ASSAULT CAUSES BODILY INJ on Texas arrest paperwork, a bond sheet, or a court docket means: Assault Causing Bodily Injury, charged under Texas Penal Code § 22.01(a)(1).

Charge level: Class A misdemeanor (base); felony when enhanced

Punishment range: Up to 1 year in county jail and a fine of up to $4,000; enhancements (family violence with a prior, choking allegation, public servant) raise it to a felony

What this charge really means

‘Bodily injury’ in Texas is any physical pain — no visible injury required — which makes this one of the most loosely charged offenses in the code. It also makes it defensible: credibility, self-defense, and mutual-combat facts dominate these cases. A family-violence finding carries lifetime consequences (including federal firearm prohibition) beyond the criminal penalty, so never plead without understanding that piece.

Common questions

What counts as bodily injury?

Any physical pain, illness, or impairment — even without a mark. The low threshold cuts both ways: easy to charge, and often easy to challenge on credibility.

What makes an assault charge a felony?

Common enhancements: a prior family-violence conviction, an allegation of choking or impeding breath (a third-degree felony, 2-10 years), or assault on a public servant.

Why does the family-violence finding matter so much?

It triggers a lifetime federal firearm ban, immigration consequences, enhancement of any future allegation to a felony, and cannot be sealed. Fighting the finding matters as much as fighting the charge.

Charged with ASSAULT CAUSES BODILY INJ? Move fast.

Charges like this are shaped in the first weeks — evidence gets preserved or lost, and early counsel changes outcomes. Our attorneys are former police officers who know how these cases are built. Get a free consultation — we’ll review the facts, explain your realistic options, and quote a flat fee. Available 24/7.

This page is general legal information for Texas, not legal advice about your specific case. Penalty ranges can change with enhancements, priors, and case-specific facts. Last reviewed July 2026.