Court Opinion

ID: 9681962
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 08:02:18.649803+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:36.763417
License: Public Domain

OPINION
WOODARD, Justice.
A jury convicted Philip Shipley, Appellant, of misdemeanor theft enhanced to a third degree felony pursuant to Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 31.03(e)(4)(E)(Vernon Supp. 1992). Subsequently, the trial court assessed punishment at 5 years’ probation. In seven points of error, Appellant seeks review. Each of the points of error challenge the propriety of using prior theft convictions to enhance the instant offense. We affirm.
In Points of Error Nos. One and Two, Appellant argues that use of the prior convictions to enhance the instant offense unconstitutionally subjected him to double jeopardy in relation to the priors. In support of the contention, Appellant relies upon Grady v. Corbin, 495 U.S. 508, 110 S.Ct. 2084, 109 L.Ed.2d 548 (1990). Appellant misapplies the holding of Grady. The Supreme Court held that facts arising out of a singular occurrence may not be used in multiple or subsequent prosecutions in which the State attempts to rely upon prior convictions derived from the same criminal episode to constitute proof of the conduct needed to obtain the subsequent conviction. Grady, 495 U.S. at 508, 110 S.Ct. at 2084. In Grady, the exact same conduct of the accused, both temporally and factually, was used by the prosecution to prove separate allegations arising from an incident from which prior convictions on other charges had previously been obtained.1 The instant facts are inapposite.
The instant facts indicate that Appellant is a recidivist thief. The State proved that Appellant was previously and finally convicted of two misdemeanor theft charges on June 23, 1988. The instant indictment charged that Appellant again committed theft in a wholly separate criminal episode from three different individuals. Thus, Grady is inapplicable.
Nevertheless, Appellant argues since proof of the prior convictions is necessary as an “element” of the instant felony charge, such proof only serves to assist the State in obtaining additional punishment for his prior conduct for which he has been previously punished. We disagree. Even though it is a jurisdictional element of the offense, proof of the prior convictions is not that of a traditional element of the crime alleged. Menchaca v. State, 780 S.W.2d 917, 918-19 (Tex.App.—El Paso 1989, no pet.). Rather, such proof serves only to redefine the offense as a felony in order to confer jurisdiction upon the district court over an incident which would otherwise be classified as a misdemeanor. Id. The priors are not necessary proof of the corpus delicti or criminal conduct giving rise to the instant offense. State v. Nelms, 775 S.W.2d 25, 26 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1989, pet. ref’d). Instead, the priors were used only to elevate the instant misdemeanor criminal conduct, independently proven by the State, to that of a felony, “and such use [does] not violate the constitutional prohibition against dou*478ble jeopardy.” Id. at 26-27. Consequently, Points of Error Nos. One and Two are overruled.
In Points of Error Nos. Three, Four and Five, Appellant, for the first time on direct appeal of a subsequent conviction, attacks the prior convictions alleging they were derived from pleas of guilty entered without assistance of counsel. In support of the assertion, Appellant states the prior pleas were entered as to charges which were punishable by incarceration; thus, he was entitled to counsel. Scott v. Illinois, 440 U.S. 367, 99 S.Ct. 1158, 59 L.Ed.2d 383 (1979). Although Appellant was appointed counsel to represent him, he argues counsel’s assistance was so deficient to amount to only nominal representation. Consequently, Appellant alleges he was essentially deprived of counsel. Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53 S.Ct. 55, 77 L.Ed. 158 (1932); Ex parte Harris, 596 S.W.2d 893 (Tex.Crim.App.1980). Thus, he argues the pleas were entered without a knowing and intelligent waiver of his rights, and the convictions cannot be used to enhance the instant offense.
A prior conviction used to enhance a subsequent offense may be collaterally attacked on direct appeal of the subsequent conviction if it is void as if tainted by a fundamental or constitutional defect. Galloway v. State, 578 S.W.2d 142, 143 (Tex.Crim.App.1979). After the State established a prima facie case of proof of the prior convictions for enhancement purposes, i.e., introducing copies of the judgment and sentence in each case, the burden of proving that the prior convictions were void is on Appellant to make an affirmative showing of a fatal defect in the judgments. Johnson v. State, 725 S.W.2d 245, 247 (Tex.Crim.App.1987). The issue was first raised in a hearing outside the presence of the jury during the State’s case-in-chief. Appellant filed a Motion to Limit State’s Evidence Concerning Defendant’s Prior Criminal Record which sought “to prevent the state from introducing into evidence at guilt/innocence certain inadmissible convictions” because the prior convictions were allegedly void.
As previously noted, prior convictions used to enhance a subsequent charge may be collaterally attacked by appeal of the judgment where those prior convictions used for enhancement are void. Galloway, 578 S.W.2d at 143. However, lesser infirmities allegedly present in the prior convictions, (such as insufficiency of evidence and irregularities in the judgment or sentence), may not be raised in a direct appeal of the unrelated subsequent judgment. Galloway, 578 S.W.2d at 143. Lesser infirmities may cause a conviction to be erroneous, and, thus, voidable. Such infirmities do not, however, render the conviction void. As opposed to challenging enhancement allegations by motion at the trial on a subsequent charge, the proper vehicle in which Appellant can appropriately attack prior convictions on grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel is through an alternative type of collateral attack, i.e., a writ of habeas corpus. See McIntosh v. State, 686 S.W.2d 759, 764 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, no pet.). Thus, Appellant’s argument, as raised in direct appeal of a subsequent judgment, possesses merit only if he met his burden of affirmatively showing the trial court that counsel’s representation was so deficient to amount to absolutely no assistance of counsel. See Johnson, 725 S.W.2d at 247. Then, and only then, can we conclude the record illustrates that the prior convictions were void due to a constitutional flaw, i.e., total deprivation of counsel.
The motion did not state any particular grounds upon which Appellant alleged the convictions were void. However, Appellant argued to the trial court that the prior convictions were void due to asserted mere pro forma representation of counsel which amounted to total lack of legal assistance. The prior convictions were obtained after Appellant had been jailed on multiple Class A and B misdemeanor theft charges and was awaiting arraignment. Appellant’s counsel was appointed to represent Appellant and numerous other similarly-situated inmates. The inmates were brought to the courtroom in a group where appointed counsel advised them that they had the *479opportunity to plead guilty and be released on that day pursuant to a standard procedure in which the trial court would impose punishment limited to the time served. Counsel simultaneously informed the group that they had been charged with various misdemeanors which ranged in punishment up to one year imprisonment. He also informed them that they were presumed innocent and of: (1) their right to either a jury or nonjury trial; (2) their right to prepare for trial; and (3) their right to confront adversarial witnesses. Counsel also instructed the inmates that if they were not guilty, they should plead not guilty. Consequently, it is clearly implied that if a trial is desired, ample time to fully investigate the facts of an individual case would be provided. If the inmates opted to go to trial, counsel stated they could remain in jail for up to six months awaiting trial. However, counsel iterated bond might be obtained upon which they could be released awaiting trial.
At the hearing on Appellant’s trial motion, former appointed counsel testified that each of these inmates had the opportunity to tell the judge that they desired either a nonjury trial or a jury trial or that they wanted to plead guilty. The judge asks the inmates whether counsel informed them of their right to a trial. Counsel stated that it is not uncommon for inmates to say that they are not guilty. Consequently, pleas of guilty would not be accepted as to those defendants, and counsel would ask the judge for a bond upon which the accused could be released awaiting trial. At this early stage of the proceedings, counsel’s assistance is best characterized as “informing” the defendants of their various rights and of the options of either: (1) pleading guilty in exchange for a sentence comporting with the amount of time served; (2) possibly obtaining a lower bond for release awaiting trial; or (3) if a lesser bond is either denied or cannot be met, awaiting trial in jail.
The key to a constitutionally valid plea of guilt is that it was intelligently and voluntarily made and, if upon advice of counsel, that counsel was reasonably effective. Meyers v. State, 623 S.W.2d 397, 401 (Tex.Crim.App.1981). The standard of review in determining the validity of the guilty plea requires consideration of the totality of the circumstances. Griffin v. State, 703 S.W.2d 193, 196 (Tex.Crim.App.1986, on rehearing). At the hearing on the motion during the subsequent trial, the judge was entitled to presume the previous trial judge properly arraigned Appellant and properly accepted his guilty plea unless the record affirmatively illustrated the contrary. See Adams v. State, 745 S.W.2d 536, 537 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, no pet.). We will only determine whether Appellant overcame this presumption by affirmatively showing the convictions to be void based on the alleged constitutional flaw of deprivation of counsel, and we will not consider whether the convictions are voidable due to ineffective assistance.
In an attempt to further the allegation, Appellant relies upon Von Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 68 S.Ct. 316, 92 L.Ed. 309 (1948). On writ of certiorari from denial of habeas corpus, the Supreme Court found in Von Moltke that the petitioner had been coerced into pleading guilty and held that appointment of an attorney who the trial judge enticed to represent petitioner only at arraignment — and not for her plea — was insufficient. The Court placed particular emphasis on the fact that Von Moltke had placed great confidence and depended totally upon government agent-attorneys for legal counsel, (prior to her plea hearing at which she was not represented by counsel), in an espionage case which was potentially punishable by death. Von Moltke, 332 U.S. at 724-25, 68 S.Ct. at 323-24, 92 L.Ed. at 321-22.
We find the instant facts distinguishable in that counsel was specifically appointed to represent inmates who desired to plead guilty, and he assured each inmate that they were entitled to a trial, time to prepare for trial and to confront witnesses against them. Contrary to Von Moltke, nothing in the record indicates Appellant was either coerced by or depended upon government agents loyal to their government for legal counsel. Appellant was told *480that if guilty, the judge would accept a concomitant plea and impose a sentence not to exceed the amount of time served.2 If, however, the individual defendants stated they were not guilty, counsel iterated he would attempt to obtain a bond upon which the inmates could be released awaiting trial on their individual charges. If the inmates chose this option, it was clearly implied that a further investigation of the facts of their individual cases could be had. However, Appellant was also afforded the opportunity, one for which he opted, to fore-go any subsequent proceedings. In light of these admonishments, we cannot conclude the instant procedure was so woefully deficient to amount to no representation of counsel as the Supreme Court found in Von Moltke.
From the “totality of the circumstances,” we conclude Appellant was adequately apprised of his rights and options from which he intelligently chose to plead guilty. We find nothing in the record to indicate that Appellant failed to appreciate the ramifications of entering a plea of guilty. To the contrary, counsel informed Appellant, albeit in a group format, he was presumed innocent until proven guilty and of his numerous rights as previously delineated. Counsel testified he was confident Appellant wag aware of the consequences of entering a guilty plea, i.e., waiving those enumerated rights. Furthermore, he was told he should not plead guilty unless he was guilty. If not guilty, counsel informed Appellant that a personal bond could possibly be set. Finding that the record illustrates Appellant was afforded ample information from which he could make an informed and voluntary decision to plead guilty, we find that counsel provided more than a mere pro forma appearance of counsel. We overrule Appellant’s third, fourth and fifth points of error.
In his sixth point of error, Appellant contends that since the prior convictions were derived from pleas of guilt entered without a formal reading of the admonishments provided in Tex.Code Crim. Pro.Ann. art. 26.13 (Vernon 1989 and Supp. 1992), those pleas were allegedly entered involuntarily. Thus, those convictions cannot be used as an element of the instant offense. The Court of Criminal Appeals has consistently held a guilty plea to a misdemeanor need not be preceded by the admonishments in Article 26.13. McGuire v. State, 617 S.W.2d 259, 261 (Tex.Crim.App.1981); Empy v. State, 571 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex.Crim.App.1978). Furthermore, the Court of Criminal Appeals also held that an accused who is apprised of such rights, even when given in a group plea session, shall be found to adequately understand those rights. McMillan v. State, 727 S.W.2d 582, 583-84 (Tex.Crim.App.1987). Also, we are again constrained to heed the presumption of regularity. Adams, 745 S.W.2d at 537. The instant record on appeal fails to demonstrate how, if at all, the trial court failed to insure that Appellant was made aware of his rights as required in misdemeanor prosecutions. As a result, we find the pleas to have been voluntarily entered, and Point of Error No. Six is overruled.
In his last point of error, Appellant argues that since the prior convictions were derived from involuntary pleas of guilt, he could not have perceived the “likely consequence” that the conviction could be later used as an element of the instant offense. Specifically, Appellant argues counsel’s attempted assistance amounted to no representation because counsel did not inform him that such pleas could later be used to enhance any subsequent charges. Thus, according to Appellant, his plea was not entered knowingly and intelligently to the extent he did not understand the direct consequences thereof. Again, the standard of review to determine whether a plea was voluntarily and intelligently made requires us to consider the totality of the circumstances. See Griffin, 703 S.W.2d at 196; Meyers, 623 S.W.2d at 401. Appellant’s assertion that counsel should have informed him that the convictions stemming from the guilty pleas could potentially be *481used later to enhance the charges the next time he was caught violating the law, implies that counsel should automatically anticipate Appellant would continue to act as a one-man crime wave. Inferentially, such an argument requires the conclusion of Appellant’s 20-day sentence was insufficient to deter further criminal activity. Furthermore, adherence to the view expressed in the contention would also necessarily abrogate the need for Appellant to accept any personal responsibility regarding the enhancement of any future criminal conduct he might commit. Thus, we conclude the lack of such a warning by counsel is not sufficient to establish that Appellant was afforded only nominal representation. Nor does the absence of such a warning affirmatively illustrate that Appellant lacked sufficient knowledge of the direct consequences of the pleas to the extent the plea was constitutionally invalid. See Johnson, 725 S.W.2d at 247. Having found that the record fails to demonstrate any error in the method in which Appellant was admonished and that the pleas were voluntarily entered, the premise upon which Appellant’s point is based is without merit. Thus, Point of Error No. Seven is overruled.
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

. The Supreme Court held that it was impermissible to attempt to convict the accused for manslaughter stemming from an incident to which the accused had previously pled guilty to traffic citations and driving while intoxicated. Grady, 495 U.S. at 508, 110 S.Ct. at 2084.

. As indicated by the judgments entered, Appellant had been incarcerated for 22 days, and the judge imposed a sentence of 20 days in response to Appellant’s guilty plea.