charged w/ felony; convicted of Class A misdemeanor (25 yrs)

[cheralyn]

Hi, thanks for answering questions about legalities for CHL background checks. I was arrested and spent one night in jail, charged with a felony (theft), but convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, for which I did one year's probation.

I'm not certain if that would make me ineligible to obtain a CHL.

Also, while reading through other posts, I read about 'not having gaps' in past addresses. How far back do they want the addresses? I know my addresses for the past 15'ish years, but beyond that I did not keep records (all in Houston, except for almost one year in a neighboring city). If they want past addresses beyond 15 years, please suggest ideas on how to find our past addresses prior to the internet.

Thank you SO much!

[LarryH]

Welcome to the forum.

Answers to the first question are found in GC (Government Code(?)) 411.172(a).

You have not been convicted of a felony, so that doesn't apply.

Your conviction of a Class A misdemeanor was more than 5 years ago (I assume that's the meaning of your parenthetical 25 yrs), so that doesn't apply.

If I remember correctly, they only ask for addresses for the last 5 years (maybe the last 10). I think I only had to report one address, so I'd bet on the last five. Either a CHL instructor, or someone who's filled out the form more recently than I, may have a better answer for that one.

Looks to me like you're good to go, assuming none of the other disqualifications in 411.172 apply. You will, I believe, need to report that arrest, with official paperwork about the final disposition, on the application.

[nitrogen]

If the Class A was something domestic violence related, you'd be ineligible to own a firearm and therefore not eligible for a CHL. Other than that...

[CainA]

Charged with, and convicted of, are two different things. And since you were convicted of a misdemenor and it's been >5 years, I think you're golden.

Larry beat me to it and so did nitro


-Cain

[cheralyn]

Thanks for such quick responses!

@LarryH - yes, you are correct that the misdemeanor happened 25 years ago. I forgot to include that in the body since I had just put it into the subject, sorry.

@Nitrogen - no violence involved.

I'll order a disposition copy from the county clerk then, since there seems to be hope.

Thanks again!

[frazzled]

Don't forget you need a certified copy from the court of the final adjudication of the action. Due to the length of time they may have archived it and will take longer to get a copy. The DPS will hold up your application while they wait for that so best to have it and send it with the application.

[CainA]

The DPS will hold up your application while they wait for that so best to have it and send it with the application.

I think holding up applications is SOP for DPS, but you gave good advice.

-Cain

[frazzled]

The DPS will hold up your application while they wait for that so best to have it and send it with the application.

I think holding up applications is SOP for DPS, but you gave good advice.

-Cain

I had to get an item from the court that I didn't know about. They waited seven months and then informed me of this. .