Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 21.03 (2026)

Continuous Sexual Abuse

✓ current as of May 2026

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Sec. 21.03. CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE. (a) 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 against two 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.

(b) 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.

(c) 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 against two or more victims.

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

(1) is charged in the alternative;

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

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

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

(f) With respect to a prosecution under this section involving only two or more victims younger than 17 years of age, it is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor:

(1) was not more than five years older than the youngest victim of the offense;

(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, Code of Criminal Procedure, had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section or an act of sexual abuse as described by Subsection (b).

(g) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 557 (H.B. 1422), Sec. 18, eff. September 1, 2025.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 51 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2025 · leading case: Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).

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Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “In order to commit aggravated rape, the pertinent *244 portions of Texas Penal Code § 21.03 [7] required that a person commit rape and cause "serious bodily injury .”

Jenkins v. State, 493 S.W.3d 583 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). “021 superceded Texas Penal Code § 21.03. See Stephens v.”

Lonnie Ray Norman v. O.L. McCotter Dir., Texas Dep't of Corr., 765 F.2d 504 (5th Cir. 1985). · cites it 3× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.03 & 22.021 (Vernon Supp.”

Alfred v. State, 720 S.W.2d 218 (Tex. App. 1986). · cites it 6× “03 in September 1981 to allow the jury to consider the acts words and deeds of the defendant to decide whether the victim was placed in fear of death or imminent serious bodily injury. The court stated: "Thus, the fact finder may infer from the totality of the circumstances…”

Griffith v. State, 116 S.W.3d 782 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “Laws 203 , 203 (aggravated rape; former Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a), since repealed).”

Samuel Christopher Hawkins v. James A. Lynaugh, Dir., Texas Dep't of Corr., 844 F.2d 1132 (5th Cir. 1988). “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.03 (a) (Vernon 1974).”

United States v. Lee, 310 F.3d 787 (5th Cir. 2002). “See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN., §§ 21.03 and 31.07.”

United States v. Rodolfo Martinez, 962 F.2d 1161 (5th Cir. 1992). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 21.03(a) (West 1974) (repealed in 1983).”

Gaston v. State, 672 S.W.2d 819 (Tex. App. 1983). “1982) for the proposition that there is a difference between “use” and “exhibition” of a deadly weapon and argues that while appellant may have “exhibited” a weapon, he did not “use” one. While this distinction may be valid in aggravated robbery, TEX.”

Griffith v. State, 81 S.W.3d 510 (Tex. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “Laws 203 , 203 (aggravated rape; former Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.03 (a), since repealed).”

Cavazos v. State, 668 S.W.2d 435 (Tex. App. 1984). · cites it 2× “This indictment alleges aggravation pursuant to Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 21.03(a)(2) (1974), despite the fact that § 21.”

Gallardo v. State, 768 S.W.2d 875 (Tex. App. 1989). “The indictment alleged, however, that the complainant was younger than fourteen years of age which elevated the offense to a first degree felony under TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.03(5) (aggravated rape) in effect at the time.”

Show all 51 citing cases →

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(2) — 1 case

Sanders v. State, 688 S.W.2d 676 (Tex. App. 1985).

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(5) — 2 cases

Higgins v. State, 764 S.W.2d 311 (Tex. App. 1988).

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a) — 4 cases

Griffith v. State, 116 S.W.3d 782 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “Laws 203 , 203 (aggravated rape; former Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a), since repealed).”

United States v. Rodolfo Martinez, 962 F.2d 1161 (5th Cir. 1992). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 21.03(a) (West 1974) (repealed in 1983).”

Mascorro v. State, 626 S.W.2d 919 (Tex. App. 1981).

Griffith, London (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a)(2) — 14 cases

Lonnie Ray Norman v. O.L. McCotter Dir., Texas Dep't of Corr., 765 F.2d 504 (5th Cir. 1985). “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.03 & 22.021 (Vernon Supp.”

Alfred v. State, 720 S.W.2d 218 (Tex. App. 1986). “03 in September 1981 to allow the jury to consider the acts words and deeds of the defendant to decide whether the victim was placed in fear of death or imminent serious bodily injury. The court stated: "Thus, the fact finder may infer from the totality of the circumstances…”

Elkins v. State, 822 S.W.2d 780 (Tex. App. 1992).

Arnold v. State, 679 S.W.2d 156 (Tex. App. 1984).

Richardson v. State, 753 S.W.2d 759 (Tex. App. 1988).

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a)(3) — 1 case

Carter v. State, 650 S.W.2d 843 (Tex. App. 1982).

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a)(4) — 2 cases

Sanchez v. State, 673 S.W.2d 354 (Tex. App. 1984).

— Tex. Penal Code § 21.03(a)(5) — 3 cases

Martinez v. State, 634 S.W.2d 929 (Tex. App. 1982).

Robertson v. State, 686 S.W.2d 641 (Tex. App. 1984).

Dickerson v. State, 685 S.W.2d 132 (Tex. App. 1985).

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