Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY · CHAPTER 43. PUBLIC INDECENCY
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Tex. Penal Code § 43.25 (2026)

Sexual Performance By A Child

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Sec. 43.25. SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD. (a) In this section:

(1) "Sexual performance" means any performance or part thereof that includes sexual conduct by a child younger than 18 years of age.

(2) "Sexual conduct" means sexual contact, actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sado-masochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals, the anus, or any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola.

(3) "Performance" means any play, motion picture, photograph, dance, or other visual representation that can be exhibited before an audience of one or more persons.

(4) "Produce" with respect to a sexual performance includes any conduct that directly contributes to the creation or manufacture of the sexual performance.

(5) "Promote" means to procure, manufacture, issue, sell, give, provide, lend, mail, deliver, transfer, transmit, publish, distribute, circulate, disseminate, present, exhibit, or advertise or to offer or agree to do any of the above.

(6) "Simulated" means the explicit depiction of sexual conduct that creates the appearance of actual sexual conduct and during which a person engaging in the conduct exhibits any uncovered portion of the breasts, genitals, or buttocks.

(7) "Deviate sexual intercourse" and "sexual contact" have the meanings assigned by Section 43.01.

(b) A person commits an offense if, knowing the character and content thereof, he employs, authorizes, or induces a child younger than 18 years of age to engage in sexual conduct or a sexual performance. A parent or legal guardian or custodian of a child younger than 18 years of age commits an offense if he consents to the participation by the child in a sexual performance.

(c) An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the second degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if the victim is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is committed, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the offense.

(d) A person commits an offense if, knowing the character and content of the material, he produces, directs, or promotes a performance that includes sexual conduct by a child younger than 18 years of age.

(e) An offense under Subsection (d) is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if the victim is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is committed, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the offense.

(f) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that:

(1) the defendant was the spouse of the child at the time of the offense;

(2) at the time of the offense the actor was a judicial or law enforcement officer discharging the officer's official duties; or

(3) the defendant is not more than two years older than the child.

(g) When it becomes necessary for the purposes of this section or Section 43.26 to determine whether a child who participated in sexual conduct was younger than 18 years of age, the court or jury may make this determination by any of the following methods:

(1) personal inspection of the child;

(2) inspection of the photograph or motion picture that shows the child engaging in the sexual performance;

(3) oral testimony by a witness to the sexual performance as to the age of the child based on the child's appearance at the time;

(4) expert medical testimony based on the appearance of the child engaging in the sexual performance; or

(5) any other method authorized by law or by the rules of evidence at common law.

(h) Conduct under this section constitutes an offense regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the offense.

Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 1035, ch. 381, Sec. 1, eff. June 10, 1977. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1976, ch. 779, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 530, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1415, Sec. 22(b), eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1005, Sec. 4, 5 eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 8), Sec. 1.20, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 29), Sec. 41, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1038 (H.B. 1808), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 39 (S.B. 412), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 145 cases (35 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: Bell v. State, 326 S.W.3d 716 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010).
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Bell v. State, 326 S.W.3d 716 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). · cites it 5× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (b) (West 2003).”
New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747 (1982). · cites it 2× “1 (1981); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (1982); Utah Code Ann.”
Franklin v. State, 193 S.W.3d 616 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). · cites it 4× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (b) (Vernon Supp.”
Eubanks v. State, 326 S.W.3d 231 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010). · cites it 4× “” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (d) (Vernon Supp.”
Distefano v. State, 532 S.W.3d 25 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016). · cites it 2× “Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(b)—(c). . All references to article 38.”
Fleming, Mark Alexander, 455 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “See Tex. Penal Code § 43.25, passim (current).”
Alexander v. State, 906 S.W.2d 107 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995). · cites it 4× “did then and there, intentionally or knowingly, knowing the content and character thereof, attempt to employ or induce a child younger than 17 years of age .”
Jeffrey Dean Gerron v. State, 524 S.W.3d 308 (Tex. App.—Waco 2016). · cites it 2× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (a)(2) (West 2011) (emphasis added).”
Ex Parte Anderson, 902 S.W.2d 695 (Tex. App.—Austin 1995). · cites it 3× “Laws 2133 (Texas Penal Code § 43.25, as amended) (hereinafter former section 43.”
Jerilyn Ann Cerda v. RJL Ent., Inc., 443 S.W.3d 221 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2013). · cites it 8× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 43.25 (c) (West 2011), 43.”
State v. Bolles, 541 S.W.3d 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “26 of the Texas Penal Code depends upon whether such image depicts a child who is engaging in the "lewd exhibition" of the child's genitals under Texas Penal Code section 43.25(a)(2). 43 The term "engaging" is not statutorily defined.”
United States v. Moon, 73 M.J. 382 (C.A.A.F. 2014). · cites it 2× “[8](G) (West 2014) (including lascivious exhibition of the female breast or genitals in the definition of “[s]exual activity”); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (a)(2) (West 2014) (including the lewd exhibition of any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola in the…”
Show all 145 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(C): 1 case
Alejandro Guerra v. State, No. 13-17-00463-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Apr. 19, 2018).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(a): 1 case
Summers v. State, 845 S.W.2d 440 (Tex. App.—Eastland 1992).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(a)(1): 6 cases
Bell v. State, 326 S.W.3d 716 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (b) (West 2003).”
Mark A. Clark v. State, No. 03-11-00085-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 19, 2014).
Alejandro Munoz v. State, No. 03-12-00809-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Nov. 14, 2014).
Robert F. Crunk v. State, No. 04-14-00810-CR (Tex. App.—San Antonio June 3, 2015).
Munoz, Alejandro, No. PD-1620-14 (Tex. Feb. 12, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(a)(2): 25 cases
State v. Bolles, 541 S.W.3d 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). “26 of the Texas Penal Code depends upon whether such image depicts a child who is engaging in the "lewd exhibition" of the child's genitals under Texas Penal Code section 43.25(a)(2). 43 The term "engaging" is not statutorily defined.”
Witt v. State, 237 S.W.3d 394 (Tex. App.—Waco 2007).
Burke v. State, 27 S.W.3d 651 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000).
Alexander v. State, 906 S.W.2d 107 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995). “did then and there, intentionally or knowingly, knowing the content and character thereof, attempt to employ or induce a child younger than 17 years of age .”
Lancaster v. State, 319 S.W.3d 168 (Tex. App.—Waco 2010).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(a)(3): 4 cases
Alexander v. State, 906 S.W.2d 107 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995). “did then and there, intentionally or knowingly, knowing the content and character thereof, attempt to employ or induce a child younger than 17 years of age .”
Mark A. Clark v. State, No. 03-11-00085-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 19, 2014).
Timothy Edward Whitington v. State, No. 08-13-00102-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 4230 (Tex. App.—El Paso Apr. 24, 2015).
Whitington, Timothy Edward, No. PD-1021-15 (Tex. Crim. App. Sept. 1, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(a)(5): 2 cases
Sammy Evans v. State of Texas, No. 06-22-00166-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Aug. 15, 2023).
Eric Austin Mills v. State of Texas, No. 06-24-00075-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Nov. 6, 2024).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(a)(6): 4 cases
Ryan Stephen Kidd v. State, No. 04-18-00893-CR (Tex. App.—San Antonio Sept. 4, 2019).
Ex Parte Leonard Walton Fusselman, 621 S.W.3d 112 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021).
Ex Parte Leonard Walton Fusselman, 621 S.W.3d 112 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021).
Ex Parte Leonard Walton Fusselman, 621 S.W.3d 112 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(b): 32 cases
Distefano v. State, 532 S.W.3d 25 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016). “Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(b)—(c). . All references to article 38.”
Franklin v. State, 193 S.W.3d 616 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (b) (Vernon Supp.”
Scott v. State, 173 S.W.3d 856 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005).
Chen v. State, 42 S.W.3d 926 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
Tovar v. State, 165 S.W.3d 785 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(c): 7 cases
Bell v. State, 326 S.W.3d 716 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (b) (West 2003).”
Scott v. State, 173 S.W.3d 856 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005).
Alejandro Guerra v. State, No. 13-17-00463-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Apr. 19, 2018).
Bradley Curtis Kougher v. State, No. 06-18-00025-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Aug. 8, 2018).
Buford Lloyd Crowell v. State of Texas, 642 S.W.3d 885 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(d): 5 cases
Tovar v. State, 165 S.W.3d 785 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005).
Conley v. Driver, 175 S.W.3d 882 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005).
State v. Lauro Eduardo Ruiz, 535 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2017).
Benito Pena Jr. v. State, No. 05-16-00331-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 26, 2017).
George Ray Davis v. State, No. 07-20-00047-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 9, 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(e): 3 cases
In re B.W., 313 S.W.3d 818 (Tex. 2010).
In re BW, 313 S.W.3d 818 (Tex. 2010).
Nicholas Wayne Doss v. State of Texas, No. 13-20-00091-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 26, 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(f): 1 case
Roise v. State, 7 S.W.3d 225 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(f)(1): 3 cases
Fleming, Mark Alexander, 455 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Penal Code § 43.25, passim (current).”
United States v. United States Dist. Court for the Cent. Dist. of California, 858 F.2d 534 (9th Cir. 1988).
Fleming, Mark Alexander, No. PD-1250-12 (Tex. Crim. App. June 18, 2014).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(f)(2): 2 cases
Richard Damon Martini v. State, No. 05-17-00693-CR, 2018 WL 3598978 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 27, 2018).
Teddy Eugene Morris v. State of Texas, No. 11-09-00163-CR (Tex. App.—Eastland Aug. 5, 2010).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(f)(3): 1 case
Fujisaka, Ex Parte Jeffrey Wayne, No. PD-1088-15 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 9, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(g): 6 cases
Jeffrey Dean Gerron v. State, 524 S.W.3d 308 (Tex. App.—Waco 2016). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 43.25 (a)(2) (West 2011) (emphasis added).”
Scott Edward Wilson v. State, 419 S.W.3d 582 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013).
Richard Blake Bradley v. State of Texas, No. 14-22-00458-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 14, 2023).
Richard Blake Bradley v. State of Texas, No. 14-22-00459-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 14, 2023).
Richard Blake Bradley v. State of Texas, No. 14-22-00457-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 14, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(g)(1): 1 case
Timmie Soules v. State, No. 08-15-00384-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Oct. 31, 2019).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(g)(2): 5 cases
Timmie Soules v. State, No. 08-15-00384-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Oct. 31, 2019).
Tallion Kyle Taylor v. State, No. 03-19-00077-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 10, 2021).
Richard Blake Bradley v. State of Texas, No. 14-22-00458-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 14, 2023).
Richard Blake Bradley v. State of Texas, No. 14-22-00459-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 14, 2023).
Richard Blake Bradley v. State of Texas, No. 14-22-00457-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 14, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 43.25(h): 1 case
Nicholas Wayne Doss v. State of Texas, No. 13-20-00091-CR (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 26, 2021).
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