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Preparing for a Texas Indecency Investigation
What information helps counsel evaluate a Texas indecency allegation? Learn how to organize dates, records and witness information responsibly.
In short: A useful response to a Texas indecency investigation begins with accurate records and legal advice about the specific allegation. Preserve material you lawfully possess, identify relevant dates and avoid attempts to influence the child or other witnesses. An investigation is not itself a finding of guilt.
Explore this page 9 sections
What should a chronology include?
Record known locations, people present and the source for each entry. Mark uncertain dates as uncertain. A calendar reconstructed from memory should not be presented as a contemporaneous document.
Should messages be deleted if they seem embarrassing?
No. Preserve the complete material and discuss its relevance privately with counsel. Deleting, editing or selectively recreating conversations can remove context and create additional problems.
How should counsel assess the allegation?
The review should connect the alleged conduct to section 21.11, including age, intent and the charged subsection. Counsel may also examine the circumstances of interviews and available independent records. Neither a reassuring family opinion nor a police accusation substitutes for that analysis.
A practical example and questions for counsel
Hypothetical example: Suppose a relative offers to speak with the child to “clear things up.” That may create new disputes about influence and the reliability of later accounts. A better preparation step is to identify existing records and let counsel decide how an appropriate investigation should proceed. Preserve the names of people with firsthand information and specify what each actually observed. Do not circulate the allegation widely to gather opinions. The most useful material is a source-based chronology, not a collection of assurances from people who did not witness the event.
How this fits Texas law
Section 21.11 concerns a child younger than 17 and distinguishes sexual contact from specified exposure conduct. The statute defines sexual contact and requires the specified sexual intent. Contact and exposure have different felony classifications. An allegation should be analyzed under the correct subsection, including the offense-date facts and any applicable statutory defense.
How do I get started?
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Last updated October 2026
Common questions
What should a chronology include?
Record known locations, people present and the source for each entry.
Should messages be deleted if they seem embarrassing?
No.
How should counsel assess the allegation?
The review should connect the alleged conduct to section 21.11, including age, intent and the charged subsection.
Protecting Good People During Hard Times
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This page provides general information about Texas law. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.