Texas has recently dedicated a team of ten professionals to the task of investigating and prosecuting human trafficking. It has been said that Texas has the second biggest human trafficking problem in the United States. Only California is reputed to have more incidents of human trafficking per year. The crime of human trafficking gets a lot of attention as it relates to sex crimes, but forced labor is also part of the problem. Some industries, such as mining, construction, agriculture, and seafood, are implicated in many incidents of human trafficking each year.

Human trafficking is a crime in Texas, as set forth in Sec. 20A.02. and Sec. 20A.03. of the Texas Penal Code. A person can commit the offense of trafficking of persons in one of a number of ways. One way that the offense can be committed is when a person knowingly transports, entices, recruits, harbors, provides, or otherwise obtains another person with the intent that that other person engage in forced labor or services including, but not limited to, forced labor or services, child labor, or prostitution. Other ways that people engage in human trafficking are by receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves any sort of activity involving a person who has been trafficked, or by engaging in sexual activity with a person who is being trafficked.

The continuous trafficking of persons is a separate offense, and it is described under Section 20A.03 of the Texas Penal Code. This offense requires a person to have engaged in two or more incidents of any of the types of conduct that are described in 20A.02., against one or more victims during a period of thirty days or more.  In Texas, human trafficking is often a felony of the second degree. It can constitute a felony of the first degree if a child is involved, or if death results. The statute further provides that if conduct that is considered an offense under Sec. 20A.02. is also considered an offense under another section of the Texas Penal Code, it is possible for the person who is alleged to have committed the offense to be prosecuted under either section or even under both sections.

Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Helping Texans Resolve Criminal Matters

Accusations of human trafficking can be intimidating, but you do not have to face those accusations alone. An experienced Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can protect your rights, and they can help you sort through the details of your human trafficking case and build a strong defense on your behalf. Skilled defense attorneys know what to look for, and they can analyze every aspect of your case to find the areas that are likely to be problematic for the prosecution. Perhaps you did not have the required intent to have committed the act that you are alleged to have committed, or you have been wrongfully charged with a crime due to a mistaken identity. So many things could happen that could result in criminal charges being brought against parties who are not in fact guilty of the crimes they are alleged to have committed. If you have questions about a human trafficking case or any other Texas criminal matter, please call Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, at (903) 753-7499 or contact us online to find out whether we can help you.