Texas Codes
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11 (2026)
Indecency With A Child
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Sec. 21.11. INDECENCY WITH A CHILD. (a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex and regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child at the time of the offense, the person:
(1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the child to engage in sexual contact; or
(2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:
(A) exposes the person's anus or any part of the person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or
(B) causes the child to expose the child's anus or any part of the child's genitals.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor:
(1) was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex;
(2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against the victim at the time of the offense; and
(3) at the time 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.
(b-1) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor was the spouse of the child at the time of the offense.
(c) In this section, "sexual contact" means the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:
(1) any touching by a person, including touching through clothing, of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a child; or
(2) any touching of any part of the body of a child, including touching through clothing, with the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a person.
(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the second degree and an offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a felony of the third degree.
Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 472, ch. 202, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1028, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1415, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 260 (H.B. 549), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 29), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1038 (H.B. 1808), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2,380
cases (434 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Count II, paragraph one, indecency with a child by touching the victim's anus (Tex. Pen.Code § 21.11(a)(1)); paragraph two alleged indecency with a child by causing the victim to touch appellant's genitals (Tex.”
Connell v. State, 233 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007). “Applicable Law Indecency with a child by exposure consists of the following elements: (1) that the child was within the protected age group and not married to the accused, (2) that a child was present, (3) that the accused had the intent to arouse or gratify someone’s sexual…”
Pizzo v. State, 235 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[22] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11. [23] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.”
Harris, Owen Thomas, 359 S.W.3d 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Texas Penal Code Section 21.11 provides, in pertinent part, A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person .”
United States v. Zavala-Sustaita, 214 F.3d 601 (5th Cir. 2000). “I In 1990, Zavala pled guilty to two counts of indecency with a child in violation of Texas Penal Code § 21.11(a)(2). The counts were based on a single episode when he exposed himself in public and *603 masturbated in front of a thirteen-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy.”
Ex Parte Amador, 326 S.W.3d 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). “See TEX. PEN.CODE § 21.11. The law in effect presumes that all children are or should be "offended or alarmed" by such exposure.”
United States v. Adam Shepherd, 880 F.3d 734 (5th Cir. 2018). “§ 13-1403 is substantially similar to Texas Penal Code § 21.11.” Shepherd v. United States, Civil Action No.”
Scott v. State, 202 S.W.3d 405 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006). “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 21.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003).”
Walter Fisk v. State, 510 S.W.3d 165 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2016). “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.11 (a)(1) (West 2011).”
Johnson v. State, 967 S.W.2d 848 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). “The question presented today is what, if any, culpable mental state is required under TEX. PEN.CODE § 21.11. The issue of whether or not a culpable mental state is required for the offense of "statutory rape" has been much debated throughout the country for several decades now.”
Ryder v. State, 514 S.W.3d 391 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2017). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.11 (a)(2)(A). The intent to *397 arouse or gratify the defendant’s sexual desire may be inferred from a defendant’s conduct and all surrounding circumstances.”
Gonzalez Soto v. State, 267 S.W.3d 327 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2008). “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11 (c) (Vernon 2003).”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(A): 1 case
Wendall D. Jones v. State of Texas, No. 08-23-00197-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Feb. 13, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(A)(1): 1 case
Jose Ybarra v. State, No. 03-04-00174-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 15, 2005).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(A)(2): 1 case
Christopher Roland Fenner v. State, 571 S.W.3d 892 (Tex. App.—Waco 2019).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a): 149 cases
United States v. Jorge Rodriguez, 711 F.3d 541 (5th Cir. 2013).
Johnson v. State, 490 S.W.3d 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016).
Gregory v. State, 56 S.W.3d 164 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001).
Harris, Owen Thomas, 359 S.W.3d 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Texas Penal Code Section 21.11 provides, in pertinent part, A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person .”
Cueva v. State, 339 S.W.3d 839 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2011).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(1): 586 cases
Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Count II, paragraph one, indecency with a child by touching the victim's anus (Tex. Pen.Code § 21.11(a)(1)); paragraph two alleged indecency with a child by causing the victim to touch appellant's genitals (Tex.”
Abbott v. State, 196 S.W.3d 334 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006).
Duron v. State, 956 S.W.2d 547 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
Connell v. State, 233 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007). “Applicable Law Indecency with a child by exposure consists of the following elements: (1) that the child was within the protected age group and not married to the accused, (2) that a child was present, (3) that the accused had the intent to arouse or gratify someone’s sexual…”
Pizzo v. State, 235 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[22] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11. [23] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(1)(c): 1 case
Gabriel E. Torres v. State, No. 13-13-00334-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi June 25, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(2): 67 cases
United States v. Zavala-Sustaita, 214 F.3d 601 (5th Cir. 2000). “I In 1990, Zavala pled guilty to two counts of indecency with a child in violation of Texas Penal Code § 21.11(a)(2). The counts were based on a single episode when he exposed himself in public and *603 masturbated in front of a thirteen-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy.”
United States v. Juan Raul Izaguirre-Flores, 405 F.3d 270 (5th Cir. 2005).
Ex Parte McCain, 67 S.W.3d 204 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
Navarro v. State, 241 S.W.3d 77 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007).
Johnny Melchor MacIas v. State, 539 S.W.3d 410 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(2)(A): 61 cases
Harris, Owen Thomas, 359 S.W.3d 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Texas Penal Code Section 21.11 provides, in pertinent part, A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person .”
Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Count II, paragraph one, indecency with a child by touching the victim's anus (Tex. Pen.Code § 21.11(a)(1)); paragraph two alleged indecency with a child by causing the victim to touch appellant's genitals (Tex.”
Connell v. State, 233 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007). “Applicable Law Indecency with a child by exposure consists of the following elements: (1) that the child was within the protected age group and not married to the accused, (2) that a child was present, (3) that the accused had the intent to arouse or gratify someone’s sexual…”
Ex Parte Amador, 326 S.W.3d 202 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). “See TEX. PEN.CODE § 21.11. The law in effect presumes that all children are or should be "offended or alarmed" by such exposure.”
Gonzalez Soto v. State, 267 S.W.3d 327 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2008). “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11 (c) (Vernon 2003).”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(2)(B): 13 cases
Ramirez v. State, 89 S.W.3d 222 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002).
Jordan v. State, 112 S.W.3d 345 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2003).
Ernst v. State, 159 S.W.3d 668 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2005).
Randy Paul Meiburg v. State, 473 S.W.3d 917 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015).
Michael Wayne Bellar v. State, No. 07-18-00059-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 16, 2018).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(l): 5 cases
Caballero v. State, 927 S.W.2d 128 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996).
Dennis Lee Allen v. State, 479 S.W.3d 341 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015).
Creekmore v. Attorney Gen. of Texas, 138 F. Supp. 2d 795 (E.D. Tex. 2001).
Washington v. State, 930 S.W.2d 695 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996).
West, Duane Eric, No. PD-1619-15 (Tex. Crim. App. Dec. 15, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(b): 9 cases
Heiman v. State, 923 S.W.2d 622 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995).
United States v. Medina-Valencia, 538 F.3d 831 (8th Cir. 2008).
Honc v. State, 698 S.W.2d 218 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1985).
Devante Shelby Castle v. State, 402 S.W.3d 895 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013).
In re J. H., 150 S.W.3d 477 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(b)(1)(1999): 1 case
United States v. David Medina-Valencia, No. 07-3642 (8th Cir. Aug. 13, 2008).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(b)(4): 1 case
Crites v. State, 700 S.W.2d 23 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1985).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(b)(l)(1999): 1 case
United States v. Medina-Valencia, 538 F.3d 831 (8th Cir. 2008).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(c): 65 cases
Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Count II, paragraph one, indecency with a child by touching the victim's anus (Tex. Pen.Code § 21.11(a)(1)); paragraph two alleged indecency with a child by causing the victim to touch appellant's genitals (Tex.”
Scott v. State, 202 S.W.3d 405 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006). “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 21.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003).”
Graves v. State, 176 S.W.3d 422 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004).
Shea v. State, 167 S.W.3d 98 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005).
Glockzin v. State, 220 S.W.3d 140 (Tex. App.—Waco 2007).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(c)(1): 57 cases
Lee v. State, 186 S.W.3d 649 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006).
Loving v. State, 401 S.W.3d 642 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Villa v. State, 417 S.W.3d 455 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Rivera-Reyes v. State, 252 S.W.3d 781 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008).
Domingo Chasco v. State, 568 S.W.3d 254 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2019).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(c)(2): 7 cases
State of Texas v. Christopher Thrasher, No. 08-22-00246-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso July 27, 2023).
Steven Cortez v. State, No. 14-17-00719-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] June 13, 2019).
John West v. State, No. 06-18-00219-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Aug. 29, 2019).
Ruben Nunez Jr. v. State, No. 13-19-00457-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Mar. 18, 2021).
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Thomas Brown, No. 07-20-00169-CV (Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 15, 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(d): 39 cases
Juarez v. State, 198 S.W.3d 790 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
Anderson v. State, 394 S.W.3d 531 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
Brian Taylor v. State, 509 S.W.3d 468 (Tex. App.—Austin 2015).
Ex Parte Chafin, 180 S.W.3d 257 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005).
Ronald T. Hargesheimer v. State, 140 S.W.3d 443 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2004).
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