Court Opinion

ID: 3088700
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 03:34:07.577146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:22.481208
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                      San Antonio, Texas
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                         No. 04-14-00526-CR

                                     EX PARTE Gregory JONES

               From the Criminal District Court, Magistrate Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                    Trial Court No. 2014W0238
                           Honorable Andrew Carruthers, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice

Sitting:          Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
                  Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice
                  Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: October 29, 2014

AFFIRMED

           Appellant, Gregory Jones, appeals the trial court’s order denying his application for writ

of habeas corpus and granting an order of extradition. In two issues on appeal, appellant asserts

(1) the rendition papers from the demanding state failed to comply with the statutory requisites,

and (2) the State failed to prove that appellant was the person named in the request for extradition.

We affirm.

                                           BACKGROUND

           The state of Michigan filed a complaint against appellant for failing to pay child support.

Upon demand from the Governor of Michigan, the Governor of Texas issued a governor’s warrant,

ordering Texas law enforcement officials to arrest appellant and deliver him into the custody of

Michigan authorities. Seeking to avoid extradition, appellant filed an application for writ of habeas
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corpus. The trial court held a hearing on the writ. During the hearing, the State proffered the

governor’s warrant and the request for extradition along with supporting documentation.

Appellant argued the governor’s warrant and request for extradition were not valid on their face

and were insufficient to establish that he is the person named in the request for extradition.

Following the hearing, the trial court denied the requested relief. This appeal followed.

                                    STANDARD OF REVIEW

        We review a trial court’s ruling on a writ of habeas corpus for an abuse of discretion. Kniatt

v. State, 206 S.W.3d 657, 664 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). In conducting this review, we view the

facts in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling. Id.

                                            DISCUSSION

        Our review of the denial of habeas corpus relief in an extradition proceeding is limited to

the following issues: (1) whether the extradition documents on their face are in order; (2) whether

the appellant has been charged with a crime in the demanding state; (3) whether the appellant is

the person named in the request for extradition; and (4) whether the appellant is a fugitive.

Michigan v. Doran, 439 U.S. 282, 289 (1978); Ex parte Lopez, 988 S.W.2d 788, 789 (Tex. App.—

San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

        In his first issue, appellant challenges whether the extradition documents are valid on their

face. He contends the extradition request failed to comply with the statutory requirements of the

Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, which provides as follows:

                No demand for the extradition of a person charged with [a] crime in another
        State shall be recognized by the Governor unless in writing . . . and accompanied
        by a copy of an indictment found or by information supported by affidavit in the
        State having jurisdiction of the crime, or by a copy of an affidavit before a
        magistrate there, together with a copy of any warrant which issued thereupon; or
        by a copy of a judgment of conviction or of a sentence imposed in execution thereof,
        together with a statement by the Executive Authority of the demanding State that
        the person claimed has escaped from confinement or has broken the terms of his
        bail, probation or parole. The indictment, information, or affidavit made before the
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       magistrate must substantially charge the person demanded with having committed
       a crime under the law of that State; and the copy of indictment, information,
       affidavit, judgment of conviction or sentence must be authenticated by the
       Executive Authority making the demand . . . .

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 51.13, § 3 (West Supp. 2014).

       We disagree with appellant. Here, the demand was accompanied by a warrant supported

by an affidavit. The Governor of Michigan issued a demand, in writing, requesting that appellant

be apprehended, secured, and delivered to Michigan authorities. The governor’s demand stated

that copies of the complaint, warrant, affidavit, and other supporting documents were certified “as

authenticated under Michigan law.” The demand included an affidavit from Special Agent Gordon

Malaniak, Special Agent for the Child Support Division, Michigan Department of Attorney

General. Special Agent Malaniak’s affidavit stated that appellant was ordered to pay child support

by the Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, in the amount of $626.40 per month, Circuit

Court file number 1999917695. The affidavit further stated that appellant has failed to pay the

court-ordered child support, which has resulted in arrearages of $30,145.82. Additionally, the

demand included a copy of the complaint filed against appellant, as well as the warrant authorizing

appellant’s arrest for failing to pay child support. Accordingly, we conclude the extradition

documents are valid on their face, and the requisites of the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act have

been met.

       In his second issue, appellant asserts the State failed to prove his identity as the person

named in the request for extradition.

       A governor’s warrant that is regular on its face establishes a prima facie case for

extradition. Ex parte Smith, 36 S.W.3d 927, 928 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2001, no pet.). After

a prima facie case for extradition has been made, the burden shifts to the accused to rebut the prima

facie case. See Ex parte Cain, 592 S.W.2d 359, 362 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). An accused can

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show he is not the person charged in the demanding state by challenging the identity of the person

named in the warrant. Ex parte Scarbrough, 604 S.W.2d 170, 174 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). Once

the issue of identity has been raised, the burden shifts back to the demanding state to show that the

person being held for extradition is the person named in the warrant. Ex parte Smith, 36 S.W.3d

at 928. Identity need not be shown beyond a reasonable doubt, and the strict common law rules

of evidence need not be applied because the accused is not on trial for commission of a crime. Ex

parte Martinez, 530 S.W.2d 578, 580–82 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975); Ex parte Schoels, 643 S.W.2d
761, 762 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982, no pet.). Photographic evidence is sufficient to establish

identity. Ex parte Nelson, 594 S.W.2d 67, 68 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979).

       Appellant contends the State failed to prove he was the person named in the request for

extradition because the documents did not contain his fingerprints or an “authentic mug-shot.”

Although appellant’s fingerprints were not submitted, the extradition request included a

description of the person sought to be extradited, including height, weight, hair color, eye color,

race, sex, and date of birth. Also included among the extradition documents was a photograph of

the person alleged to have committed the offense. The photograph was attached to Special Agent

Malaniak’s sworn affidavit, stating that the photograph was a true and accurate picture of Gregory

Jones. From the record before us, it appears the trial court was able to compare the photograph

and physical description included in the extradition papers to appellant’s own physical

characteristics. As noted above, the strict common law rules of evidence do not apply in an

extradition hearing and identity need not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. See Ex parte

Martinez, 530 S.W.2d at 580–82; Ex parte Schoels, 643 S.W.2d at 762. Accordingly, we conclude

the evidence introduced by the State, including the photograph and physical description, was

sufficient to meet the State’s burden of demonstrating that appellant is the person named in request

for extradition and related documents.
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                                        CONCLUSION

       For the reasons stated above, we overrule appellant’s issues on appeal and affirm the trial

court’s judgment denying habeas corpus relief.

                                                  Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice

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