So You Wanna Be a Texan Outlaw? Not So Fast, Partner! (Except for These Crimes...)
Howdy, law-abiding citizens (and maybe a curious outlaw or two)! Today, we're moseyin' on over to the dusty plains of Texas law, specifically that there mysterious critter called the statute of limitations. Now, this critter basically sets a time limit for when you can be charged with a crime. Most of the time, you commit a crime, the sheriff has a certain amount of years to slap some handcuffs on you, and if they don't, well, you're generally in the clear.
But Texas, bless its heart, has a whole lotta things that are bigger in this state, including some crimes that have no statute of limitations. That means you could rob a bank in your spurs and ten-gallon hat back in the gold rush days, and if they ever dust off those old wanted posters with your face on it, you're still lookin' at jail time. Yikes!
So, what crimes put you on the Texas "Never Forget" list? Let's saddle up and see...
The Big Guns: Crimes That Haunt You Forever
-
Murder and Manslaughter: These are the biggies, folks. Taking a life is a mighty serious offense, and Texas ain't forgettin' that anytime soon. No matter how many tumbleweeds blow by, you're never outrunning a murder charge.
-
Certain Sexual Offenses: This includes sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault, and some other real nasty crimes. These heinous acts leave scars that don't fade, and Texas makes sure that justice can be served no matter how much time passes.
-
Hit and Run Resulting in Death: Leaving the scene of an accident is bad enough, but if someone loses their life because you hightailed it outta there, well, Texas ain't gonna let you forget that in a hurry.
-
Kidnapping and Trafficking: Preying on the vulnerable? Stealing folks' freedom? Texas will be waiting for you, no matter how long it takes.
The Maybe Pile: Crimes With Some Wiggle Room (Maybe)
-
Sexual Assault with DNA Evidence: This one gets a little complicated. If there's DNA evidence but it hasn't been matched to a suspect, the clock might not be ticking (or at least ticking real slow).
-
Certain Trafficking Offenses: Human trafficking is a horrible crime, and some types of trafficking have no time limit for prosecution. Others have a 10-year window. Best bet? Don't mess with human trafficking at all.
Remember, this ain't legal advice. If you're thinkin' about committing a crime in Texas, well, maybe reconsider and take up a nice game of checkers instead. The Lone Star State takes its justice seriously, and some crimes come with a lifetime warranty on punishment.
But hey, on the bright side, at least you won't have to worry about a pesky statute of limitations cramping your outlaw style...for certain crimes. Just sayin'.
