Court Opinion

ID: 3071383
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 00:35:34.050276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:33:04.959433
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS
                           SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                FORT WORTH

                               NO. 02-14-00419-CR

MELANIE STORM                                                        APPELLANT

                                         V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS                                                         STATE

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        FROM CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT NO. 1 OF TARRANT COUNTY
                      TRIAL COURT NO. 1373849D

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                          MEMORANDUM OPINION1

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        Appellant Melanie Storm entered an open plea of guilty to theft of property

under $1,500 with two prior convictions.           At the sentencing hearing that

eventually followed, the trial court admitted a presentence investigation report

(PSI), found Storm guilty, and sentenced her to one year’s confinement in state

jail.   In a single point, Storm argues that her Sixth Amendment right to

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        See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
confrontation was violated when the trial court admitted the PSI at the sentencing

hearing.

          To preserve a complaint for our review, a party must have presented to the

trial court a timely request, objection, or motion that states the specific grounds

for the desired ruling if they are not apparent from the context of the request,

objection, or motion. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1); Everitt v. State, 407 S.W.3d
259, 262–63 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Sanchez v. State, 418 S.W.3d 302, 306

(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2013, pet. ref’d). Further, the trial court must have ruled

on the request, objection, or motion, either expressly or implicitly, or the

complaining party must have objected to the trial court’s refusal to rule. Tex. R.

App. P. 33.1(a)(2); Everitt, 407 S.W.3d at 263. Numerous constitutional rights,

including the right to confrontation, may be forfeited for purposes of appellate

review unless they are properly preserved. Broxton v. State, 909 S.W.2d 912,

918 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995); Briggs v. State, 789 S.W.2d 918, 924 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1990); Deener v. State, 214 S.W.3d 522, 527 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, pet.

ref’d).

          Here, Storm did not assert any objection, including on confrontation

grounds, when the State offered the PSI. In fact, Storm affirmatively stated, “No

objection.” Pointing out that the court of criminal appeals has held contrary to her

issue on the merits and that an objection to the PSI on confrontation grounds

“would necessarily [have] been overruled by the trial court,” Storm contends that

she did not have to object to the PSI on confrontation grounds because when

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“the law is well-settled to the point where any objection in the trial court would be

futile, the claim will not be considered forfeited for later review.” This is only part

of the exception. The preservation exception may apply when the relief sought

by the appellant becomes available after trial and the appellant, therefore, could

not have been expected to preserve error by objecting at trial.            See, e.g.,

Ex parte Hathorn, 296 S.W.3d 570, 572 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). As the State

observes, however, Storm “does not seek to avail herself of a right based on a

favorable change in the law that occurred after her sentencing hearing; instead,

she seeks to change existing case law.” The preservation exception that Storm

relies upon is clearly inapplicable under the circumstances. Accordingly, Storm

forfeited this point for appellate review. We overrule her sole point and affirm the

trial court’s judgment.

                                                     /s/ Bill Meier

                                                     BILL MEIER
                                                     JUSTICE

PANEL: DAUPHINOT, GARDNER, and MEIER, JJ.

DO NOT PUBLISH
Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)

DELIVERED: April 23, 2015

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