[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/aggravated-crime-texas\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/aggravated-crime-texas\/","headline":"What Is an \u201cAggravated\u201d Crime in Texas?","name":"What Is an \u201cAggravated\u201d Crime in Texas?","description":"What constitutes an aggravated crime varies from state to state? Many people hear that a crime is \u201caggravated\u201d and wonder what that means. What distinguishes a robbery from an \u201caggravated\u201d robbery, for example? Is one worse than the other? The short answer is that, yes, an aggravated crime is a more serious charge that carries...","datePublished":"2017-08-26","dateModified":"2023-07-04","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/author\/broden-mickelsen\/#Person","name":"Mick Mickelsen","url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/author\/broden-mickelsen\/","identifier":16,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30690d9f76c45bf5d61434169e78762d673b1ac9b949489cf69f1c78d567fc27?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30690d9f76c45bf5d61434169e78762d673b1ac9b949489cf69f1c78d567fc27?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Broden, Mickelsen LLP","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Broden-and-Mickelsen-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Broden-and-Mickelsen-Logo.png","width":378,"height":77}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/What-Is-an-Aggravated-Crime-in-Texas.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/What-Is-an-Aggravated-Crime-in-Texas.jpg","height":2560,"width":2560},"url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/aggravated-crime-texas\/","about":["Aggravated Crimes","Criminal Defense"],"wordCount":520,"keywords":["Aggravated Crime in Texas","Aggravated Crimes","Aggravated Crimes Texas","Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers in Dallas","Texas criminal defense lawyer"],"articleBody":"What constitutes an aggravated crime varies from state to state?Many people hear that a crime is \u201caggravated\u201d and wonder what that means. What distinguishes a robbery from an \u201caggravated\u201d robbery, for example? Is one worse than the other?The short answer is that, yes, an aggravated crime is a more serious charge that carries more severe penalties upon conviction. Generally speaking, to be charged with an aggravated crime, a defendant must have done something that made the offense more dangerous. For example, breaking into someone\u2019s house is likely to result in a burglary charge. But breaking into a house with a loaded gun in your jacket will probably result in an aggravated burglary charge, even if you didn\u2019t use the gun or threaten anyone with it during the break-in. In many cases, simply having a dangerous and deadly weapon with you at the time of a crime is enough for police or prosecutors to bump up the charge.Aggravated Crimes Have More Serious PenaltiesAlthough what constitutes an aggravated crime varies from state to state, the law generally imposes enhanced penalties on crimes that involve specific factors. These factors make the crimes more serious and more dangerous, which is why they\u2019re considered aggravated versions of the basic offense\u2014sometimes called a \u201csimple\u201d version of the same crime.Using or Possessing a Weapon \u2013 In most cases, just carrying a weapon with you while you commit a crime is enough to generate an aggravated charge.Causing Bodily Injury \u2013 The law takes it seriously when people get hurt during a crime. For example, getting into a shoving match at a bar might result in a simple assault charge. This could easily get bumped up to aggravated assault, however, if one person punches the other, causing bodily injury.Crimes Against Certain Individuals \u2013 Crimes can also be aggravated if they are carried out against individuals in certain careers, or those deemed especially vulnerable by society. For example, crimes against children and the elderly may be charged as aggravated. The same is true for offenses that victimize the disabled or mentally challenged. Many statutes also include aggravated charges for crimes carried out against police officers and rescue personnel, such as EMS workers and firefighters.Just because a criminal charge is classified as aggravated, however, does not mean it can\u2019t be lowered to a regular offense at some point during the case. In some situations, prosecutors will agree to drop the charge to a lower charge in exchange for the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge. In other cases, the prosecution doesn\u2019t have adequate evidence to establish a case for an aggravated crime.Speak to a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer TodayHave you been charged with an aggravated crime in Texas? A lawyer can help you protect your important legal rights. Get in touch with an experienced Texas criminal defense lawyer to discuss the options in your case.Sources:http:\/\/www.nolo.com\/dictionary\/aggravating-circumstances-term.htmlhttp:\/\/www.nolo.com\/legal-encyclopedia\/assault-battery-aggravated-assault-33775.htmlDallas Criminal Defense Lawyers in DallasBroden & Mickelsen, LLP2600 State St Dallas, Texas 75204Main Phone: (214) 720-9552"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is an \u201cAggravated\u201d Crime in Texas?","item":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/aggravated-crime-texas\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]