Adkins v. State, No. 02-08-00078-CR (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 4, 2008).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(a)(2): 2 cases
Hanks v. State, 137 S.W.3d 668 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Conner v. State, 636 S.W.2d 214 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1982).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(a)(b)(4): 1 case
Martinez v. State, 634 S.W.2d 929 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982). “See Practice Commentary, Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (Vernon 1974).”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b): 385 cases
Price, Jimmy Don, 434 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (b)-(f) (West 2013).”
Amanda Bradshaw v. Barney Samuel Bradshaw, 555 S.W.3d 539 (Tex. 2018).
Sammie Caston v. State, 549 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017).
Arteaga v. State, 521 S.W.3d 329 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017).
Brandon Robisheaux v. State, 483 S.W.3d 205 (Tex. App.—Austin 2016).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b)(1): 69 cases
Elliott v. State, 858 S.W.2d 478 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).
David Blake Turner v. State, 573 S.W.3d 455 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2019).
Diaz v. State, 549 S.W.3d 896 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2018).
Amador v. State, 696 S.W.2d 460 (Tex. App. 1985).
Aaron Philip Fernandez v. State of Texas, No. 01-21-00541-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 1, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b)(1)(2): 1 case
Humberto Ortiz Balderas v. State of Texas, No. 06-22-00024-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana May 25, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b)(2): 20 cases
Cesar Gomez v. State, 459 S.W.3d 651 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2015).
Clark v. State, 668 S.W.2d 479 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1984).
Agustin Osorio v. State, No. 13-19-00294-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 4, 2021).
Tucker Wayne McCrea v. State, No. 07-16-00006-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 30, 2016).
Farah Elias Akell v. State, No. 08-17-00034-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Dec. 21, 2018).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b)(2)(A): 16 cases
Leonidas Cedillo v. State of Texas, No. 01-22-00271-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 29, 2023).
Timothy Sim Smitherman v. State of Texas, No. 05-22-00528-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas May 31, 2023).
James Shelly Taylor v. State of Texas, No. 05-22-00193-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas June 14, 2023).
Miguel Chavez v. State of Texas, No. 13-22-00551-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 24, 2023).
Aaron Michael Marshall v. State of Texas, No. 06-23-00158-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana July 12, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b)(3): 2 cases
McKinney v. State, 825 S.W.2d 238 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1992).
Goka v. State, 657 S.W.2d 20 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1983).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(b)(4): 1 case
Martinez v. State, 634 S.W.2d 929 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982). “See Practice Commentary, Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (Vernon 1974).”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c): 37 cases
Price, Jimmy Don, 434 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (b)-(f) (West 2013).”
Lee v. State, 537 S.W.3d 924 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017).
Soliz, Jeffery Jay, 353 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
State v. Bennett, 415 S.W.3d 867 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Teodora Hinojosa v. State, 555 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c)(1): 2 cases
Luna, Eleazar, No. PD-1256-15 (Tex. Nov. 3, 2015).
Martin Thomas Killinger v. State, No. 13-17-00016-CR, 2020 WL 728305 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 13, 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c)(2): 42 cases
Martin Thomas Killinger v. State, No. 13-17-00016-CR, 2020 WL 728305 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 13, 2020).
Ex Parte Joshua Hernandez v. the State of Texas, No. 03-25-00008-CR (Jan. 9, 2026).
Jesus Gonzalez, Jr. v. State, No. 05-17-01463-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 21, 2019).
Francisco Ezequiel Lopez v. State of Texas, No. 13-19-00601-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 11, 2022).
Fernando Esquivel v. State, No. 13-16-00468-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Dec. 14, 2017).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c)(2)(3): 1 case
Rainon Forrest Eaves v. State of Texas, No. 03-21-00558-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 31, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c)(3): 4 cases
Williams, Michael David, No. PD-0202-15 (Tex. Crim. App. Mar. 10, 2015).
Noemi Isabel Noria v. State, No. 06-18-00005-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Oct. 25, 2018).
Jason Walton Jones v. State of Texas, No. 13-20-00458-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 26, 2021).
Leonidas Cedillo v. State of Texas, No. 01-22-00271-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 29, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c)(4): 16 cases
Carmichael v. State, 505 S.W.3d 95 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2016). “]” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (e)(2) (West 2015).”
James Allen Jackson v. State, 567 S.W.3d 405 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2018).
Luis Gilberto Castillo v. State of Texas, No. 13-24-00023-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 29, 2024).
Nicholas Leon Alexander v. State, No. 05-18-00784-CR, 2019 WL 3334625 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 25, 2019).
Jorge Garcia Olguin v. State of Texas, No. 05-20-00811-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Sept. 9, 2022).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(c)(6): 1 case
Bolen, Chance Douglas, No. PD-1464-15 (Tex. Crim. App. Dec. 15, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(d): 84 cases
Luis Arnaldo Baez v. State, 486 S.W.3d 592 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015).
Navarro v. State, 535 S.W.3d 162 (Tex. App.—Waco 2017).
Bruce Alan McMillian v. State, 388 S.W.3d 866 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012).
Stanley Gerald Champ v. State of Texas, No. 05-22-01150-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas July 17, 2024).
Kenneth Walden Reel v. STATE OF TEXAS, No. 05-23-00357-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 25, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(e): 27 cases
Price, Jimmy Don, 434 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.02 (b)-(f) (West 2013).”
Philip Wade Ellison v. State, 425 S.W.3d 637 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014).
Soliz, Jeffery Jay, 353 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
James Allen Jackson v. State, 567 S.W.3d 405 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2018).
Salvador Canuto Cruz v. State of Texas, No. 13-22-00573-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 1, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(e)(1): 1 case
Salvador Canuto Cruz v. State of Texas, No. 13-22-00573-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 1, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(e)(2): 2 cases
Holton v. State, 487 S.W.3d 600 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015).
Leonidas Cedillo v. State of Texas, No. 01-22-00271-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 29, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(f): 7 cases
Soliz, Jeffery Jay, 353 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
Philip Wade Ellison v. State, 425 S.W.3d 637 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014).
Norman O'Neal Copeland v. State, No. 06-17-00193-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Apr. 17, 2018).
Victor Cisneros v. State, No. 13-18-00652-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Oct. 15, 2020).
Victor Cisneros v. State, 622 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.02(h): 38 cases
Jacob Alfred Blanken v. State, 443 S.W.3d 383 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014).
Steven DeLeon v. State, No. 03-13-00202-CR, 2015 WL 3454101 (Tex. App.—Austin May 29, 2015).
John Franklin Bell, Jr. v. State, No. 01-17-00811-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 11, 2019).
Enrico Guadalupe Zambrano v. State, No. 07-18-00083-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo May 2, 2019).
Franklin Elvin Fenley v. State, No. 11-17-00171-CR (Tex. App.—Eastland June 13, 2019).
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