Texas Felony Murder Rule
Texas is one of the states that has the Felony Murder Rule, sometimes known as “the law of parties.” This law states a person is criminally responsible for an offense committed by the conduct of another. In order to be convicted of murder by association, you did not have to be a significant participant. An individual can be charged if they were present with the offender at the time of the crime.
Texas Penal Code § 7.02
According to the Texas Penal Code, the Felony Murder Rule applies to the following circumstances:
- A person acts with the kind of culpability required for the offense by causing or aiding an innocent or non-responsible person to engage in conduct prohibited by the definition of the crime
- A person acts with intent to promote or assist the commission of the crime by soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding, or attempting to help the person committing the offense
- A person has the legal duty to prevent the commission of the offense
Likewise, if a group of people intends to commit a felony and one among the group commits another felony along the way, the entire group could be found guilty of the second felony as well as the first. The Felony Murder Rule doesn’t only apply to murders, however; it applies to any felony crime.
Legal Defense for Murder by Association Charges
If you've been accused of murder when you never participated in the act, get the defense counsel you need from a Houston attorney from our firm. The Law Offices of Jed Silverman can offer you years of legal experience and dedication to pursuing the best possible outcome for our clients.
If you are facing "guilt by association" charges, schedule your FREE case consultation at (713) 597-2221 today!