CAUSE NO. 06-14-00225-CR 

CAUSE NO. 06-14-00226-CR 

CAUSE NO. 06-14-00227-CR 

THE COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT 

AT TEXARKANA 

_______________________________________________________________

ELIZABETH MENDOZA 

APPELLANT, 

V. 

THE STATE OF TEXAS, 

APPELLEE. 

________________________________________________________________ 

CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT #6 

DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS 

NO. F12-61870-X; F13-34344-X; F13-40734-X 

__________________________________________________________________ 

APPELLANT’S BRIEF __________________________________________________________________ 

BRUCE ANTON 

STATE BAR NO. 01274700 

SORRELS, UDASHEN & ANTON 

2311 Cedar Springs Road 

Suite 250 

Dallas, Texas 75201 

214/468-8100 

214/468-8104 - fax

ba@sualaw.com

Attorney for Appellant 

ACCEPTED

06-14-00225-CR

SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS

TEXARKANA, TEXAS

4/13/2015 4:07:49 PM

DEBBIE AUTREY

CLERK

 FILED IN 6th COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS 4/13/2015 4:07:49 PM DEBBIE AUTREY Clerk
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................... ii 

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ....................................................... iii 

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ............................................................................. iv-vi 

PROCEDURAL STATEMENT OF THE CASE 

(CHRONOLOGY) ................................................................................................ vii 

STATEMENT OF FACTS ...................................................................................... 1 

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE .................................................................... 2 

Relevant Facts ................................................................................................ 2 

Reformation of Judgment ............................................................................. 2 

PRAYER ................................................................................................................... 2 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .............................................................................. 3 

ii
IDENTITIES OF PARTIES 

APPELLANT Elizabeth Mendoza 

DEFENSE COUNSEL AT TRIAL Winston Shepherd 

Roger Lennox 

APPELLANT’S ATTORNEY ON APPEAL Bruce Anton 

Sorrels, Udashen & Anton 

2311 Cedar Springs Rd #250 

Dallas, Texas 75201 

STATE’S ATTORNEYS AT TRIAL Josh Healy 

Brandi Mitchell 

Jody Warner 

Kenna Miller 

Caitlin Paver 

Assistant District Attorney 

133 N. Riverside Drive 

Dallas, Texas 75207 

STATE’S ATTORNEY ON APPEAL not yet designated 

JUDGE Honorable Anthony Randall 

Magistrate Judge 

Honorable Dorothy Shead 

Magistrate Judge 

Honorable Jeanine Howard 

Criminal District Court #6 

Dallas County, Texas 

iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES PAGE

Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1991, pet. ref'd).........2

Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27–28 (Tex.Crim.App.1993)........................2

Christian v. State _S.W.3d_, 2013 WL 5969565 (Tex.App.-Dallas,2013)..........2 

Ramirez v. State, 336 S.W.3d 846, 852 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2011, pet. ref'd)......2 

CODES AND RULES 

Tex.R.App. P. 43.2(b) ................................................................................................ 6 

iv
PROCEDURAL STATEMENT OF THE CASE 

(CASE CHRONOLOGY) 

F12-61870-X

CHARGE Aggravated assault w/deadly weapon 

Offense date: October 27, 2012 

Arrest date: October 27, 2012 

Indictment: November 26, 2012 

(CR.13) 

PLEA Guilty (RR2.8) 

May 2, 2013 

PLEA BARGAIN 2 years deferred probation (CR.35) 

JURY WAIVED (CR.35-36) 

JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE May 22, 2013(CR.40-41) 

MOTION TO ADJUDICATE Filed September 10, 2014 (CR.47-

48,53-53) 

Heard November 13, 2014 

PLEA True (CR.60-61,RR5.8) 

VERDICT ON PUNISHMENT 6 years TDC (RR5.19) 

JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE November 13,2014 (CR.56-57) 

MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL Filed November 18, 2014 (CR.63) 

NOTICE OF APPEAL November 18, 2014 (CR.62) 

v
PROCEDURAL STATEMENT OF THE CASE 

(CASE CHRONOLOGY) 

F13-34344-X

CHARGE Possession of controlled substance 

Less than 1 gram 

Offense date: March 18, 2014 

Arrest date: April 16, 2014 

Indictment: May 2, 2014(CR.7) 

MOTION TO REDUCE CHARGE 

TO ATTEMPTED POSSESSION July 2, 2014(CR.27) 

PLEA Guilty (CR.19) 

July 2, 2014 

PLEA BARGAIN 10 months deferred probation (CR.19) 

JURY WAIVED July 2, 2104 (CR.19) 

JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE July 2, 2014(CR.21-22) 

MOTION TO ADJUDICATE Filed September 10, 2014(CR.36) 

Heard November 13, 2014 

PLEA True (CR. 44,RR5.8) 

VERDICT ON PUNISHMENT 1 year county jail(RR5.19) 

JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE November 13,2014 (CR.38-39) 

MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL Filed November 18, 2014 (CR.46) 

NOTICE OF APPEAL November 18, 2014 (CR.47) 

vi
PROCEDURAL STATEMENT OF THE CASE 

(CASE CHRONOLOGY) 

F13-40734-X 

CHARGE Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle 

Offense date: April 10, 2012 

Arrest date: April 10, 2012 

Indictment: waived (CR.11) 

PLEA Guilty 

May 2, 2013(RR2.8) 

PLEA BARGAIN 2 years deferred probation (CR.25) 

JURY WAIVED (CR.25) 

JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE May 22, 2013 (CR.34-35) 

MOTION TO ADJUDICATE Filed September 10, 2014(CR.40-

41,47-48) 

Heard November 13, 2014 

PLEA True (RR5.8) 

VERDICT ON PUNISHMENT 10 months State jail (RR5.20) 

JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE November 13,2014 (CR.50-51) 

MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL Filed November 18, 2014(CR.55) 

NOTICE OF APPEAL November 18, 2014(CR.56) 

vii
STATEMENT OF FACTS

Elizabeth Mendoza, the appellant, was placed on probation for three separate 

offenses: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unauthorized use of a motor 

vehicle, and attempted possession of a controlled substance. Subsequently, the State 

moved to adjudicate her guilt on these offenses. Mendoza entered a plea of true to 

the violations in each offense and proceeded without benefit of a plea bargain. 

(RR5.8) After hearing testimony from Ms. Mendoza, the court revoked her probation 

and assessed the following punishments: in Cause No. F12-61870-X, 6 years 

confinement in TDC for the offense of aggravated assault; in Cause No. F13-40734-

X 10 months confinement in State jail for the offense of unauthorized use of a motor 

vehicle; and in Cause No. F13-34344-X 10 months in the county jail for the offense 

of attempted possession of a controlled substance. (RR5.19-20) These appeals are 

taken therefrom. 

POINT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE

THE JUDGMENTS AND SENTENCES IN EACH CAUSE INCORRECTLY 

STATE THAT APPELLANT ENTERED INTO A PLEA BARGAIN 

AGREEMENT. 

Relevant Facts

Appellant Mendoza was charged in three causes: aggravated assault with a 

deadly weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and attempted possession of a 

controlled substance. Although Mendoza entered into plea agreements for probation 

1
in each cause, when the State moved to adjudicate her guilt, she entered pleas of true 

without benefit of a plea bargain. Nonetheless, the judgments and sentences reflect 

that the sentences were based upon agreed pleas. 

Reformation of Judgment 

Appellate courts have the power to modify the judgment of the trial court to 

make the record speak the truth when the court has the necessary information to do 

so. Tex.R.App. P. 43.2(b). Ramirez v. State, 336 S.W.3d 846, 852 (Tex.App.-

Amarillo 2011, pet. ref'd) (citing Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27–28 

(Tex.Crim.App.1993)). Appellate courts have the power to reform whatever the trial 

court could have corrected by a judgment nunc pro tunc where the evidence 

necessary to correct the judgment appears in the record. Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 

526, 529 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1991, pet. ref'd). The power to reform a judgment is “not 

dependent upon the request of any party, nor does it turn on the question of whether 

a party has or has not objected in the trial court.” Id. at 529–30. This includes the 

power to correct an incorrect statement of the existence of a plea bargain. Compare 

Christian v. State ___S.W.3d___, 2013 WL 5969565 

(Tex.App.-Dallas,2013). 

PRAYER 

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays that this 

Court will reform the judgment in this case. 

2
 Respectfully Submitted, 

 /s/ Bruce Anton 

 BRUCE ANTON 

 State Bar No. 01274700 

 Sorrels Udashen & Anton 

 2311 Cedar Springs Road, Suite 250 

 Dallas, Texas 75201 

 214/468-8100 

214/468-8104 facsimile 

 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT 

 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

 This is to certify that a true and correct copy of Appellant’s brief was served 

on District Attorney of Dallas County via email to dcdaappeals@dallascounty.org 

on the 13th day of April, 2015. 

 

 /s/ Bruce Anton 

 BRUCE ANTON 

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 

 Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(3), undersigned counsel certifies 

that this brief complies with: 

1. the type-volume limitation of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(2)(B) because this 

brief contains 896 words, excluding the parts of the brief exempted by TEX. R. APP. 

P. 9.4(i)(1).

2. the typeface requirements of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(e) and the type style 

requirements of TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(e) because this brief has been prepared in a 

proportionally spaced typeface using Microsoft Word 2011 in 14-point Times New 

Roman.

 

 /s/ Bruce Anton 

 BRUCE ANTON 

3