Court Opinion

ID: 9674101
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:23:04.324222+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:25.589216
License: Public Domain

ON APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR REHEARING
WOODLEY, Judge.
It is now contended that the prior misdemeanor convictions alleged to enhance the punishment were not available for that purpose because they were not for offenses of like character to the presently charged offense.
The prior convictions were each for the offense of selling liquor on Sunday, in violation of Art. 666-25, Sec. c, V.A.P.C., whereas the presently charged offense is the violation of Art. 666-4, Sec. a, V.A.P.C.
Both statutory provisions are applicable to wet areas where the sale of whisky is lawful provided that the right or privilege is granted by some provision of the Texas Liquor Control Act. Articles 666 - 667 V.A.P.C.
Article 666-4 V.A.P.C. provides that such right and privilege so granted may be enjoyed and exercised only in the manner provided in said act.
The sale of whisky in a wet area without a permit of the class required for such privilege is unlawful. Art. 666-4, Sec. a, V.A.P.C., and the sale of liquor in a wet area on Sunday is unlawful. Art. 666-25, Sec. c, V.A.P.C. The punishment for each of such offenses is to be found in Sec. 41 of Art. 666, V.A.P.C.
It follows that no person may exercise or enjoy the privilege of selling whisky in a wet area on Sunday, nor may he so sell without securing the required permit.
*334We have held that the sale of beer on Sunday by licensee in a wet area and the possession of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale in a dry area are not offenses of like character. Andrews v. State, 154 Tex. Cr. R. 392, 228 S.W. 2d 173.
We decline to extend the rule there stated to violations of the law regulating the sale of whisky in a wet area, and hold that the offense of selling whisky on Sunday and that of selling whisky without a permit in a wet area are offenses of like character and are “convictions for the same offense” as that term is used in Article 61 P.C.
Appellant’s motion for rehearing is overruled.