Which cargo theft offense is classified as a State Jail Felony?

• A. Cargo Theft - State Jail Felony
• B. Cargo Theft - 3rd Degree Felony
• C. Cargo Theft - 2nd Degree Felony
• D. Cargo Theft - 1st Degree Felony

Answer: (A)

Cargo theft is defined in Texas law as a stand-alone offense with its own fixed penalty level, rather than being tied to a value-based degree of theft. The legislature created this specific crime and designated it as a State Jail Felony, which places it in a distinct category below the other felony degrees tied to dollar amounts. This means the offense carries the state jail punishment (typically 180 days to 2 years) regardless of the value stolen. The other options reflect common theft classifications by value (degrees of felony), but they don’t apply because cargo theft is legislated as a State Jail Felony.