Source: https://www.johntfloyd.com/convicted-felons-possessing-firearms-in-texas/
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 14:49:43+00:00

Document:
In a previous post, we discussed unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon under Federal law. The same offense, with a few exceptions, can also be severe under Texas law.
Under Texas state law a convicted felon may possess a firearm in the residence, in which he lives, once five years have elapsed from the date his sentence was discharged. This means the later of release from prison or parole. This is not true under federal law. So, while a convicted felony could lawfully possess a firearm in these very limited circumstance under state law, he could possibly be charged and convicted under federal law, even though current federal policy is to defer to state law on this issue.
Currently there only way for a felony to regain his rights to possess a firearm in Texas and that is through full pardon. Given the very limited number of pardons issued from the governor’s office, a pardon is extremely unlikely and very expensive. Until Texas state law is changed in regard to “felon in possession,” it is a felony to possess a firearm unless five years have elapsed since a sentence has become complete, and then only in the residence for self protection.
Under Texas Penal Code §§ 12.33, 46.04, the unlawful possession of a firearm is a third degree felony with a punishment range of two to ten years for a defendant with one prior felony conviction and fine up to $10,000.
To be convicted as a felon in the unlawful possession of a firearm, the State must prove only that 1) a person, 2) who has been convicted of a felony, 3) possessed a firearm, 4) after conviction and before the fifth anniversary of the person’s release from prison or parole or other community supervision. Under Texas Penal Code § 6.01(a), the State must also prove the defendant voluntarily possessed the firearm.
But what if the firearm is not under the “exclusive possession and control” of the place where the firearm is found, e.g., a friend’s residence or vehicle? The State must then provide, as the courts have held, “evidence of circumstances, in addition to mere presence, that would adequately justify the conclusion that the defendant knowingly possessed the firearm.” This burden of proof can be satisfied with either direct or circumstantial evidence so long as the State connects the defendant to the firearm.
There are several nuances under Texas law that should be considered by a criminal defense lawyer when evaluating a Felon in Possession case.
The State, in an indictment charging only unlawful firearm possession based on a predicate prior conviction, cannot use that same predicate offense to enhance the defendant’s sentence to a second degree felony subjecting defendant to a term of imprisonment up to 20 years.
Under Art. 42.12(20), a judge who believes a person on community supervision who is completely rehabilitated and ready to return to society as a law-abiding citizen may set aside the guilty verdict or withdraw his guilty plea which led to the felony conviction. This procedure permits the judge to dismiss the accusation, complaint, information or indictment against the defendant which effectively releases the defendant from all penalties and disabilities from the offense to which the defendant had been convicted.
There is a caveat to this “judicial clemency” exception: The Court of Criminal Appeals held last year the prior conviction used in a § 46.04 case must have been set aside before the unlawful firearm possession offense occurred. For example, a felony conviction used as the predicate offense in an unlawful firearm possession case which is vacated and set aside after the § 46.04 possession case will not undermine a conviction obtained under that statute. This is consistent with a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision which held that a “constitutionally infirm” conviction can be used to enhance a sentence.
There is yet another, and much more important, caveat. This one concerns deferred adjudications. No decision by the Court of Criminal Appeals has directly addressed the issue of whether a deferred adjudication can be used as the predicate “felony” in a § 46.04 case. In 2006, the court decided that a deferred adjudication is distinguishable from the other “community supervision[s]” (regular, shock, boot-camp, state-jail) because it does not lead to a “conviction,” when the deferred adjudication is successfully completed.
Section 5 of Article 42.12 addresses deferred adjudication. It provides that a defendant can be placed on deferred adjudication for a felony or a misdemeanor.
However, a defendant with a prior deferred adjudication does face some practical “disabilities”: the defendant cannot apply for a license to carry a concealed weapon and the deferred adjudication can be considered by a judge or jury in the punishment phase of a criminal trial.
The same may not be true for federal prosecutions in Texas because the Fifth Circuit has yet to address the issue directly. Current federal policy is to defer to the states on this issue, but there is no guarantee that bad facts might lead to a federal prosecution.
There is also a true defense in a § 46.04 case. A defendant charged with unlawful firearm possession may use a defense of necessity which means that, under Texas Penal Code § 9.22, conduct is justified if (1) the actor reasonably believed the conduct to immediately necessary to avoid imminent harm, (2) the desirability and urgency of avoiding harm clearly outweigh, according to ordinary standards of reasonableness, the harm sought to be prevented by the law proscribing the conduct, and (3) the legislative purpose to exclude the justification claimed for the conduct does not otherwise plainly appear. Before this defense can even be contemplated, there must be evidence of both immediate necessity and imminent harm. Once a defendant makes this showing, the State must then disprove the defense through persuasion.
But it must be pointed out that two other common law defenses—self-defense and mistake or ignorance of the law—are not available in unlawful firearm possession cases.
If you are a convicted felon, there is virtually nothing that can be done to restore your rights other than full pardon. Not only is this process time consuming and very expensive, it is also extremely unlikely considering only a handful of pardons are granted. If you have specific questions about felon in possession please read “The Law on Guns and Felons” or refer to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers list of state specific prohibitions.
We believe that felons should be able to complete their obligation to society for their crimes of conviction. Therefore, we advocate for state and federal legislation which would allow for automatic restoration of all rights after a waiting-period, during which the individual demonstrated good conduct. It is unfair and inhumane to force convicted felons to live under lifetime disabilities when they have completed their sentences and moved on to law abiding lives. We believe people can redeem themselves and should be able to live as normal members of society after they have earned the ability to do so. The stain of a felony conviction is crippling and at some point should be removed for those felons who have changed their lives and struggled to become honest, productive members of society.
If you found this article useful, please visit our Google page and give us a review.
The John T. Floyd Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm. If you are charged with felon in possession, we prepare, investigate and develop any defense in an unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in any Texas county or Federal jurisdiction.

References: § 6
 Art. 42
 § 46
 § 46
 § 46
 § 46
 § 9