Texas takes a firm stance against multiple felony actions. When a defendant has at least two prior felony convictions and commits another felony, they may be considered a habitual offender. This status can cause a person’s sentencing to increase when facing criminal charges.
Felony charges should always be taken seriously, especially if a person has prior felony charges on their record. Habitual felony offenders will face heavier sentencing, regardless of whatever level the original offense constituted. Some felony offenses may even entail the death penalty on a secondary offense on an increased sentence.
A person who has prior felony convictions (not including misdemeanors) on their criminal record is considered to be a habitual offender. Texas law provides a number of guidelines for sentencing defendants, based on what their prior convictions were and what the criminal charges they face are. Texas law has specific conditions for both repeat offenses and offenses that are considered habitual. 1
Beyond prior convictions, certain other situations will also play a role in sentence increases for repeat offenses depending on the nature of the crime in question. In some cases, repeat felonies may cause a defendant to face a life sentence in prison. Defendants will face life in prison if they have prior felony level convictions for: 2
A person may be charged with a capital felony (punishable by the death penalty) for subsequent felony convictions for the crimes of:
