Court Opinion

ID: 2761652
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-17 09:10:32.531484+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:43:19.646157
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                       San Antonio, Texas

                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                           No. 04-14-00851-CV

                                 EX PARTE Marco Antonio FERRER

                                  Original Habeas Corpus Proceeding 1

PER CURIAM

Sitting:          Karen Angelini, Justice
                  Marialyn Barnard, Justice
                  Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: December 17, 2014

PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS DENIED

           On December 8, 2014, relator Marco Antonio Ferrer filed an original pro se habeas corpus

proceeding contending he is being illegally confined after the trial court found him in contempt

for failure to pay previously ordered child support. Specifically, Ferrer asserts: (1) the trial court

failed to inform him of his right to counsel as required by the Texas Family Code; (2) the trial

court failed to inquire as to his sources of income and make a determination of his ability to purge

himself of the child support obligation; and (3) Sheriff Susan Pamerleau has failed to give him

“good time” credit in violation of his right to equal protection under the law. See TEX. FAM. CODE

ANN. §§ 157.008(c), 157.163 (West 2014).

1
 This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 2009EM501349, styled In the Interest of M.F.F., A Child, pending in the
225th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas, the Honorable Eric Rodriguez presiding.
                                                                                     04-14-00851-CV

        This court received from the trial court clerk a copy of the trial court’s Order Enforcing

Child Support and Medical Support Obligation, dated September 5, 2014. The Order, which was

signed by Ferrer, indicates that Ferrer appeared in person for a hearing conducted on September 4,

2014.

        A relator is entitled to habeas corpus relief if he establishes he was deprived of liberty

without due process of law, or if we conclude the judgment ordering confinement is void. See In

re Henry, 154 S.W.3d 594, 596 (Tex. 2005) (orig. proceeding); In re Alexander, 243 S.W.3d 822,

824 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2007, orig. proceeding). The purpose of a habeas corpus proceeding

is not to determine the relator’s guilt or innocence, but to ascertain if the relator has been

unlawfully confined. Ex parte Gordon, 584 S.W.2d 686, 688 (Tex. 1979) (orig. proceeding);

Alexander, 243 S.W.3d at 827.

        In family law enforcement proceedings, the Family Code requires the trial court to

determine whether the proceeding is one in which incarceration may result and, if so, the court is

obligated to inform a respondent of the right to counsel and, if indigent, the right to an appointed

attorney. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 157.163(a), (b). In the present case, Ferrer’s signature

appears on the Order Enforcing Child Support and Medical Support Obligation. The Order

provides, Marco Antonio Ferrer “appeared in person Pro Se and was advised of his rights,

including the right to court appointed attorney if found indigent. It is FOUND that MARCO

ANTONIO FERRER knowingly and intelligently waived his rights and proceeded Pro Se;” and

“agreed to the entry of these orders as evidenced by his signature.” We conclude the trial court

properly admonished Ferrer of his right to counsel in accordance with the Family Code. See TEX.

FAM. CODE ANN. § 157.163.

        Ferrer also complains the trial court failed to inquire as to his sources of income and make

a determination of his ability to purge himself of the child support obligation. The Family Code
                                                -2-
                                                                                       04-14-00851-CV

provides that an obligor may plead as an affirmative defense to an allegation of contempt that he

lacked the ability and resources to provide support in the amount ordered. See TEX. FAM. CODE

ANN. § 157.008(c). However, it is Ferrer’s burden in the trial court to conclusively establish the

affirmative defense. See Ex parte Rojo, 925 S.W.2d 654, 656 (Tex. 1996) (orig. proceeding). It is

also his burden as relator in this proceeding to provide this court with a record sufficient to

establish his right to habeas corpus relief. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a); Walker v. Packer, 827

S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). The trial court’s Order Enforcing Child Support

and Medical Support Obligation includes its findings that Ferrer “could have timely paid the above

specified child support in full” and “could have provided the required medical support during each

specified time period.” Ferrer has failed to provide this court with a record supporting his claim

that he is entitled to habeas corpus relief on the basis of conclusively establishing an affirmative

defense in the trial court.

        Finally, Ferrer contends he is being denied equal protection under the law by the sheriff’s

failure to award “good time” credits on his sentence when such credits are available to prisoners

serving sentences on criminal charges. While article 42.032 of the Texas Code of Criminal

Procedure gives the sheriff discretion to award “good time” credit to those being punished by

criminal contempt orders, the statute does not apply to those being punished by coercive civil

contempt orders. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.032 § 2 (West Supp. 2014); Ex parte

Acly, 711 S.W.2d 627, 628 (Tex. 1986) (orig. proceeding). The trial court’s order in this case

imposes both punitive criminal contempt and coercive civil contempt findings. Ferrer would not

be entitled to consideration for “good time” credit under the statute for the criminal contempt

portion of the order until he has satisfied the coercive civil contempt portion of the order. See Acly,

711 S.W.2d at 628. The record does not demonstrate that Ferrer has satisfied the coercive contempt

requirements of the trial court’s order. Accordingly, we are unable to say that there is any abuse
                                                 -3-
                                                                                     04-14-00851-CV

of discretion in the failure to award “good time” credits in this instance. TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7(a);

Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 837. Ferrer has not established that he is entitled to habeas corpus relief on

this ground. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.032 § 2; Ex parte Acly, 711 S.W.2d at 628.

       Relator’s petition for writ of habeas corpus is denied.

                                                  PER CURIAM

                                                -4-