{"id":1111,"date":"2026-10-18T09:42:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T09:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbierilawfirm.com\/guides\/online-sex-crimes-defense-lawyer\/sexting-minor-electronic-transmission-defense-lawyer-texas\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T03:43:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T03:43:12","slug":"sexting-minor-electronic-transmission-defense-lawyer-texas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/barbierilawfirm.com\/guides\/online-sex-crimes-defense-lawyer\/sexting-minor-electronic-transmission-defense-lawyer-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Sending Explicit Pictures to a Minor: Texas Lawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Accused over explicit pictures sent to a minor? Talk with a Texas defense lawyer first.<\/h1>\n

Heather Barbieri defends people charged in connection with sexually explicit images and online messages across Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. We will review the evidence and explain your options.<\/p>\n

Schedule a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Schedule a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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About Barbieri Law Firm<\/h2>\n

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Frisco, Texas<\/h3>

Criminal defense firm serving Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas<\/p><\/div>

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All-women<\/h3>

Criminal defense firm led by Heather Barbieri<\/p><\/div>

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Free<\/h3>

Confidential first consultation, with no obligation to continue<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By Heather Barbieri \u00b7 Published October 18, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Charged with sending explicit pictures to a minor in Texas? The charge may fall under more than one law. This page explains both laws, who gets charged, what the State must prove, and what the first steps look like.<\/p>\n

What Texas Law Treats as Sending Sexual Material to a Minor<\/h2>\n

Texas covers this conduct in two main ways. One is a general offense for sending sexual images without consent. The other targets people who reach out to minors online with sexual material.<\/p>\n

The general electronic transmission offense<\/h3>\n

Under Texas Penal Code \u00a7 21.19<\/a>, a person commits an offense by knowingly sending visual material by electronic means. The material must show sexual conduct or exposed intimate parts. The offense applies when the recipient did not request the material or give express consent. It is a Class C misdemeanor.<\/p>\n

The online offense aimed at minors<\/h3>\n

Sending sexually explicit material to a minor is addressed in Texas Penal Code \u00a7 33.021, Online Solicitation of a Minor. The sender must act with intent to commit a listed offense. The statute uses the phrase “over the Internet, by electronic mail or text message,” as well as commercial online services.<\/p>\n

A minor, under this section, is someone younger than 17. It also includes someone the sender believes is younger than 17. The base offense is a third-degree felony. It becomes a second-degree felony if the minor is younger than 14.<\/p>\n

A separate offense for soliciting a minor to meet for sexual contact is also found in Texas Penal Code \u00a7 33.021. That is a different charge. You can read about it on our online sex crimes defense page.<\/p>\n

Where the evidence usually lives<\/h3>\n

Texts, images, videos, apps, and social media accounts often hold the key evidence. Many of these cases start with a report or an online investigation. Federal and state task forces handle many technology-facilitated cases. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program<\/a> describes that work. Evidence can come from several agencies, so the file may be larger than a single phone.<\/p>\n\n

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If police have asked about messages on your phone, you don't have to sort it out alone; our team can set up a free, confidential consultation with Heather Jean Barbieri. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Minors Can Be Charged Too<\/h2>\n

Whether a teen faces a criminal charge in Texas depends on the facts of each case. Section 21.19 says “a person” commits the offense. It does not limit the offense to adults, so age alone does not take a teen outside the statute.<\/p>\n

Texas Penal Code \u00a7 21.16<\/a> covers disclosing or promoting intimate visual material of another person without that person’s consent, under the conditions the statute sets; a teen sending an image of themselves falls under other provisions, such as Texas Penal Code \u00a7 43.261. That point often surprises young people.<\/p>\n

Indecent exposure is another offense that can come up. Under Texas Penal Code \u00a7 21.08<\/a>, indecent exposure is a Class B misdemeanor. It requires intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire, and recklessness about whether someone is present who will be offended or alarmed. The penalty rises after prior convictions under that section.<\/p>\n

A case involving a minor can move through a different process than an adult case. The family should ask early what that means for court dates, records, and school. A juvenile charge can still affect school and records. Barbieri Law Firm’s practice is criminal defense. During a consultation, the lawyer will explain what the firm can handle in a juvenile matter.<\/p>\n

What the State Must Prove in These Cases<\/h2>\n

Prosecutors usually build their case around four parts.<\/p>\n