Court Opinion

ID: 4040417
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 22:30:58.175613+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:11.453422
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                   06-14-00139-CR
                                                                         SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                              TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                             1/20/2015 11:59:06 PM
                                                                                   DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                            CLERK

                NOS. 06-14-00140-CR, 06-14-00141-CR &

                             06-14-00142-CR          FILED IN
                                              6th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                TEXARKANA, TEXAS
____________________________________________________________
                                              1/23/2015 1:45:00 PM
                                                  DEBBIE AUTREY
          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS SIXTH DISTRICT Clerk

                        AT TEXARKANA, TEXAS
____________________________________________________________
                   DONNY JOE CURRY, APPELLANT

                                    V.

                   THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
____________________________________________________________
      APPEAL IN CAUSE NUMBERS CR1301628, CR1301627, and

       CR1301625 IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER 1

                  OF HUNT COUNTY, TEXAS
____________________________________________________________

                    BRIEF FOR APPELLANT
____________________________________________________________

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEALS:

     Comes now the Appellant and submits this brief pursuant to the

provisions of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure in support of his

request for the judgment of conviction and sentences to be overturned in

Cause Nos. CR1301628, CR1301627, and CR1301625.

                                         Appellant Requests Oral Argument
                 IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Appellant’s Attorney:
Jason A. Duff
2615 Lee Street
P.O. Box 11
Greenville, Texas 75403-0011

Appellant’s Trial Attorney:
Toby Wilkinson
P.O. Box 851266
Mesquite, Texas 75149

Appellee:
The State of Texas by and through
Joel Littlefield
Hunt County Attorney
4th Floor Hunt County Courthouse
2500 Lee Street
Greenville, Texas 75401

Appellee’s Trial Counsel:
Jeffry Kovach
Hunt County Attorney’s Office
4th Floor Hunt County Courthouse
2500 Lee Street
Greenville, Texas 75401

                                                   2
                                    TABLE OF CONTENTS

Identity of the Parties and Counsel ............................................................. 2

Table of Contents ....................................................................................... 3

Index of Authorities ..................................................................................... 4

Statement of the Case ................................................................................ 5

Statement of the Facts ................................................................................ 7

Summary of the Argument .......................................................................... 9

Argument and Authorities ......................................................................... 10

        Issue Number One ......................................................................... 10
        The evidence is legally insufficient to prove beyond reasonable
        doubt, that Curry committed Failure to Identify.

        Issue Number Two ......................................................................... 13
        Trial court imposed an illegal sentence in 06-14-00142
        (CR1301628).

        Issue Number Three ...................................................................... 15
        Trial court imposed an illegal sentence in 06-14-00140
        (CR1301625).

        Issue Number Four ........................................................................ 16
        Trial court imposed an illegal sentence in 06-14-00141
        (CR1301627).

Prayer for relief ........................................................................................ 19

Certificate of compliance of typeface and Word Count ............................. 20

Certificate of Service ................................................................................. 21

                                                                                                           3
                                   INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

FEDERAL CASE:

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307. ............................................................ 10

STATE CASES:

Cordova v. State, 698 S.W.2d 107, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). .............. 11

Banks v. State, 708 S.W.2d 460, 462 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986)..................... 14

Ex parte Pena, 71 S.W.3d 336 (Tex.Crim.App.2002) ................................ 13

Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993).. ............. 11

Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) ......................... 10

Mizell v. State, 119 S.W.3d 804, 806 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003) ..................... 13

Urbano v. State, 837 S.W.2d 114, 116 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) ................... 12

Vodochodsky v. State, 158 S.W.3d 502, (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) ............. 12

Washington v. State 127 S.W.3d 197 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 2003,

pet. dism’d) ............................................................................................... 10

STATE STATUTES:

TEX PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.03(a) & (b) (West 2011) ............................. 12

TEX PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.23 (Casemaker 2014) .............................. 11

TEX PENAL CODE ANN. § 38.02(a) (Casemaker 2014) .......................... 18

                                                                                                             4
Tex.R.App.P. 43.2(b)
(Casemaker 2014) .................................................................................... 14

Tex.R.App.P. 43.6
(Casemaker 2014) ................................................................................... 14

Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(d)

(Casemaker 2014) ................................................................................... 14

Tex. Transp. Code § 548.601 (Casemaker 2014) ..................................... 17

Tex. Transp. Code § 548.602 (Casemaker 2014) ..................................... 16

Tex. Transp. Code § 601.051 (Casemaker 2014) ..................................... 15

Tex. Transp. Code § 601.191 (Casemaker 2014) ..................................... 15

                                                                                                      5
                       STATEMENT OF THE CASE

     This is an appeal of the judgment and sentence in a criminal case for

the County Court at Law No. 1, in Hunt County, Texas. Appellant was

convicted of Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility in Cause No

CR1301625 with a $250 fine, with a Sentence of 275 days confinement,

Failure to Display / No Motor Vehicle Inspection in Cause No CR1301627

with a fine in the amount of $250 with a Sentence of 275 days confinement,

and Failure to Identify with a fine assessed in the amount of $250, with a

Sentence of 275 days confinement on August 1, 2014. Notice of appeal

was given on August 1, 2014. The clerk's record was filed on October 1,

2014; the reporter's record was filed on November 3, 2014.

                                                                             6
                       STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

      On March 1, 2013, Donny Joe Curry (Appellant) was stopped by

Officer Samantha Marique in Commerce, Texas. (RR Vol. 9 p. 63).

Manrique testified at trial that while on a routine patrol she notice a blue

vehicle with no rear license plate. Manrique further testified that when she

confronted Appellant he state that he had no driver’s license and no

insurance. (RR Vol. 9. 63). Later, Marique simply states that Appellant only

gave her the name of Donny and that there was no registration insignia on

the front of the windshield. (RR Vol. 9. 67).

      Marique felt that she needed back up to deal with appellant so she

called for the help of Officers Pehl and Scott. During that time Appellant

waited in his vehicle. When Pehl and Scott arrived, Marique briefly

explained why she had pulled Appellant over. Pehl immediately opened

the Appellant’s door ordered him to exit and used a Taser on Appellant.

Manrique stated that while being Tased, Appellant held on to the steering

wheel. (RR Vol. 9. 69). After Appellant screamed in pain from the Taser,

and requested of Pehl to follow the law, Pehl removed Appellant from the

vehicle. As officer Pehl removed Appellant from the car Appellant held his

arms up in the air and away from officer Pehl. Officer Pehl then put hand

cuffs on Appellant, guided Appellant to the hood of Manrique’s car and then

                                                                               7
escorted Appellant off camera. (State’s Exhibit 3, 8:30- 11:30). Marique

testified that that the officers later found Appellant’s Social Security Card

and driver’s license. (RR Vol. 9. 81).

      On August 28, 2013 Officer Manrique swore out a criminal complaint

where she alleged:

      “…Defendant did then and there refuse to give his name, residence

address, or date of birth to a peace officer who has lawfully arrested the

person and requested the information.” (CR Vol. 1 p. 9).

                                                                                8
                        SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENTS

Issue One:     The evidence is legally insufficient to prove beyond
reasonable doubt, that Curry Failed to give Identification

      The evidence presented at trial could not have led a rational the trial

court to find that Curry acted with a conscious objective or desire to

intentionally refused to give his name, residence address, or date of birth to

a peace officer who has lawfully arrested the person and requested the

information, or that he was aware that her conduct was reasonably certain

to cause that result.

      Concluding so, based on the evidence presented at trial, would have

been speculation or suspicion by the factfinder. Thus, the evidence is

legally insufficient to convict Curry in this case.

Issues Two, Three, and Four: The trial court entered judgments that

included illegal sentences on the remaining cases.

      The illegally imposed sentences that included punishments for

confinement when Cause Nos. CR1301628, CR1301627, and CR1301625

were alleged as Class C Misdemeanors.

                                                                                9
                                 ARGUMENT

       Issue One: The evidence is legally insufficient to support
                    the convictions of Appellant

      In a criminal case, an appellant may raise legal sufficiency for the first

time on appeal. Washington v. State 127 S.W.3d 197 (Tex. App. Houston

[1st Dist.] 2003, pet. dism’d). When reviewing legal sufficiency of the

evidence, a court must look at all of the evidence in the light most favorable

to the verdict to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have

found the essential elements of the offense were proven beyond a

reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319; Vodochodsky v.

State, 158 S.W.3d 502, (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). While giving the proper

deference to the factfinder’s role this court must safeguard against the rare

occurrence when a factfinder does not act rationally. Laster v. State, 275
S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).

      In this case Appellant was charged with Failure to Identify. (CR Vol.

1p. 9). To support a conviction of the appellant, the State must prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant intentionally refused to give his

name, residence address, or date of birth to a peace officer who has

lawfully arrested the person and requested the information.

                                                                              10
      TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §38.02(a) (Casemaker 2014) emphasis

added.

      In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, courts should look at

“events occurring before, during and after the commission of the offense

and may rely on actions of the defendant which show an understanding

and common design to do the prohibited act.” Cordova v. State, 698
S.W.2d 107, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). Each fact need not point directly

and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative

force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the

conviction. Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 183, 186 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)

      The video in this case depicts when officer Manrique first approached

Appellant gave his first name. (RR Vol. 9. 67). Then Manrique retreats to

her vehicle. Then there are no more clear requests for Appellant to identify

himself until Appellant Tased and arrested. (State’s Exhibit 3).

      At no point before Officer Pehl Tased Appellant and removed him

from the car does Pehl or other officer definitively indicate that he is under

arrest.

      Even giving full play to the responsibility of the fact finder to fairly

resolve conflicts in testimony, to weigh the evidence and to draw

                                                                                 11
reasonable differences from basic facts to ultimate fact no rational fact

finder could have found that Curry effected resistance to the arrest.

      Again looking to the actions or events before, during and after the

commission of the offence the facts do not amount to Failure to Identity as

alleged in the Complaint. Therefore the evidence brought at trial was

insufficient and Curry’s conviction should be overturned.

      Appellant lacked the intent

      Additionally the state must prove that Appellant acted with a

conscious objective or desire to cause the result, or that he was aware that

his conduct was reasonably certain to cause the result. Tex. Pen. Code

Ann. § 6.03(a) & (b) (West 2011).

      It is just as rational, if not more rational, that Appellants Proof that

amounts to only a strong suspicion of guilt or a mere probability of guilt is

insufficient to sustain a conviction. Urbano v. State, 837 S.W.2d 114, 116

(Tex.Crim.App. 1992)

      In this case the trial court could only form a suspicion that Appellant

Failed to Identify himself before his arrest when there was no clear

indication to Appellant at the time just before he was Tased, the officers

were about to arrest him.

                                                                                 12
      The State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant

acted with a conscious objective or desire to fail to identify himself before

he was arrested, or that he was aware that his conduct was reasonably

certain to cause the result in this case.

                              ILLEGAL SENTENCES

      A sentence outside the maximum or minimum range of punishment is

unauthorized by law and therefore illegal. Mizell v. State, 119 S.W.3d 804,

806 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003). A defendant may obtain relief from an

unauthorized sentence on direct appeal or by a writ of habeas corpus. Ex

parte Pena, 71 S.W.3d 336 (Tex.Crim.App.2002). In addition to the above

arguments in issue one, Appellant asserts in his remaining issues the trial

court imposed illegal sentences in CR1301628, CR1301627, and

CR1301625) because they each include a period of confinement, even

though they all clearly state that each offence is a Class C Misdemeanor.

      Issue Two: Fail to Identify insufficient to include Confinement

      The trial court entered a Judgment and Sentence on August 1, 2014.

In addition to a fine of $250.00, the court hand wrote sentence for

                                                                                13
confinement of 275 days in Cause number CR1301628. When the trial

court orally pronounced the judgments, he did not include a sentence of

confinement. RR Vol3 11 p.7-8)

     A person adjudged guilty of a Class C misdemeanor shall be

punished by a fine not to exceed $500. Tex. Penal Code Ann § 12.23

(Casemaker 2014)

     Texas Penal Code §38.02 provides that:

 (c) Except as provided by Subsections (d) and (e), an offense under this
section is:
      (1) a Class C misdemeanor if the offense is committed under
      Subsection (a); or
      (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the offense is committed under
      Subsection (b).

     TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §38.02 (Casemaker 2014).

     It is not alleged that Appellant nor was it proved that Appellant

committed the offences under subsection (b). Even if he did the trial court

still would have pronounced a sentence greater than the maximum of a

Class B misdemeanor.

     This court can remand this Case for a new punishment hearing. Tex.

R. App. P. 43.2(d). If the Court finds it has the necessary data and

evidence before it for reformation, the judgment and sentence may be

reformed on appeal. Tex.R.App.P. 43.2(b), 43.6; Banks v. State, 708
S.W.2d 460, 462 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986).

                                                                            14
     Issue Three: Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility
provides for a penalty of fine only.  CR1301625 / 06-14-00140

     The complaint in 6-14-00140 alleges that appellant violated

601.191(a)/601.051 of the Texas Transportation Code. (CR Vol. 1 p.9)

       A person may not operate a motor vehicle in this state unless
financial responsibility is established for that vehicle through:

     (1) a motor vehicle liability insurance policy that complies with
Subchapter D;
     (2) a surety bond filed under Section 601.121;
     (3) a deposit under Section 601.122;
     (4) a deposit under Section 601.123; or
     (5) self-insurance under Section 601.124.

Tex. Transp. Code § 601.051 (Casemaker 2014)

     The above statute penalty is enumerated in Section 601.191 of the

Transportation Code and states in pertinent part:

        (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor
vehicle in violation of Section 601.051.
       (b) Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d), an offense under
this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $175 or
more than $350.
       (c) If a person has been previously convicted of an offense under this
section, an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of not less than $350 or more than $1,000.
       (d) If the court determines that a person who has not been previously
convicted of an offense under this section is economically unable to pay the
fine, the court may reduce the fine to less than $175.

Tex. Transp. Code § 601.191 (Casemaker 2014)

                                                                           15
      Here the statute does not contemplate even a possibility for a

sentence of confinement to be assessed. As in above the trial court

entered a Judgment and Sentence on August 1, 2014. In addition to a fine

of $250.00, the court hand wrote sentence for confinement of 275 days.

When the trial court orally pronounced the judgments, he did not include a

sentence of confinement. (RR Vol3 11 p.7-8)

     Issue Four: Failure to display inspection sticker in CR1301627 /
06-14-00141 is punishable by fine only.

      The complaint in 6-14-00141 alleges that appellant violated of §

548.602 Texas Transportation Code. (CR Vol. 1 p.9). That section of the

code states:

      (a) After the fifth day after the date of expiration of the period
designated for inspection, a person may not operate:
             (1) a motor vehicle registered in this state unless a current and
appropriate inspection certificate is displayed on the vehicle; or
             (2) a commercial motor vehicle registered in this state unless it
is equipped as required by federal motor carrier safety regulations and
displays an inspection certificate issued under the program established
under Section 548.201.
      (b) A peace officer who exhibits a badge or other sign of authority
may stop a vehicle not displaying an inspection certificate on the windshield
and require the owner or operator to produce an inspection certificate for
the vehicle.
      (c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(1) that an
inspection certificate for the vehicle is in effect at the time of the arrest.

Tex. Transp. Code § 548.602 (Casemaker 2014).

                                                                            16
     The penalty for failure to display an inspection sticker is enumerated

in Section 548.601 of the Transportation Code and states in relevant part:

      (a) A person, including an inspector or an inspection station, commits
an offense if the person:
            (1) issues an inspection certificate with knowledge that the
issuance is in violation of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;
      (b) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, an offense
under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Tex. Transp. Code § 548.601 (Casemaker 2014)

     Again, a person adjudged guilty of a Class C misdemeanor shall be

punished by a fine not to exceed $500. Tex. Penal Code Ann § 12.23

(Casemaker 2014). And again as in the other cases in this brief, the

statute does not contemplate even a possibility for a sentence of

confinement to be assessed. The trial court entered a Judgment and

Sentence on August 1, 2014. In addition to a fine of $250.00, the court

hand wrote sentence for confinement of 275 days. When the trial court

orally pronounced the judgments, he did not include a sentence of

confinement. (RR Vol3 11 p.7-8)

     This court may remand these cases for a new punishment hearing.

Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(d). Additionally, if the Court has the necessary data

and evidence before it for reformation, the judgment and sentence may be

reformed on appeal. Tex.R.App.P. 43.2(b), 43.6; Banks v. State, 708

                                                                             17
S.W.2d 460, 462 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986). Appellant argues that if this Court

does not overturn the conviction in Failure to Identify that this Court at a

minimum reform the judgments to not reflect confinement.

                                                                               18
                           PRAYER FOR RELIEF

      Wherefore, premises considered, Appellant respectfully prays that his

conviction in the above entitled and numbered cause be reversed and

acquit him. Appellant further prays for all other lawful relief to which he

may be entitled, at law or in equity.

                                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                                 _____/s/ Jason A. Duff____
                                                 Jason A. Duff
                                                 State Bar No. 24059696
                                                 2615 Lee Street
                                                 P.O. Box 11
                                                 Greenville, TX 75403-0011
                                                 jasonaduff@hotmail.com
                                                 Attorney for the Appellant

                                                                              19
 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE OF TYPEFACE AND WORD COUNT

        In accordance with Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.4 (e) and
(i), the undersigned attorney or record certifies that Appellants Brief
contains 14-point typeface of the body of the brief, 12-point typeface for
footnotes in the brief and contains 2,27 words, excluding those words
identified as not being counted in appellate rule of procedure 9.4(i)(1), and
was prepared on Microsoft Word 2010.

_____/s/ Jason A. Duff____
Jason A. Duff
Attorney for the Appellant

                                                                            20
                       CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

     I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and

foregoing instrument was forwarded to Collin County District Attorney’s

Office, on this the 20th day of January, 2015 and to the Court of Appeals in

Texarkana via , by electronic delivery.

                                               _____/s/ Jason A. Duff____
                                                              Jason A. Duff
                                                  Attorney for the Appellant

                                                                           21