Order issued April 4, 2013

In The

Court of Appeals 

For The 

First District of Texas 

————————————

NO. 01-11-00464-CR

NO. 01-11-00465-CR

———————————

DIETER HEINZ WERNER, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 230th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Case Nos. 1262894 & 1270826

ORDER ON MOTION TO SET BAIL

On February 21, 2013, we issued an opinion reversing appellant’s two 

convictions for stalking and remanding both causes for a new trial. Werner v. 

State, Nos. 01-11-00464-CR, 01-11-00465-CR, 2013 WL 824040 (Tex. App.—
2

Houston [1st Dist.], February 21, 2013, no pet. h.). Appellant has filed a motion to 

set bail. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.04(h) (Vernon 2006). The State 

has filed a response in opposition to appellant’s release on bail.1

 

1 On March 19, 2013, this Court issued an order requesting briefing from the 

parties on whether Mike Anderson, the current Harris County District Attorney, 

had a conflict of interest due to his sitting as the trial court judge in this case 

before he became the district attorney. We also requested briefing on what 

actions, if any, this Court could or must take as a result.

Appellant filed a response, arguing that Anderson had a conflict of interest 

based on case law concerning whether a trial court judge is disqualified when he 

previously represented a party in the suit. See, e.g., Gamez v. State, 737 S.W.2d 

315, 318–19 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). These cases, however, rely on constitutional 

and statutory authority that is not applicable here. See id. at 318 (citing TEX.

CONST. art. V, § 11 (providing “[n]o judge shall sit in any case . . . when the judge 

shall have been counsel in the case”); TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 30.01 

(Vernon 2006) (providing “[n]o judge . . . shall sit in any case . . . where he has 

been of counsel for the State or the accused”)). Appellant did not argue what, if 

any, action could or must be taken by this Court.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office filed a response, correctly 

arguing that, even if a conflict of interest exists, Anderson and his office are not 

excluded from the case unless it rises to the level of a due process violation for 

appellant. See, e.g., Landers v. State, 256 S.W.3d 295, 304 (Tex. Crim. App. 

2008) (holding court may not disqualify a district attorney for conflict of interest 

that does not rise to level of due-process violation).

We agree with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office that the issue, 

then, is whether any such conflict of interest rises to the level of a due process 

violation. See id. (holding “[f]or a prosecuting attorney to ‘switch sides’ in the 

same criminal case is an actual conflict of interest and constitutes a due-process 

violation”); see also TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 2.01 (Vernon 2005) 

(providing “[e]ach district attorney shall represent the State in all criminal cases in 

the district courts of his district and in appeals therefrom, except in cases where he 

has been, before his election, employed adversely”). “It is well established that 

almost every right, constitutional and statutory, may be waived by failing to 

object.” Solis v. State, 945 S.W.2d 300, 301 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 

1997, pet. ref’d). This includes most due process violations. See Curry v. State, 

186 S.W.3d 39, 42 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, no pet.). Appellant has 

not asserted that any of his due process rights have been violated. Accordingly, 

we hold that any error has been waived.
3

Article 44.04(h) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides,

If a conviction is reversed by a decision of a Court of Appeals, the 

defendant, if in custody, is entitled to release on reasonable bail, 

regardless of the length of term of imprisonment, pending final 

determination of an appeal by the state or the defendant on a motion 

for discretionary review. If the defendant requests bail before a 

petition for discretionary review has been filed, the Court of Appeals 

shall determine the amount of bail. . . . The sureties on the bail must 

be approved by the court where the trial was had. The defendant’s 

right to release under this subsection attaches immediately on the 

issuance of the Court of Appeals’ final ruling as defined by 

Tex.Cr.App.R. 209(c).2

Id. 

The State argues that appellant is not entitled to release because he is not “in 

custody,” as required by the statute. See id. (“. . . the defendant, if in custody, is 

entitled to release on reasonable bail . . .”). The State points out that appellant was 

released on parole on October 5, 2012. Accordingly, the State argues, appellant is 

not “in custody.” We disagree.

“A releasee while on parole is in the legal custody of the division.” TEX.

GOV’T CODE ANN. § 508.143(a) (Vernon 2012); see also id. § 508.001(4) (Vernon 

2012) (defining “division” as “the pardons and paroles division”). “While on 

parole, the person remains in the legal custody of the state . . . .” Id. § 508.156(c)

 

2

“Former rule 209(c) was not carried forward to the revised, combined rules of civil 

and criminal appellate procedure, but even if this language is disregarded, it is 

evident the legislature intended that release on bail be delayed until a case is 

completely finished.” Tissier v. Kegans, 789 S.W.2d 680, 681 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, order).
4

(Vernon 2012). The Court of Criminal Appeals has similarly recognized that 

parole is a form of custody by the State. See Ex parte Peel, 626 S.W.2d 767, 768 

(Tex. Crim. App. 1982) (holding parole is “a form of constructive custody”). 

While the Court of Criminal Appeals referred to parole as “constructive custody,” 

the statute does not distinguish between types of custody for its application. See 

id.; TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.04(h). While appellant is not currently 

incarcerated, he is still in custody.

3

In arguing that appellant’s being on parole prevents him from seeking 

release on bail, the State relies on Lebo v. State, 90 S.W.3d 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 

2002). While we agree that Lebo is relevant to our analysis, it is not relevant in the 

way that the State suggests.

Lebo concerns the application of a different subsection of article 44.04. 

Subsection (b) provides that a defendant “may not be released on bail pending the 

appeal from any felony conviction where the punishment equals or exceeds 10 

years[’] confinement . . . but shall immediately be placed in custody and the bail 

discharged.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.04(b). At issue in Lebo was the 

meaning of the word “confinement” and “whether a person who is sentenced to ten 

years’ imprisonment, but who is placed under community supervision, is entitled to 

 

3

See also Roberts v. State, No. 02-11-00500-CV, 2013 WL 452177, at *1 (Tex. 

App.—Fort Worth, February 7, 2013, no pet. h.) (“Although no longer 

incarcerated, Roberts remains in TDCJ custody while on parole.”).
5

bond pending appeal.” 90 S.W.3d at 326. The Court of Criminal Appeals 

recognized that “‘confinement’ has many different meanings in the criminal justice 

system.” Id. at 327. It also recognized that the Legislature had explicitly stated 

that, for community supervision, confinement was probated and imposition of 

sentence is suspended. Id. Accordingly, the court held that a trial court was 

prohibited from releasing a person on bail only when the punishment is ten or more 

years of “actual physical confinement.” Id. 

Relying on Lebo, the State argues that we should similarly interpret 

“custody” to mean actual, physical custody. We disagree. The court in Lebo was 

interpreting the word “confinement,” not “custody.” In fact, the court in Lebo

recognized that it had “previously defined ‘confinement’ . . . as being in actual, 

physical custody.” Id. This means the court treats confinement as a subset of 

custody, but one where the defendant is in physical custody. See id. As we have 

held, subsection (h) draws no distinction between the kinds of custody. 

Accordingly, the plain language of the statute indicates it applies to any kind of 

custody.

Moreover, the analysis in Lebo strengthens our determination that “custody” 

is not limited to physical custody. We must presume that the Legislature 

purposefully chose to use the word “confinement” in subsection (b) and also 

purposefully chose to the word “custody” in subsection (h). See Timmons v. State,
6

952 S.W.2d 891, 892 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1997, no pet.) (holding courts presume 

Legislature used every word and phrase in statute on purpose and words not 

included were excluded on purpose). If it had intended to allow defendants only in 

physical confinement to be released on bail following a reversal on appeal, the 

Legislature was aware of the words it could have used. It chose not to, and used 

the word “custody” instead. 

We hold that “custody” as used in subsection (h) means any form of 

custody, including parole. Accordingly, we hold that, under the terms of 

subsection (h), appellant “is entitled to release on reasonable bail.” See TEX. CODE 

CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 44.04(h).

It remains for us to determine, then, what amount of bail is reasonable. 

Appellant requests that bail be set at no more than $20,000 but provides no 

argument for why this amount is reasonable. The State does not identify an 

amount it considers to be reasonable.

The primary purpose of setting bail, both pretrial and post-appeal, “is to 

secure the presence of the accused.” Aviles v. State, 26 S.W.3d 696, 698 (Tex. 

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, order). There are a number of factors we 

consider in making this determination. Article 17.15 of the Texas Code of 

Criminal Procedure requires courts to consider the following in making their 

determinations to set bail:
7

1. The bail shall be sufficiently high to give reasonable assurance 

that the undertaking will be complied with.

2. The power to require bail is not to be so used as to make it an 

instrument of oppression.

3. The nature of the offense and the circumstances under which it 

was committed are to be considered.

4. The ability to make bail is to be regarded, and proof may be 

taken upon this point.

5. The future safety of a victim of the alleged offense and the 

community shall be considered.

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 17.15 (Vernon 2005). The Court of Criminal 

Appeals has provided additional factors to consider that other courts have applied 

to setting bail: 

(1) the defendant’s work record; (2) the defendant’s family and 

community ties; (3) the defendant’s length of residency; (4) the 

defendant’s prior criminal record; (5) the defendant’s conformity with 

previous bond conditions; (6) the existence of other outstanding 

bonds, if any; and (7) aggravating circumstances alleged to have been 

involved in the charged offense.

Aviles, 26 S.W.3d at 698 (citing Ex parte Rubac, 611 S.W.2d 848, 849–50 (Tex. 

Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1981)).

Typically, courts give greater weight to two considerations in setting bail: 

the nature of the offense and the length of the sentence. Id. at 698–99. The 

Fourteenth Court of Appeals has held, however, that for 44.04(h) situations, “the 

primary factors that should be considered by the court of appeals are (1) the fact 

that the conviction has been overturned; (2) the State’s ability, if any, to retry the 
8

appellant; and (3) the likelihood that the decision of the court of appeals will be 

overturned.” Id. at 699.

The State has indicated that it is currently preparing a petition for 

discretionary review. We share our sister courts’ hesitation in predicting the Court 

of Criminal Appeals’s future disposition. See, e.g., Gomez v. State, No. 07-10-

00116-CR, 2011 WL 1546861, at *2 (Tex. App.—Amarillo, April 25, 2011, 

order). But we have found no reason to conclude that the reasoning in our opinion 

is infirm.

For the State’s ability to retry the appellant, we fully expect it will. No 

evidence has been excluded as a result of our opinion, and appellant has not served 

more time than could be obtained upon conviction. The only difference from the 

last trial is that the two causes must be tried separately. See Werner, 2013 WL 

824040, at *4 (holding trial court erred by denying motion to sever trials for two 

charges of stalking).

Similarly, we find no particular significance in our overturning appellant’s 

conviction as it applies to setting bail. Our opinion found the evidence supporting 

the convictions to be sufficient.4 Id. at *12, *13. Nothing in our opinion suggests 

that the State’s likelihood of conviction on retrial would be materially diminished.

 

4 Because it would not have resulted in greater relief, we did not consider 

appellant’s evidentiary objections presented in issues on appeal. Werner v. State, 
9

Given these considerations, appellant’s position now is much like his 

position was before trial. Accordingly, the bail set for appellant before trial can 

guide us in considering the remaining factors. See Watson v. State, 158 S.W.3d 

647, 649 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, order) (considering the amount of bail set 

before trial in setting bail pursuant to section 44.04(h)); Aviles, 26 S.W.3d at 698 

(listing defendant’s conformity with previous bond conditions as factor for 

consideration).

We do note some changes in appellant’s condition since trial, however. The 

State has shown that appellant is now living in Travis County, not in Houston. 

There is no indication, however, that this new area of residence should impact any 

of the factors we consider in any meaningful way. Similarly, the State has shown 

that appellant has been on parole for about five months before the motion to set 

bail was filed. While no specifics of his compliance have been provided, we do 

know that his parole has not been revoked.

When he was charged with the first offense of stalking, appellant was 

released on bail at $75,000. A little over a month later, the State reported 

appellant’s violation of a condition of his bond by committing a second offense of 

stalking on the same person. His bail was revoked. A couple of months later, 

appellant was released again on bail. This time, the bail for the first offense of 

 

Nos. 01-11-00464-CR, 01-11-00465-CR, 2013 WL 824040, at *9 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.], February 21, 2013, no pet. h.).
10

stalking was set at $100,000 and the bail for the second offense of stalking was set 

at $200,000. The record indicates that bail was revoked a few months later, but 

does not indicate why. Appellant remained incarcerated until the time of trial, 

nearly four months later.

The record indicates, then, that a single bond in the amount of $75,000 was 

not sufficient to compel appellant to comply with the terms of his bail. Appellant 

remained out on bail, set at a total of $300,000 for the two offenses involved in this 

appeal, for three months. Because we do not have any indication of why his bail 

was subsequently revoked, we have no indication that a higher amount of bail 

would be required to obtain compliance with any terms of the bail obtained as a 

result of this order or to ensure his presence at trial. Moreover, to the degree that 

the fact that bail was subsequently revoked would indicate a higher amount of bail 

is necessary, it is tempered by the fact that appellant has recently been on parole 

for over five months without its revocation. Accordingly, in consideration of the 

factors relevant to setting the amount of bail, we hold that a total bail of $300,000 

is reasonable.

We set appellant’s bail under trial court cause number 1262984 at $100,000. 

We set appellant’s bail under trial court cause number 1270826 at $200,000. Any 

conditions on bail must be set by the trial court, and any sureties on bail must be 

approved by the trial court. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. arts 17.40–.49 
11

(Vernon 2005 & Supp. 2012) (allowing magistrate to set conditions on 

bail), 44.04(h) (requiring trial court to approve sureties); Leonard v. State, 376 

S.W.3d 886, 890 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2012, pet. ref’d) (holding trial court has 

authority to set reasonable conditions for bail set under section 44.04(h)).

Harris County District Clerk, Chris Daniel, is directed to file a copy of this 

order in trial court cause numbers 1262894 and 1270826 in the 230th District 

Court, Harris County.

It is so ORDERED.

Laura Carter Higley

Justice 

Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Higley, and Sharp.

Publish.