Deadly conduct doesn’t require that anyone got hurt — or that you meant to hurt anyone. It only takes recklessly putting someone in danger, which means these charges often come out of arguments, road rage, or a gun that was never even pointed at a person. A Houston deadly conduct lawyer can push back on how broadly that standard gets applied.
What the State Has to Prove
- Recklessness, not intent: The charge applies when you recklessly engage in conduct that places another person in imminent danger of serious bodily injury — no injury, and no intent to injure, required.
- Firearm discharge version: A separate, more serious form applies to knowingly discharging a firearm at or toward a habitation, building, or vehicle while reckless as to whether it’s occupied.
How Texas Punishes It
- Class A misdemeanor: Up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $4,000 for the general offense.
- Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine for the firearm-discharge version.
Where the State’s Case Gets Weak
“Imminent danger” is a specific legal standard, not just something that felt scary in the moment — and whether a person was actually in the zone of danger is frequently overstated in police reports written after the fact. Whether your conduct was truly “reckless” as opposed to an accident or a startled reaction is often the entire case.
Charged With Deadly Conduct? Contact Blass Law Now
Contact Blass Law for a confidential case evaluation or call (713)-664-4000 so we can start examining what the officers actually saw — versus what they wrote down.
Related Charges
- Aggravated Assault
- Assault on a Police Officer
- Terroristic Threat
- Aggravated Assault With a Motor Vehicle
- All Criminal Defense Practice Areas
Reviewed by Jay Blass Cohen, founder of Blass Law PLLC — ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist, certified Drug Recognition Expert, and SFST instructor, serving Houston since 2009. This article is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.