Exploitation of Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual is a second-degree felony.

• A. Second-degree felony
• B. First-degree felony
• C. State jail felony
• D. Third-degree felony

Answer: (A)

In Texas law, offenses are grouped by degree, with corresponding punishment ranges. Exploitation of a child, elderly person, or disabled person is classified as a second-degree felony. That puts its penalties in the 2 to 20 years in prison range, plus up to a $10,000 fine. It’s more serious than a state jail or a third-degree felony, but not as severe as a first-degree felony, which carries longer sentences. So labeling this offense as a second-degree felony matches the statutory severity assigned to exploiting vulnerable individuals.