Court Opinion

ID: 9779243
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 21:41:17.387245+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:24.247183
License: Public Domain

ROBERTS, Judge
(dissenting).
I dissent to the majority’s disposition of the appellant’s last ground of error. While it is true that no transcription of the guilt-innocence stage of the trial is before us, yet there is still enough material relating to this subject in the record to warrant its review.
The indictment in this case charges the appellant with the offense of assault with intent to murder with malice the complaining witness Felan. There is absolutely no mention of Estrada or Gonzales and appellant cannot therefore have been convicted in this proceeding of an offense relating to them. This much, at least, is apparent from the record. It is also apparent that the court, in expanding the terms and conditions of appellant’s probation, would require him to make restitution to two persons in the amount of $2,500 each, although he was not convicted of any offense involving them.
This is not only in excess of the court’s authority under Art. 42.12, Section 6, subd. h, V.A.C.C.P., but may very well constitute a taking of property without due process.
The record before us reflects that the court agreed that his order related to reimbursement of two witnesses. This matter is revealed in the discussion between the court and defense counsel as follows:
“Defense Counsel: Would the Court please set out in there what the twenty-five hundred dollars is for ?
“The Court: The Court just dictated it in the record.
“Defense Counsel: Well, will the Court agree and stipulate that the twenty-five hundred dollars is what the witness alleged was taken from him, which witness [sic] has certainly got a civil right of action, which I do not believe the Court can order restitution to a witness in the case. I would certainly object to that very strenuously —to that portion of the Court’s order.
“The Court: That’s the order of the Court.”
This action was clearly not within the power of the court, regardless of whether *71probation was granted by the court or the jury. See Bradley v. State, 478 S.W.2d 527 (Tex.Cr.App.1972), concurring opinion on Appellant’s Motion for Rehearing. Further, if the appellant is unable to make the required restitution payments, and as a result his probation is revoked, will he not have been imprisoned for debt, contrary to the prohibition of Art. 1, Section 18, Texas Constitution? See and compare State v. Caudle, 276 N.C. 550, 173 S.E.2d 778 (1970).
The trial court’s action was clearly wrong and is sufficiently preserved for review. We should consider it and take the necessary corrective measures. I dissent.