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Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Organized Crime

71.12  Instruction—Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity—Committing Covered Offense to Participate in Combination

LAW SPECIFIC TO THIS CASE

[Insert relevant instructions for specific offense. The following example is for when the covered offense is aggravated assault under Texas Penal Code section 22.02.]

The state accuses the defendant of having committed the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity.

Relevant Statutes

[Insert relevant statutes and definitions units for charged offense. The following example is for a Texas Penal Code section 71.02 charge, in which the covered offense is aggravated assault. See Texas Penal Code section 22.02.]

A person commits the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity if, with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination, the person commits one or more of certain criminal offenses, including aggravated assault.

Definitions

Intent to Establish, Maintain, or Participate in a Combination or in the Profits of a Combination

A person acts with “intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination, or in the profits of a combination” if the person has the conscious objective or desire to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination.

Combination

“Combination” means three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities.

[Insert the following if raised by the evidence.]

A combination may exist although the participants may not know each other’s identities.

[Insert the following if raised by the evidence.]

A combination may exist although membership in the combination changes from time to time.

[Insert the following if raised by the evidence.]

A combination may exist although the participants stand in a wholesaler-retailer or other arm’s-length relationship in illicit distribution operations.

Profits

“Profits” means property constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, from [insert offenses from Texas Penal Code section 71.02(a) raised by the evidence].

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault requires proof of two elements. The elements are that—

  1. the defendant caused serious bodily injury to another; and
  2. the defendant did this—

    [Include applicable mental state(s) as raised by the evidence.]

    1. intending to cause bodily injury to that person;
    2. knowing that he would cause bodily injury to that person; or
    3. with recklessness about whether he would cause bodily injury to that person.

Bodily Injury

“Bodily injury” means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition.

Serious Bodily Injury

“Serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

Intentionally Causing Bodily Injury

A person intentionally causes bodily injury to another if it is the person’s conscious objective or desire to cause the bodily injury to another.

Knowingly Causing Bodily Injury

A person knowingly causes bodily injury to another if the person is aware that the person’s conduct is reasonably certain to cause the bodily injury to another.

Recklessly Causing Bodily Injury

A person recklessly causes bodily injury to another if the person is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the person’s action will cause bodily injury to another. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the actor’s standpoint.

Application of Law to Facts

[Include relevant application of law to facts unit for charged offense. The following example is for a Texas Penal Code section 71.02 charge, in which the covered offense is aggravated assault. See Texas Penal Code section 22.02.]

You must determine whether the state has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, two elements. The elements are that—

  1. the defendant, in [county] County, Texas, on or about [date], committed aggravated assault; and
  2. the defendant did this with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination.

You must all agree on elements 1 and 2 listed above.

If you all agree the state has failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, one or both of elements 1 and 2 listed above, you must find the defendant “not guilty.”

If you all agree the state has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, both of the two elements listed above, you must find the defendant “guilty.”

[Insert any other instructions raised by the evidence. Then continue with the verdict form found in CPJC 2.1, the general charge.]

Comment

Engaging in organized criminal activity is prohibited by and defined in Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. The definitions of culpable mental states are derived from Tex. Penal Code § 6.03. The definition of “bodily injury” is from Tex. Penal Code § 1.07(a)(8). The definition of “serious bodily injury” is from Tex. Penal Code § 1.07(a)(46). The definition of “combination” is from Tex. Penal Code § 71.01(a). The definition of “profits” is from Tex. Penal Code § 71.01(c).

This instruction is based on an indictment for, as a member of a combination, committing aggravated assault. Aggravated assault is prohibited by and defined in Tex. Penal Code § 22.02. The definitions of the elements of aggravated assault are based on Tex. Penal Code § 22.02 and the court of criminal appeals’ holding in Rodriguez v. State, 538 S.W.3d 623 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018).

The court will need to modify the instruction depending on what the accusation charges.