Court Opinion

ID: 3087506
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 03:09:52.14014+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:43:06.792363
License: Public Domain

NUMBERS
                               13-12-00542-CR
                               13-12-00543-CR

                         COURT OF APPEALS

               THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                 CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

ROLANDO ROMERO,                                                       Appellant,

                                       v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,                                                    Appellee.

                 On appeal from the 94th District Court
                      of Nueces County, Texas.

                      MEMORANDUM OPINION
    Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Rodriguez and Garza
               Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza
     On August 7, 2012, following a revocation hearing, the trial court granted the

State’s motions to revoke appellant Rolando Romero’s community supervision in
appellate cause numbers 13-12-542-CR1 and 13-12-543-CR.2 In each case, appellant

contends: (1) the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the revocations occurred after

the probationary periods had ended and the State failed to exercise due diligence; (2)

the evidence was insufficient to support revocation and punishment; (3) the trial court

erred in failing to conduct a separate punishment hearing; (4) he was denied effective

assistance of counsel; and (5) the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the offense in

cause number 13-12-543-CR was a misdemeanor. We affirm as modified.

                                         I. BACKGROUND

      Appellant was arrested on April 21, 2006 for possession of cocaine and driving

while intoxicated. In cause number 13-12-542-CR, he was indicted for possession of

cocaine, a state jail felony offense. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.115(a),

(b) (West 2010). On July 6, 2007, pursuant to a plea agreement, appellant pleaded

guilty to the offense. The trial court deferred adjudication and placed appellant on

community supervision for a period of five years. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.

42.12, § 5 (West Supp. 2012).            The terms of appellant’s community supervision

included, among other things, that he pay a fine of $1,000.00 in monthly installments

and commit no additional offense.

      On February 22, 2011—within the probationary period—the State filed an original

motion to revoke appellant’s community supervision, alleging that he committed the

offense of possession of marijuana in Aransas County. On September 12, 2011, the

State filed an amended motion to revoke, alleging violations that included the Aransas

      1
          Trial court cause number 06-CR-1498-C.
      2
          Trial court cause number 06-CR-2992-C.

                                                   2
County possession of marijuana offense, possession of a controlled substance, and

consumption of alcohol.    Because he was incarcerated at the time, appellant was

served with a precept on September 15, 2011, notifying him of the motion to revoke and

the State’s allegations.

         In cause number 13-12-543-CR, appellant was indicted for driving while

intoxicated, elevated to a third-degree felony offense by two prior convictions. See TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.04 (West 2011); id. § 49.09(b)(2) (West 2011). On July 6, 2007,

pursuant to a plea bargain, appellant pleaded guilty. The trial court sentenced him to

five years’ confinement, suspended the sentence, and placed him on community

supervision for five years. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 3 (West Supp.

2012).    The conditions of appellant’s community supervision included, among other

things, that he commit no new offense and that he pay a $1,000.00 fine in monthly

installments. The judgment imposing community supervision stated that the sentence

shall run concurrently with the deferred-adjudication community supervision sentence in

cause number 13-12-542-CR.

         As in cause number 13-120542-CR, the State filed a motion to revoke on

February 22, 2011, alleging that appellant committed the offense of possession of

marijuana in Aransas County and failed to pay the $1,000.00 fine. On September 12,

2011, the State filed an amended motion to revoke, alleging the Aransas County

offense and failure to pay the $1,000.00 fine, and adding allegations of possession of a

controlled substance, consumption of alcohol, and failure to pay the monthly supervision

fee. Because he was incarcerated at the time, on September 15, 2011, appellant was

served with a precept notifying him of the motion to revoke and the State’s allegations.

                                            3
         On August 7, 2012, the trial court held a joint revocation hearing in both causes.

In cause number 13-12-542-CR, the State abandoned two allegations, leaving only the

allegation of possession of marijuana in Aransas County. In cause number 13-12-543-

CR, the State abandoned all allegations except the consumption of alcohol and failure

to pay the $1,000.00 fine and monthly supervision fees.

         In 13-12-542-CR, the trial court asked appellant if he committed the possession

of marijuana offense in Aransas County. Appellant responded, “Yes, but I am in an

appeal in that case.” The trial court stated, “Well, I’m just asking if it’s true or not true.”

Appellant responded, “Yes.” As to 13-12-543-CR, the trial court asked appellant if he

was behind in paying the fine and monthly supervision fees. Appellant responded,

“Yes, but—.” Appellant testified, explaining to the trial court, “I committed the crime in

Aransas where I have an appeal.” Appellant also explained that, during the time he was

incarcerated, between October 2010 and April 2011, he instructed his wife to pay the

monthly fees. Appellant explained that he believed that he owed only one $1,000.00

fine and was unaware that he owed a $1,000.00 fine in each case. At the conclusion of

the hearing, the trial court stated, without objection, “Then based on the Defendant’s

pleas of true in both cases to the allegations in Aransas County and to the mon[ies]—

the mon[ies] in [cause number 13-12-543-CR], the Court finds the allegations to be

true.”       The trial court adjudicated appellant guilty in cause number 13-12-542-CR,

revoked his community supervision in both cases, and sentenced him to five years’

incarceration in each case.3 The trial court stated that the sentences were to “run

concurrent with one another but consecutive to the case in Aransas County.”

         3
         We note that the judgment in cause number 13-12-542-CR states that the sentence imposed is
two years in state jail. It also states that the sentence is to run concurrently with the sentence in 13-12-
543-CR and the Aransas County case.

                                                     4
        We note that the judgment in cause number 13-12-543-CR also states that the

sentence shall run concurrently with the sentence in 13-12-542-CR and the Aransas

County case.      If there is a conflict between the written judgment and the oral

pronouncement, the oral pronouncement controls. Thompson v. State, 108 S.W.3d 287

(Tex. Crim. App. 2003). An appellate court has the power to correct and reform a trial

court judgment to make the record speak the truth when it has the necessary data and

information to do so. Nolan v. State, 39 S.W.3d 697, 698 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 2001, no pet.). Accordingly, we reform the judgment in 13-12-542-CR to reflect a

sentence of five years, and that the sentence shall run concurrently with the sentence in

13-12-543-CR, but consecutively to the sentence in the Aransas County case.

Similarly, in cause number 13-12-543-CR, we reform the judgment to state that the

sentence shall run concurrently with the sentence in 13-12-542-CR, but consecutively to

the sentence in the Aransas County case.

                       II. STANDARD OF REVIEW AND APPLICABLE LAW

        Appellate review of an order revoking community supervision is limited to

determining whether the trial court abused its discretion. Miles v. State, 343 S.W.3d
908, 912 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, no pet.). A trial court abuses its discretion if the

decision is so clearly wrong as to lie outside the zone within which reasonable persons

might disagree. Id. The trial court is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses

and the weight to be given their testimony, and we review the evidence in the light most

favorable to the trial court’s ruling. Id.

                                        III. DISCUSSION

   A.    Expiration of Probationary Period and Due Diligence

                                              5
        By his first issue, appellant contends the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revoke

his community supervision in both cases because his period of community supervision

ended in July 2012, approximately a month before the revocation hearing. By a sub-

issue, he also complains that the State failed to act with due diligence in hearing the

revocation allegations.

        In 2003, the legislature amended article 42.12 of the code of criminal procedure

by adding sections 21(e) and 24. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, §§ 21(e),

24 (West Supp. 2012). “Section 21(e) expressly extends the trial court’s jurisdiction

over revocation proceedings beyond the expiration of a defendant’s community

supervision so long as, before that time, the State has filed a motion to revoke,

continue, or modify community supervision and a capias has issued.” State v. Garcia,

387 S.W.3d 20, 23 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012); see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12,

§ 21(e).4 Here, in each case, the State filed a motion to revoke and an amended motion

to revoke on February 22, 2011 and September 12, 2011, respectively, well before the

period of community supervision ended.                  Also, because appellant was already

incarcerated, no capias was issued, but appellant was served with a precept on

September 15, 2011 notifying him of the State’s allegations in each case.

        By adding section 24 to article 42.12, the legislature eliminated the common-law

due-diligence defense and replaced it with the limited affirmative defense provided in

section 24. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 24; Garcia, 387 S.W.3d at 26.

The due-diligence defense applies only to two revocation allegations, neither applicable

here: failure to report to an officer as directed, and failure to remain within a specified

        4
           The legislature also added section 5(h) to article 42.12, which expressly extended the trial
court’s jurisdiction over revocation proceedings beyond the expiration of deferred-adjudication community
supervision. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 5(h) (West Supp. 2012).

                                                   6
place. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 24; Garcia, 387 S.W.3d at 24. We

overrule appellant’s first issue.

   B. Sufficiency of Evidence to Support Revocation

       By his second issue, appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to

support the State’s allegations because the State presented no evidence at the

revocation hearing. Appellant contends that his plea of “true” in cause number 13-12-

542-CR to the allegation that he committed the Aransas County offense was

“equivocal,” and that he pleaded “not true” to the allegation that he failed to pay the

$1,000.00 fine in cause number 13-12-543-CR. Appellant also contends that in cause

number 13-12-543-CR, the State was required to prove—and failed to prove—that he

had the ability to pay the $1,000.00 fine and willfully failed to pay.

       The court of criminal appeals has held that a plea of true is itself sufficient to

support revocation of community supervision. Moses v. State, 590 S.W.2d 469, 470

(Tex. Crim. App. 1979). Violation of a single condition of community supervision is a

sufficient ground to support revocation of community supervision.        Id.     Thus, if a

defendant pleads true to violating any condition of his community supervision, he cannot

claim that the evidence is insufficient to support revocation. See Mitchell v. State, 482
S.W.2d 221, 222–23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972) (noting that trial court is not required to

hear evidence of guilt where defendant pleads true to revocation allegations).

       Here, we disagree with appellant’s assertions that his plea of “true” in cause

number 13-12-342-CR was “equivocal” and that he pleaded “not true” in cause number

13-12-343-CR. In 13-12-342-CR, appellant unequivocally pleaded true to the allegation

that he committed the Aransas County offense, expressly stating that he “committed the

                                              7
crime in Aransas.” In 13-12-343-CR, appellant also pleaded true to the allegation that

he had failed to pay the $1,000.00 fine, although he offered the explanation that he

believed he was only required to pay one fine, not two.

         Under section 21(c) of article 42.12 of the code of criminal procedure, the State

must show a defendant’s ability to pay, but the requirement applies only when the State

seeks to revoke community supervision for non-payment of compensation to counsel,

community supervision fees, and court costs. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.

42.12, § 21(c). The statute does not apply to non-payment of fines. See id.; Thomas v.

State, 379 S.W.3d 436, 441 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2012, no pet.). Thus, appellant’s

admission that the State’s allegation of non-payment of the $1,000.00 fine was true was

itself sufficient to support revocation in cause number 13-12-543-CR.            We overrule

appellant’s second issue.

   C. Punishment Hearing

         By his third issue, appellant complains that the trial court failed to hold a separate

punishment hearing after adjudicating him guilty in cause number 13-12-542-CR and

revoking his community supervision in both cases.

         The court of criminal appeals has held that a separate punishment hearing that

follows a revocation of deferred adjudication and an adjudication of guilt is “a statutory

right which can be waived.” Vidaurri v. State, 49 S.W.3d 880, 886 (Tex. Crim. App.

2001).     Thus, to avoid forfeiture of the right to a separate punishment hearing, a

defendant must complain at trial or in a motion for new trial. Id.; see Lincoln v. State,

307 S.W.3d 921, 925 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.) (holding that the right to a

separate punishment hearing is a statutory right that can be waived). Here, appellant

                                               8
neither objected to the trial court nor raised the issue in a motion for new trial. He

therefore failed to preserve the issue for review.       See Vidaurri, 49 S.W.3d at 886;

Lincoln, 307 S.W.3d at 925. We overrule appellant’s third issue.

   D.    Ineffective Assistance

        By his fourth issue, appellant contends that he received ineffective assistance of

counsel. Specifically, appellant contends his trial counsel was ineffective by: (1) failing

to challenge the trial court’s jurisdiction; (2) failing to raise the issue of the State’s due

diligence; (3) failing to object to the use of the Aransas County offense; (4) failing to

present evidence regarding appellant’s knowledge of the fines imposed; (5) failing to

present any mitigation witnesses or evidence at punishment; and (6) failing to request

credit for jail time served.

        “To obtain a reversal of a conviction under the Strickland test, a defendant must

show that:       (1) counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness and (2) counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defense,

resulting in an unreliable or fundamentally unfair outcome of the proceeding.” Davis v.

State, 278 S.W.3d 346, 352 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (citing Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)). “Deficient performance means that ‘counsel made errors so

serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by

the Sixth Amendment.’” Ex parte Napper, 322 S.W.3d 202, 246 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)

(quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).       “The prejudice prong of Strickland requires

showing ‘a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result

of the proceeding would have been different.’” Id. at 248 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S.

at 694). “‘A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in

                                              9
the outcome.’” Id. (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). “[E]ach case must be judged

on its own unique facts.” Davis, 278 S.W.3d at 353.

       The burden is on appellant to prove ineffective assistance of counsel by a

preponderance of the evidence. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1999). Appellant must overcome the strong presumption that counsel's conduct

fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance and that his actions

could be considered sound trial strategy. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689; Jaynes v.

State, 216 S.W.3d 839, 851 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.). A reviewing

court will not second-guess legitimate tactical decisions made by trial counsel. State v.

Morales, 253 S.W.3d 686, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) ("[U]nless there is a record

sufficient to demonstrate that counsel’s conduct was not the product of a strategic or

tactical decision, a reviewing court should presume that trial counsel's performance was

constitutionally adequate . . . .”). Counsel’s effectiveness is judged by the totality of the

representation, not by isolated acts or omissions. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813; Jaynes,
216 S.W.3d at 851. An allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the

record, and the record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness. Bone

v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 835 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 814 n.6.

       We have already determined that the trial court did not lack jurisdiction and that

no due diligence defense was available to appellant. Regarding defense counsel’s

failure to object to the State’s reliance on the Aransas County offense on grounds that

the conviction was on appeal, appellant has cited no authority that any objection by

defense counsel on those grounds would have been sustained.

                                             10
      Moreover, appellant has made no attempt to show that there is a reasonable

probability that, but for the alleged errors, the outcome of trial would have been

different. See Boyd v. State, 811 S.W.2d 105, 109 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). When, as

here, an appellant fails to meet the prejudice prong, we need not address the question

of counsel's performance on these points. See id. The failure to make a showing under

either of the required prongs of Strickland defeats a claim for ineffective assistance of

counsel. Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (en banc).

We overrule appellant’s fourth issue.

   E. Underlying Felony Conviction

      By his fifth issue, appellant complains that his conviction for driving while

intoxicated (DWI) in cause number 13-12-543-CR is a misdemeanor, not a felony.

Appellant argues that the DWI offense was a misdemeanor, not a felony, based on the

fact that the caption of the indictment erroneously referred to the statute for

misdemeanor DWI. Appellant’s counsel concedes that “[t]his issue may be a frivolous

issue at this time” and further concedes that he is precluded from collaterally attacking

on appeal the underlying conviction. We agree. With limited exceptions not applicable

here, in an appeal from a revocation order, an appellant cannot collaterally attack the

underlying conviction. See Nix v. State, 65 S.W.3d 664, 667 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). In

addition, the body of the indictment clearly alleges two prior DWI convictions, elevating

the offense to a third-degree felony offense. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.09(b)(2).

The fact that the caption references the misdemeanor DWI statute is of no consequence

because the caption is not part of the indictment. See Adams v. State, 222 S.W/3d 37,

53 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, pet. ref’d).   We overrule appellant’s fifth issue.

                                           11
                                  IV. CONCLUSION

       We affirm the trial court’s judgments as modified in cause numbers 13-12-542-

CR and 13-12-543-CR.

                                              DORI CONTRERAS GARZA
                                              Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

Delivered and filed the
19th day of December, 2013.

                                         12