No. 12-14-00349-CR and 12-14-00354-CR

IN THE TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS

TYLER, TEXAS

RACHEL MICHELLE KIRKSEY

Appellant,

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS

Appellee

On Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas

Trial Cause Nos. 114-0777-14 and 114-0778-14

ORAL ARGUMENT NOT REQUESTED

Austin Reeve Jackson

Texas Bar No. 24046139

112 East Line, Suite 310

Tyler, TX 75702

Telephone: (903) 595-6070

Facsimile: (866) 387-0152

ACCEPTED

12-14-00349-CR

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS

TYLER, TEXAS

2/5/2015 12:53:31 PM

CATHY LUSK

CLERK

 FILED IN 12th COURT OF APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS 2/5/2015 12:53:31 PM CATHY S. LUSK Clerk
ii

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Attorney for Appellant

Appellate Counsel:

Austin Reeve Jackson

112 East Line, Suite 310

Tyler, TX 75702

Trial Counsel:

A.M. Thompson

2108 South Wall Ave.

Tyler, TX 75701

Attorney for the State on Appeal 

Michael J. West

Assistant District Attorney, Smith County

4th Floor, Courthouse

100 North Broadway

Tyler, TX 75702
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ..................................................................................ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................iii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES...........................................................................................................iv

STATEMENT OF THE CASE........................................................................................................2

ISSUE PRESENTED.......................................................................................................................2

STATEMENT OF FACTS ..............................................................................................................2

PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF THE RECORD .................................................................3

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ..............................................................................................4

ARGUMENT...................................................................................................................................4

I. THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN REVOKING 

APELLANT'S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION...................................................................4

 Standard of Review....................................................................................................................4

 A. There was Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Revocation ....................................5

 1. The Plea ......................................................................................................... 6

 2. Sufficiency of the Evidence........................................................................... 6

 B. Appellant's Setence was Within the Statutory Range of Punishment ..................................7

 C. Appellant Received Effective Assistance of Counsel ..........................................................9

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER ...................................................................................................10

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ......................................................................................................11

CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL ....................................................................................................12

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.............................................................................................12
iv

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT:

Anders v. California,

 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) .....................................................3, 10, 12

Robinson v. California,

 370 U.S. 660, 82 S.Ct. 1417, 8 L.Ed.2d 758 (1962) .......................................................8

Solem v. Helm,

 463 U.S. 277, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983) ...................................................8

Strickland v. Washington,

 466 U.S. 668, 105 S.Ct. 1965, 85 L.Ed.2d 344 (1984) ................................................9

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

Aguirre-Mata v. State, 

 125 S.W.3d 473 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003)........................................................................6

Cardona v. State, 

 665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984)........................................................................4

Cobb v. State, 

 851 S.W.2d 871 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)........................................................................7

Cole v. State, 

 578 S.W.2d 127 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979)........................................................................7

Ex parte Brown,

 158 S.W.3d 449 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) ..........................................................................9

Garcia v. State,

 57 S.W.3d 436 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001) .........................................................................10

Hernandez v. State,

 988 S.W.2d 70 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) .........................................................................9

Jackson v. State,

 877 S.W.2d 768 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994) .......................................................................10
v

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (CON’T):

Jordan v. State,

 495 S.W.2d 949 (Tex.Crim.App. 1973) .........................................................................8

Lyles v. State, 

 850 S.W.2d 497 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)........................................................................4

Mendez v. State, 

 138 S.W.3d 334 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004)........................................................................6

Miniel v. State,

 831 S.W.2d 310 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) .......................................................................10

Moore v. State, 

 605 S.W.2d 924 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980)........................................................................7

Moore v. State, 

 694 S.W.2d 528 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985)........................................................................9-10

Rhoades v. State,

 934 S.W.2d 113 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) .......................................................................8

Rickles v. State, 

 202 S.W.3d 759 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006)........................................................................4, 7

Stafford v. State,

 813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) .......................................................................10

Thompson v. State,

 9 S.W.3d 808 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) ...........................................................................10

TEXAS COURTS OF APPEAL:

Bolden v. State,

 73 S.W.3d 428 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002)....................................................8

Brooks v. State, 

 995 S.W.2d 762 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999).........................................................7

Canseco v. State, 

 199 S.W.3d 437 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006) ..............................................4
vi

TEXAS COURTS OF APPEAL (CON’T):

Castaneda v. State,

 135 S.W.3d 719 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003) ..................................................................8

Duke v. State, 

 2 S.W.3d 512 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999).............................................................4

Hays v. State,

 933 S.W.2d 659 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1996) ........................................................5, 7

Joseph v. State, 

 3 S.W.3d 627 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999)................................................5

Lewis v. State, 

 195 S.W.3d 205 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2006).........................................................5

Mays v. State,

 904 S.W.2d 290 (Tex.App.—Fort Wroth 1995)...........................................................3

Noland v. State,

 264 S.W.3d 144 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007) .............................................8

Roman v. State,

 145 S.W.3d 316 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004)................................................9

Sims v. State, 

 326 S.W.3d 707 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 2010)............................................................6

Trevino v. State,

 174 S.W.3d 925 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2005).........................................................8

STATUTES AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:

TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.115........................................................................8

TEX. PEN. CODE § 12.34...................................................................................................9

TEX. PEN. CODE § 12.35...................................................................................................8

TEX. PEN. CODE § 37.09...................................................................................................8-9

TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 .........................................................................................................6, 8
vii

STATUTES AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS (CON’T):

U.S. CONST. AMEND. VIII................................................................................................7, 8

U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV................................................................................................8
No. 12-14-00349-CR and 12-14-00354-CR

IN THE TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS

TYLER, TEXAS

RACHEL MICHELLE KIRKSEY

Appellant,

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS

Appellee

On Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas

Trial Cause Nos. 114-0777-14 and 114-0778-14

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT:

COMES NOW, Austin Reeve Jackson, attorney for Rachael Kirksey and 

files this brief pursuant to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and would 

show the Court as follows:
2

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Rachel Kirksey seeks to appeal a revocation of community supervision in 

two cases before the Court. (I CR1 78; I CR2 75).1 After being indicted for the 

offenses of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Tampering with Evidence, 

Ms. Kirksey was placed on community supervision in each case after entering a 

plea of “guilty” in the 114th District Court of Smith County. (I CR1 35; I CR2 

36). In November of last year the trail court revoked that community supervision 

and imposed in each case a sentence of confinement. (I CR1 78; I CR2 75). Sentence was pronounced on 6 November 2014 and notice of appeal then timely filed. 

(I CR1 78, 84; I CR2 75, 81). 

ISSUE PRESENTED

THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN 

REVOKING APPELLANT’S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Following her indictment for the two cases currently before the court, Ms. 

Kirksey elected to enter a plea of “guilty” in each case in exchange for an agreed 

recommendation of community supervision. (III RR 12-13). In August of last 

year the 114th District Court of Smith County accepted those pleas and followed 

the recommendation in each case. (III RR 20). 

 1 The Clerk’s Record in cause 12-14-00349-CR / 114-0777-14 is cited as “CR1” and that of 12-

14-00354-CR / 114-0778-14 as “CR2.”
3

Unfortunately, just a few months later Ms. Kirksey was once again before 

the court on an application to revoke. (IV RR 1). To the alleged violations made 

against her Ms. Kirksey entered pleas of “true.” (IV RR 4, 11-13). Finding the 

pleas to be freely and knowingly made, and finding that the same established a violation of the terms and conditions of her community supervision, the trial court revoked Ms. Kirksey’s probation. (IV RR 30). In the possession case Ms. Kirksey 

was sentenced to serve a term of twelve months’ confinement while a term of five 

years’ confinement was imposed in the tampering case. (Id.). Sentence was pronounced on 6 November and notice of appeal then timely filed. (I CR1 78, 84; I 

CR2 75, 81). 

PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF THE RECORD

In accordance with the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 

744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 1400, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), counsel has reviewed the record 

and determined that, in his professional opinion, the record contains no reversible 

error or jurisdictional defects. Under circumstances where there appears to be no 

arguable grounds for reversal on appeal, counsel is required to present a professional evaluation of the record supporting this assertion. See Mays v. State, 904 

S.W.2d 290, 922-23 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1995, no pet.). 
4

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

Pursuant to the responsibilities and requirements of the governing code of 

professional conduct, a thorough review of the record has been made. Counsel’s 

research has revealed no arguable, non-frivolous grounds that could be advanced in 

support of a claim that there exists reversible error in the trial, judgment, or sentence of Appellant. A review and analysis of any potential issues is herein presented for the Court. 

ARGUMENT

Standard of Review

Where a trial court revokes a previously imposed term of community supervision the decision to do so is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. 

Rickels v. State, 202 S.W.3d 759, 763 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006); Cardona v. State, 

665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984). A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts 

without reference to guiding principles. Lyles v. State, 850 S.W.2d 497, 502 

(Tex.Crim.App. 1993). This review considers the record in the light most favorable to the trial court’s decision. Duke v. State, 2 S.W.3d 512, 515 (Tex.App.—San 

Antonio 1999, no pet.). 

Proof of even a single violation is sufficient to support a revocation. Canseco v. State, 199 S.W.3d 437, 439 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. 

ref’d). Therefore, in order to prevail an appellant must show that taking the evi-
5

dence in the light most favorable to the court’s decision there is insufficient evidence to support each and every finding of the court. Lewis v. State, 195 S.W.3d 

205, 209 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.); Joseph v. State, 3 S.W.3d 627, 

640 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). Additionally, a plea of true, 

standing alone, is sufficient to support a trial court’s revocation of community supervision. See Hays v. State, 933 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1996, 

no pet.) (holding that a plea of “true” to any violation can by itself support a revocation). 

I. THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN REVOKING APPELLANT’S COMMUNITY 

SUPERVISION.

A. There Was Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Revocation.

By way of a written motion to proceed to final adjudication, Ms. Kirksey 

was alleged to have violated the terms of her community supervision. (I CR1 70; I 

CR2 69). The application included the following allegations:

Application Paragraph Allegation

I Identity of Defendant

II Failure to Report

III Failure to Report

IV Failure to Pay Costs and Fees

V Failure to Pay Costs and Fees2

 2 This	allegation	appeared	only	in	cause	114-0777-14.		(I	CR	72).
6

(Id.). To all paragraphs pleas of “true” were entered. (IV RR 29). Thus, if the 

pleas of “true” were entered freely, knowingly, and voluntarily, the trial court had 

sufficient evidence to revoke Ms. Kirksey’s community supervision. Hays, 933 

S.W.2d at 661.

1. The Plea

Before accepting her plea, the trial court advised Ms. Kirksey as to the consequences of entering a plea of true, including the potential range of punishment, 

and also advised her of the right to remain silent and the right to have a hearing on 

the allegations at issue. (IV RR 6-14). After having been so advised, Ms. Kirksey

persisted in her desire to enter pleas of “true” and gave no indication that she was 

doing so involuntarily. (Id.); see Sims v. State, 326 S.W.3d 707, 713 (Tex.App.—

Texarkana 2010, pet. struck) (citing Mendez v. State, 138 S.W.3d 334, 350 

(Tex.Crim.App. 2004)) (holding that challenges to the voluntariness of a plea must 

be raised before the trial court in order to preserve the error for appeal); see also

TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a)(1). Finally, could any error be advanced regarding the 

trial court’s admonishments, such error would be non-constitutional error subject 

to a harm analysis and, given the record before the Court, Ms. Kirksey could not 

meet that burden in this case. See Aguirre-Mata v. State, 125 S.W.3d 473, 474-76 

(Tex.Crim.App. 2003). 
7

2. Sufficiency of the Evidence

The State must prove allegations in a revocation setting by a preponderance 

of the evidence. Cobb v. State, 851 S.W.2d 871, 873 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). Evidence, therefore, is sufficient if an analysis of its comparative weight tends to support the trial court’s conclusion that at least one condition of probation was violated. See Rickels, 202 S.W.3d at 764 (holding that evidence is sufficient to support a 

revocation where the greater weight of the credible evidence before the court supports a reasonable belief that a condition of probation has been violated). Moreover, a plea of true, standing alone, is sufficient to support a trial court’s revocation 

of community supervision. See Hays v. State, 933 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.App.—

San Antonio 1996, no pet.) (holding that a plea of “true” to any violation can by 

itself support a revocation). Thus, where the Court finds that a voluntary plea of 

true was entered, as was the case here, the evidence is legally sufficient to support 

the revocation. (IV RR 14); Moore v. State, 605 S.W.2d 924, 926 (Tex.Crim.App. 

1980); Cole v. State, 578 S.W.2d 127, 128 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979); Brooks v. State, 

995 S.W.2d 762, 763 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

B. Appellant’s Sentence Was Within the Statutory Range of Punishment. 

The Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of “cruel and unusual punishment.” U.S. CONST. AMEND. VIII. The Eighth Amendment is applicable to the 
8

states through the Fourteenth Amendment. U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV; Robinson v. 

California, 370 U.S. 660, 667, 82 S.Ct. 1417, 8 L.Ed.2d 758 (1962). 

Here, neither Ms. Kirksey nor her trial counsel raised the issue of cruel or 

excessive punishment at the time sentence was imposed and, therefore, this issue 

has likely been waived on appeal. See TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Rhoades 

v. State, 934 S.W.2d 113, 120 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Noland v. State, 264 S.W.3d 

144, 151-52 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d); Castaneda v. State, 

135 S.W.3d 719, 723 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.); but see Solem v. Helm, 

463 U.S. 277, 288, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 3008-09, 77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983) (noting exception to this general rule if sentence assessed is grossly disproportionate to the 

crime). Additionally, the sentences imposed were not only within the proper range 

of punishment for each offense, but also were each one-half of the potential sentence Ms. Kirksey was facing; a factor tending to weigh against a finding of an 

Eighth Amendment violation. Jordan v. State, 495 S.W.2d 949, 952 

(Tex.Crim.App. 1973); Trevino v. State, 174 S.W.3d 925, 928 (Tex.App.—Corpus 

Christi 2005, pet. ref’d); Bolden v. State, 73 S.W.3d 428, 434 (Tex.App.—Houston 

[1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref’d); see also TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.115 (defining possession of a controlled substance, as alleged, as a state jail felony); TEX.

PEN CODE § 12.35 (punishment range for a state jail felony); TEX. PEN. CODE § 
9

37.09 (defining tampering with evidence as a third degree felony); TEX. PEN. CODE

§ 12.34 (punishment range for a third degree felony).

Finally, due process requires that the trial court consider the full range of 

punishment for an offense and weigh both mitigating and incriminating evidence in 

the assessment of sentence. Ex parte Brown, 158 S.W.3d 449, 454 

(Tex.Crim.App. 2005). In the absence of a clear showing to the contrary, on appeal the Court will presume that the trial court did not act arbitrarily and considered all of the evidence before it. Roman v. State, 145 S.W.3d 316, 319 

(Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. ref’d). Given the record before the 

Court, this presumption cannot be overcome on direct appeal. 

C. Appellant Received Effective Assistance of Counsel.

Effective assistance of counsel is to be evaluated under the standard enunciated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 105 S.Ct. 1965, 85 L.Ed.2d 344 

(1984); see also, Hernandez v. State, 988 S.W.2d 70 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). To 

prevail in a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show (1) 

that her trial counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and (2) that a reasonable probability exists that, but for trial counsel’s alleged 

errors, the result would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88. On 

appeal, the defendant carries the burden of proving ineffective assistance by a preponderance of the evidence. Moore v. State, 694 S.W.2d 528, 531 (Tex.Crim.App. 
10

1985). Finally, trial counsel’s performance is not to be judged with the benefit of 

hindsight. Miniel v. State, 831 S.W.2d 310, 323 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).

With this standard in mind, a comprehensive review of the record has been 

made of the proceedings including pretrial matters, Ms. Kirksey’s original plea, the 

revocation hearing, and the arguments of counsel. Here, that review fails to shows, 

given the totality of the representation provided by trial counsel, any basis from 

which to argue that ineffective assistance was rendered. See, e.g., Garcia v. State, 

57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001); Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812 

(Tex.Crim.App. 1999); Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex.Crim.App. 

1994).

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

As counsel was unable to raise any arguable issues for appeal, he is required 

to move for leave to withdraw. See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503 

(Tex.Crim.App. 1991). 

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, counsel prays that the Court, 

after affording Ms. Kirksey the opportunity to review the record and file a pro se

brief should she desire to do so, accept this brief and grant the attached Motion to 

Withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 18 L.Ed.2d 493, 87 S.Ct. 

1396 (1967).
11

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

Texas Bar No. 24046139

112 East Line, Suite 310

Tyler, TX 75702

Telephone: (903) 595-6070

Facsimile: (866) 387-0152

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that a true and correct copy of this brief was delivered to counsel for 

the State by facsimile on this the 5th day of February 2015.

/s/ Austin Reeve Jackson
12

CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL

The attorney’s role as an advocate requires that I support my client’s appeal 

to the best of my ability. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738. I, Austin Reeve 

Jackson, counsel of record in this appeal, do hereby state that I have diligently 

searched the entire record in this cause. I have researched the law applicable to the 

facts and issues contained therein, and it is my professional opinion that the record 

reflects no reversible error. In conformity with the applicable law pertaining to an 

appeal of this nature, I have set forth any potential grounds of error and have 

briefed them to the extent possible. I have further caused a copy of this brief to be 

served by mail on Appellant, accompanied by a letter informing Appellant of the 

right to examine the record for the purpose of filing a pro se brief. 

/s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

I certify that this document complies with the requirements of Rule 9.4 and 

consists of 2,282 words.

/s/ Austin Reeve Jackson