2023 Texas Statutes
Penal Code
Title 5 - Offenses Against the Person
Chapter 21 - Sexual Offenses
Section 21.18. Sexual Coercion

Universal Citation:
TX Penal Code § 21.18 (2023)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.

Sec. 21.18. SEXUAL COERCION. (a) In this section:

(1) "Intimate visual material" means the visual material described by Section 21.16(b)(1) or (c).

(2) "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by Section 43.25.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally threatens, including by coercion or extortion, to commit an offense under Chapter 43 or Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8), 21.02, 21.08, 21.11, 21.12, 21.15, 21.16, 21.17, 22.011, or 22.021 to obtain, in return for not committing the threatened offense or in connection with the threatened offense, any of the following benefits:

(1) intimate visual material;

(2) an act involving sexual conduct causing arousal or gratification; or

(3) a monetary benefit or other benefit of value.

(c) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally threatens, including by coercion or extortion, to commit an offense under Chapter 19 or 20 or Section 20A.02(a)(1), (2), (5), or (6) to obtain, in return for not committing the threatened offense or in connection with the threatened offense, either of the following benefits:

(1) intimate visual material; or

(2) an act involving sexual conduct causing arousal or gratification.

(d) This section applies to a threat regardless of how that threat is communicated, including a threat transmitted through e-mail or an Internet website, social media account, or chat room and a threat made by other electronic or technological means.

(e) An offense under this section is a state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted of an offense under this section.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 858 (H.B. 2552), Sec. 16(c), eff. September 1, 2017.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1038 (H.B. 1808), Sec. 4(b), eff. September 1, 2017.

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