Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 7. OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY · CHAPTER 32. FRAUD
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Tex. Penal Code § 32.45 (2026)

Misapplication Of Fiduciary Property Or Property Of Financial Institution

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Sec. 32.45. MISAPPLICATION OF FIDUCIARY PROPERTY OR PROPERTY OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. (a) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Fiduciary" includes:

(A) a trustee, guardian, administrator, executor, conservator, and receiver;

(B) an attorney in fact or agent appointed under a durable power of attorney as provided by Subtitle P, Title 2, Estates Code;

(C) any other person acting in a fiduciary capacity, but not a commercial bailee unless the commercial bailee is a party in a motor fuel sales agreement with a distributor or supplier, as those terms are defined by Section 162.001, Tax Code; and

(D) an officer, manager, employee, or agent carrying on fiduciary functions on behalf of a fiduciary.

(2) "Misapply" means deal with property contrary to:

(A) an agreement under which the fiduciary holds the property; or

(B) a law prescribing the custody or disposition of the property.

(b) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly misapplies property he holds as a fiduciary or property of a financial institution in a manner that involves substantial risk of loss to the owner of the property or to a person for whose benefit the property is held.

(c) An offense under this section is:

(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property misapplied is less than $100;

(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the property misapplied is $100 or more but less than $750;

(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property misapplied is $750 or more but less than $2,500;

(4) a state jail felony if the value of the property misapplied is $2,500 or more but less than $30,000;

(5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the property misapplied is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000;

(6) a felony of the second degree if the value of the property misapplied is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; or

(7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the property misapplied is $300,000 or more.

(d) An offense described for purposes of punishment by Subsections (c)(1)-(6) is increased to the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed against an elderly individual as defined by Section 22.04.

(e) With the consent of the appropriate local county or district attorney, the attorney general has concurrent jurisdiction with that consenting local prosecutor to prosecute an offense under this section that involves the state Medicaid program.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 565, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1036, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1047, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.137, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 257, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 432, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 23.001(77), eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 128 (S.B. 821), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1251 (H.B. 1396), Sec. 21, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 22.057, eff. September 1, 2017.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 160 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Coleman v. State, 131 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2004).
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Coleman v. State, 131 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2004). · cites it 12× “[2] See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 32.45 (Vernon Supp.2004).”
Joyce Black v. State, 551 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2018). · cites it 10× “; see also TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(2). Moreover, Black’s reliance on Johnson’s in-court testimony—wherein Johnson agreed that Black could use his money “anyway she wants”—fails to appreciate the standard of review that we must apply.”
Walter Demond v. State, 452 S.W.3d 435 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014). · cites it 6× “See Tex. Penal Code § 32.45. Under the law of parties, the defendant is culpable only if the State proves that (1) a principal actor committed the charged offense and (2) the defendant encouraged, directed, aided, or attempted to aid that offense.”
Berry, Larry Eugene, 424 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). · cites it 8× “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 32.45 (defining offense of misapplication of fiduciary property); 31.”
Bowen, Deborah, 374 S.W.3d 427 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “Tex. Penal Code § 32.45. The State met its burden of proof and presented sufficient evidence to support a conviction for misapplication of fiduciary property.”
Tyler v. State, 137 S.W.3d 261 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004). · cites it 3× “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 32.45 (Vernon Supp. 2004).”
Skillern v. State, 355 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011). · cites it 5× “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(1), (2). “Thus, misapplication can be an omission or failure to act where a duty to act exists.”
Ette v. State, 551 S.W.3d 783 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017). · cites it 3× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 32.45 (b), (c)(7) (West 2016).”
Bruce Randol Merryman v. State, 391 S.W.3d 261 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012). · cites it 4× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 32.45 (b) (West 2011).”
State v. Moff, 154 S.W.3d 599 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Tex. Pen. Code § 32.45(b). The indictment submitted by the district attorney failed to specify the transaction or transactions involved.”
Aiken v. State, 36 S.W.3d 131 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000). · cites it 4× “See Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 32.45 (West Supp.2000).”
Ette, Eddie Offiong, 559 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). “1 See Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(b), (c)(7) (West Supp.”
Show all 160 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(2)(A): 1 case
Cantrell v. State, 54 S.W.3d 41 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2001).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(7): 2 cases
David Atkinson v. Sunchase IV Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. & Bd., No. 13-17-00691-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Dec. 19, 2019).
David Atkinson v. Sunchase IV Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. & Bd., No. 13-17-00691-CV, 2020 WL 2079093 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Apr. 30, 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(1): 4 cases
State v. Hart, 342 S.W.3d 659 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011).
Skillern v. State, 355 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011). “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(1), (2). “Thus, misapplication can be an omission or failure to act where a duty to act exists.”
Joanie Martinez Cosper v. the State of Texas, 685 S.W.3d 196 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2024).
Karl Keene v. State, No. 04-11-00661-CR (Tex. App.—San Antonio June 12, 2013).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(1)(A): 1 case
McCay, Mark, No. PD-1306-15 (Tex. Oct. 2, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(1)(B): 1 case
Joyce McGaha v. State, No. 12-13-00046-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Dec. 20, 2013).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(1)(C): 6 cases
Coleman v. State, 131 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2004). “[2] See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 32.45 (Vernon Supp.2004).”
Berry, Larry Eugene, 424 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 32.45 (defining offense of misapplication of fiduciary property); 31.”
Berry, Larry Eugene, No. PD-1416-12 (Tex. Crim. App. Mar. 19, 2014).
Larry Eugene Berry v. State, No. 04-10-00924-CR, 2012 WL 1648213 (Tex. App.—San Antonio May 9, 2012).
Olle, Justin, No. PD-1304-15 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 2, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(1)(D): 1 case
Monica Melissa Patterson v. State, 606 S.W.3d 3 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(2): 11 cases
Coleman v. State, 131 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2004). “[2] See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 32.45 (Vernon Supp.2004).”
Joyce Black v. State, 551 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2018). “; see also TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(2). Moreover, Black’s reliance on Johnson’s in-court testimony—wherein Johnson agreed that Black could use his money “anyway she wants”—fails to appreciate the standard of review that we must apply.”
Berry, Larry Eugene, 424 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Penal Code §§ 32.45 (defining offense of misapplication of fiduciary property); 31.”
Walter Demond v. State, 452 S.W.3d 435 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014). “See Tex. Penal Code § 32.45. Under the law of parties, the defendant is culpable only if the State proves that (1) a principal actor committed the charged offense and (2) the defendant encouraged, directed, aided, or attempted to aid that offense.”
Berry, Larry Eugene, No. PD-1416-12 (Tex. Crim. App. Mar. 19, 2014).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(2)(A): 9 cases
Walter Demond v. State, 452 S.W.3d 435 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014). “See Tex. Penal Code § 32.45. Under the law of parties, the defendant is culpable only if the State proves that (1) a principal actor committed the charged offense and (2) the defendant encouraged, directed, aided, or attempted to aid that offense.”
Cantrell v. State, 75 S.W.3d 503 (Tex. App. 2002).
Joanie Martinez Cosper v. the State of Texas, 685 S.W.3d 196 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2024).
Demond, Walter, No. PD-1636-14 (Tex. Jan. 22, 2015).
Demond, Walter, No. PD-1636-14 (Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 4, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(a)(2)(B): 2 cases
Joyce Black v. State, 551 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2018). “; see also TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(2). Moreover, Black’s reliance on Johnson’s in-court testimony—wherein Johnson agreed that Black could use his money “anyway she wants”—fails to appreciate the standard of review that we must apply.”
Joanie Martinez Cosper v. the State of Texas, 685 S.W.3d 196 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(b): 45 cases
Coleman v. State, 131 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2004). “[2] See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 32.45 (Vernon Supp.2004).”
Joyce Black v. State, 551 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2018). “; see also TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(2). Moreover, Black’s reliance on Johnson’s in-court testimony—wherein Johnson agreed that Black could use his money “anyway she wants”—fails to appreciate the standard of review that we must apply.”
Skillern v. State, 355 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011). “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 32.45(a)(1), (2). “Thus, misapplication can be an omission or failure to act where a duty to act exists.”
State v. Moff, 154 S.W.3d 599 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “Tex. Pen. Code § 32.45(b). The indictment submitted by the district attorney failed to specify the transaction or transactions involved.”
Ette, Eddie Offiong, 559 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). “1 See Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(b), (c)(7) (West Supp.”
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(b)(6): 1 case
Harold T. Samuels v. State, No. 01-15-00643-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 25, 2016).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(c): 2 cases
Canida, Bobby Glenn, 434 S.W.3d 163 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).
Canida, Bobby Glenn, No. PD-0003-13 (Tex. Crim. App. June 25, 2014).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(c)(2): 1 case
Talamantez v. State, 790 S.W.2d 33 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1990).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(c)(4): 1 case
John Ward Hunt v. State, No. 05-16-00605-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 1, 2017).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(c)(5): 1 case
Estella Soto Martinez v. the State of Texas, No. 08-23-00006-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Jan. 23, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(c)(6): 5 cases
Bowen, Deborah, 374 S.W.3d 427 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). “Tex. Penal Code § 32.45. The State met its burden of proof and presented sufficient evidence to support a conviction for misapplication of fiduciary property.”
Hector Martinez v. State, No. 08-13-00363-CR, 2016 WL 2864952 (Tex. App.—El Paso May 13, 2016).
Anna Ruiloba v. State, No. 08-17-00123-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Nov. 14, 2019).
Deborah Bowen v. the State of Texas & Dana White, 652 S.W.3d 155 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2022).
Bowen, Deborah, No. PD-1607-10 (Tex. Crim. App. June 20, 2012).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(c)(7): 5 cases
Strange v. State, 258 S.W.3d 184 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008).
Lauri Ann Labree v. State, No. 08-16-00325-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Oct. 12, 2018).
Demond, Walter, No. PD-1636-14 (Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 6, 2015).
Mahammad Haroon Rashid v. the State of Texas, No. 01-19-00826-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 1, 2021).
in Re: Giant Eagle, Inc., No. 05-15-01292-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 23, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 32.45(d): 1 case
State v. Trenton Kyle Green, 613 S.W.3d 571 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2020).
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