Court Opinion

ID: 9774080
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:08:19.508222+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:01.716803
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON REHEARING
THOMAS, Chief Justice.
On October 9, 1991, holding that unadju-dicated offenses and their details are not admissible in non-capital trials, we reversed the judgment and remanded the cause for a new punishment hearing. The State complains on rehearing that we failed to do a harm analysis. See Tex.R.App.P. 81(b)(2).
Appellant was indicted for agravated assault, enhanced by two prior felonies. Thus, the second-degree felony was enhanced to a first degree felony punishable by “life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 5 years.” See Tex.Penal Code Ann. §§ 12.32-33 (Vernon Supp. 1991 and Vernon 1974). The jury assessed Appellant’s punishment at life in prison.
During the punishment phase, evidence concerning the following extraneous unadjudicated offenses was admitted: (1) Appellant’s confession that he stole tools from his grandfather, his aunt’s radar detector, his grandfather’s wallet, his aunt’s purse, and a shotgun, a quilt, two watches and two lamps from a house; and (2) testimony revealing that Appellant, while attempting to escape from jail, drove a truck at a high rate of speed towards officers who were trying to apprehend him and then evaded officers after a high-speed chase. Based on the record as a whole, we cannot determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the admission of these unadjudi-cated offenses at the punishment phase did not contribute to Appellant’s life sentence. See Tex.R.App.P. 80(b)(2).
Accordingly, we deny the State’s motion for a rehearing. Appellant’s motion for a rehearing is likewise denied.
CUMMINGS, J., not participating.