Matagorda County Felony Records
Matagorda County felony records are maintained by the District Clerk in Bay City, Texas, and cover all criminal cases filed in the county's district court. This page explains how to find and request those records.
Matagorda County Overview
Matagorda County District Clerk
The Matagorda County District Clerk keeps all felony court records for the county. The office is at the Matagorda County Courthouse in Bay City, Texas. If you need a copy of a criminal indictment, a felony judgment, or any other court document from a district court proceeding in Matagorda County, contact the District Clerk. Staff can search by name or cause number and provide plain or certified copies on request.
Matagorda County is in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, southeast of Houston. Bay City serves as the county seat. The District Clerk's office follows Texas statewide fee schedules: plain copies cost $1 per page, and certified copies carry a $5 certification fee per document. A name search fee may apply if staff must conduct a manual search without a cause number.
In-person visits are welcome during regular business hours. Mail requests are also accepted. For mail requests, include the full name of the defendant, the approximate year the case was filed, and the cause number if available. Include payment with your request, payable to the county.
The Matagorda County official website provides contact information, office hours, and links to county departments.
Use the county website to find phone numbers, department contact pages, and other public records resources.
130th District Court and Felony Cases
The 130th District Court handles felony criminal cases in Matagorda County. All felony charges are processed through this court, which has jurisdiction from the first hearing through sentencing and any post-conviction proceedings. The District Clerk files and indexes every document produced by the court.
Texas felony classes and their ranges under the Penal Code are: capital (life or death), first-degree (5 to 99 years or life), second-degree (2 to 20 years), third-degree (2 to 10 years), and state jail (180 days to 2 years). All of these cases run through the district court and are indexed in the District Clerk's records system.
The 130th District Court may also handle civil and family law matters. For felony records specifically, the criminal docket is tracked in the county's case management system. Case records can be searched online through re:SearchTX or accessed directly at the courthouse. Hearing schedules and court dates are also visible on re:SearchTX for most current cases.
Searching Matagorda County Felony Records Online
Use the re:SearchTX portal to find Matagorda County felony cases online. This statewide system is free to use for basic case lookups. Search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney. Results include case type, parties, filing date, and docket events. Some document images are available without a subscription; others may require creating a free or paid account.
If you are researching older cases or cannot find what you need online, call the District Clerk's office. Staff can search manual indexes and locate case files from prior years. Some older records are in paper form and may take additional time to retrieve. Always call ahead if you need records from before digital filing was in use.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service provides statewide criminal history searches. A name-based search costs $3. Results from this service draw from the statewide DPS database, which includes all Texas counties. For official background check purposes, a fingerprint search is more accurate and is required in many contexts.
Note: Some Matagorda County records may not be fully digitized. When precision matters, verify information directly with the District Clerk's office rather than relying solely on online databases.
Arrest Records and the Matagorda County Sheriff
The Matagorda County Sheriff's Office handles county arrests and maintains the county jail. When a person is arrested on a felony charge, a booking record is created and submitted to the Texas DPS criminal history database. Arrest records held by the Sheriff's Office are public records under the Texas Public Information Act in most cases.
To request arrest records or incident reports, send a written public information request to the Sheriff's Office. Under Government Code Chapter 552, the agency must respond within 10 business days. Records tied to active investigations may be temporarily withheld, but the agency must provide written notice explaining what is being withheld and the legal basis for withholding it.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search shows information on all state prison inmates. If someone was convicted in Matagorda County and sent to a state prison, they will appear in this database. You can search by name, TDCJ number, or SID number. Results include facility, sentence, and release date.
Record Expunction and Nondisclosure
People with certain felony arrest records in Matagorda County may be eligible for expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55. An expunction requires all agencies to destroy the records permanently. Qualifying cases include those that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or were not prosecuted within the time limit. The petition is filed in the 130th District Court.
Orders of Nondisclosure are available for some deferred adjudication cases after successful completion of probation. Nondisclosure seals the record from public access but does not destroy it. Government agencies can still see sealed records. The eligibility rules vary by offense type and how long ago the case was discharged. Some serious offenses are excluded by statute.
Free self-help guides for expunction and nondisclosure are available at texaslawhelp.org. Official petition forms are posted by the Texas Office of Court Administration at txcourts.gov. If the case involves unusual facts or multiple charges, consulting a licensed Texas attorney is worth the time.
Additional Statewide Resources
The Texas Sex Offender Registry can be searched by county, zip code, or name. Registered sex offenders with Matagorda County addresses are listed in this database. The registry is managed by the Texas DPS and is free to search.
The Texas Attorney General Open Government office answers public information questions and handles disputes between requesters and government bodies. The Open Government Hotline is (877) OPEN-TEX. Under state law, most records held by county offices must be disclosed on request unless a specific exemption applies.
The Texas Judicial Branch website at txcourts.gov has official court forms, rules, and guidance for all Texas courts, including the 130th District Court. For plain-language help navigating the court system, TexasCourtHelp.org provides step-by-step guides on criminal court procedures.
Nearby Counties
Matagorda County is on the Gulf Coast and borders several neighboring counties. Felony records for those areas are available through their county pages.