If the thing altered or destroyed was a human corpse, the offense escalates to which felony degree?

• A. First Degree Felony
• B. 2nd Degree Felony
• C. Class A Misdemeanor
• D. 3rd Degree Felony

Answer: (B)

When the object of the crime is a human corpse, the law treats the act as more serious than ordinary property offenses. The state’s interest in protecting the dignity of the deceased and the impact on families and the public leads to elevating the offense to a higher felony level. In Texas, desecration or tampering with a human corpse falls at the second-degree felony level, meaning a punishment range of roughly 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. This is higher than a third-degree felony and far beyond a Class A misdemeanor, but not as severe as a first-degree felony. So the correct classification reflects the heightened seriousness because the target is a human corpse.