Court Opinion

ID: 4039929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 22:21:37.40201+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:09.714207
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                          12-14-00354-CRCR
                                                                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                              TYLER, TEXAS
                                                                        2/5/2015 12:55:52 PM
                                                                                CATHY LUSK
                                                                                      CLERK

         No. 12-14-00349-CR and 12-14-00354-CR

                                                            FILED IN
                                                     12th COURT OF APPEALS
         IN THE TWELFTH COURT OF              APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS
                   TYLER, TEXAS                      2/5/2015 12:55:52 PM
                                                          CATHY S. LUSK
                                                              Clerk

             RACHEL MICHELLE KIRKSEY

                               Appellant,

                              v.

                  THE STATE OF TEXAS

                                   Appellee

On Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas
       Trial Cause Nos. 114-0777-14 and 114-0778-14

           ORAL ARGUMENT NOT REQUESTED

                          Austin Reeve Jackson
                          Texas Bar No. 24046139
                          112 East Line, Suite 310
                          Tyler, TX 75702
                          Telephone: (903) 595-6070
                          Facsimile: (866) 387-0152
                       IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Attorney for Appellant

Appellate Counsel:
Austin Reeve Jackson
112 East Line, Suite 310
Tyler, TX 75702

Trial Counsel:
A.M. Thompson
2108 South Wall Ave.
Tyler, TX 75701

Attorney for the State on Appeal

Michael J. West
Assistant District Attorney, Smith County
4th Floor, Courthouse
100 North Broadway
Tyler, TX 75702

                                            ii
                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL .................................................................................. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES........................................................................................................... iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ........................................................................................................ 2
ISSUE PRESENTED ....................................................................................................................... 2
STATEMENT OF FACTS .............................................................................................................. 2
PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF THE RECORD ................................................................. 3
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT .............................................................................................. 4
ARGUMENT ................................................................................................................................... 4

     I. THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN REVOKING
     APELLANT'S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION ................................................................... 4
     Standard of Review .................................................................................................................... 4
     A. There was Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Revocation .................................... 5
            1. The Plea ......................................................................................................... 6
            2. Sufficiency of the Evidence ........................................................................... 6
     B. Appellant's Setence was Within the Statutory Range of Punishment .................................. 7
     C. Appellant Received Effective Assistance of Counsel .......................................................... 9

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER ................................................................................................... 10
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ...................................................................................................... 11
CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL .................................................................................................... 12
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................. 12

                                                                    iii
                                         INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT:

Anders v. California,
 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967) ..................................................... 3, 10, 12

Robinson v. California,
 370 U.S. 660, 82 S. Ct. 1417, 8 L. Ed. 2d 758 (1962) ....................................................... 8

Solem v. Helm,
 463 U.S. 277, 103 S. Ct. 3001, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637 (1983) ................................................... 8

Strickland v. Washington,
  466 U.S. 668, 105 S. Ct. 1965, 85 L. Ed. 2d 344 (1984) ................................................ 9

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

Aguirre-Mata v. State,
 125 S.W.3d 473 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003)........................................................................ 6

Cardona v. State,
 665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984)........................................................................ 4

Cobb v. State,
 851 S.W.2d 871 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993)........................................................................ 7

Cole v. State,
 578 S.W.2d 127 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979) ........................................................................ 7

Ex parte Brown,
 158 S.W.3d 449 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) .......................................................................... 9

Garcia v. State,
 57 S.W.3d 436 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001) ......................................................................... 10

Hernandez v. State,
 988 S.W.2d 70 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) ......................................................................... 9

Jackson v. State,
  877 S.W.2d 768 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994) ....................................................................... 10

                                                             iv
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (CON’T):

Jordan v. State,
  495 S.W.2d 949 (Tex.Crim.App. 1973) ......................................................................... 8

Lyles v. State,
 850 S.W.2d 497 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) ........................................................................ 4

Mendez v. State,
 138 S.W.3d 334 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004) ........................................................................ 6

Miniel v. State,
 831 S.W.2d 310 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) ....................................................................... 10

Moore v. State,
 605 S.W.2d 924 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980) ........................................................................ 7

Moore v. State,
 694 S.W.2d 528 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985)........................................................................ 9-10

Rhoades v. State,
 934 S.W.2d 113 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) ....................................................................... 8

Rickles v. State,
  202 S.W.3d 759 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) ........................................................................ 4, 7

Stafford v. State,
  813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) ....................................................................... 10

Thompson v. State,
 9 S.W.3d 808 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) ........................................................................... 10

TEXAS COURTS OF APPEAL:

Bolden v. State,
 73 S.W.3d 428 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002) .................................................... 8

Brooks v. State,
 995 S.W.2d 762 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999) ......................................................... 7

Canseco v. State,
 199 S.W.3d 437 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006) .............................................. 4

                                                             v
TEXAS COURTS OF APPEAL (CON’T):

Castaneda v. State,
 135 S.W.3d 719 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003) .................................................................. 8

Duke v. State,
 2 S.W.3d 512 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999) ............................................................. 4

Hays v. State,
 933 S.W.2d 659 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1996) ........................................................ 5, 7

Joseph v. State,
  3 S.W.3d 627 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999) ................................................ 5

Lewis v. State,
 195 S.W.3d 205 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2006) ......................................................... 5

Mays v. State,
 904 S.W.2d 290 (Tex.App.—Fort Wroth 1995) ........................................................... 3

Noland v. State,
 264 S.W.3d 144 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007) ............................................. 8

Roman v. State,
 145 S.W.3d 316 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004)................................................ 9

Sims v. State,
  326 S.W.3d 707 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 2010) ............................................................ 6

Trevino v. State,
 174 S.W.3d 925 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2005) ......................................................... 8

STATUTES AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:

TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.115 ........................................................................ 8

TEX. PEN. CODE § 12.34 ................................................................................................... 9

TEX. PEN. CODE § 12.35 ................................................................................................... 8

TEX. PEN. CODE § 37.09 ................................................................................................... 8-9

TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 ......................................................................................................... 6, 8

                                                                    vi
STATUTES AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS (CON’T):

U.S. CONST. AMEND. VIII ................................................................................................ 7, 8

U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV ................................................................................................ 8

                                                                 vii
                   No. 12-14-00349-CR and 12-14-00354-CR

                  IN THE TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                            TYLER, TEXAS

                      RACHEL MICHELLE KIRKSEY

                                       Appellant,

                                      v.

                             THE STATE OF TEXAS

                                           Appellee

        On Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas
               Trial Cause Nos. 114-0777-14 and 114-0778-14

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT:

      COMES NOW, Austin Reeve Jackson, attorney for Rachael Kirksey and

files this brief pursuant to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and would

show the Court as follows:
                           STATEMENT OF THE CASE

       Rachel Kirksey seeks to appeal a revocation of community supervision in

two cases before the Court. (I CR1 78; I CR2 75).1 After being indicted for the

offenses of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Tampering with Evidence,

Ms. Kirksey was placed on community supervision in each case after entering a

plea of “guilty” in the 114th District Court of Smith County. (I CR1 35; I CR2

36). In November of last year the trail court revoked that community supervision

and imposed in each case a sentence of confinement. (I CR1 78; I CR2 75). Sen-

tence was pronounced on 6 November 2014 and notice of appeal then timely filed.

(I CR1 78, 84; I CR2 75, 81).

                                 ISSUE PRESENTED

       THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN
       REVOKING APPELLANT’S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.

                             STATEMENT OF FACTS

       Following her indictment for the two cases currently before the court, Ms.

Kirksey elected to enter a plea of “guilty” in each case in exchange for an agreed

recommendation of community supervision. (III RR 12-13). In August of last

year the 114th District Court of Smith County accepted those pleas and followed

the recommendation in each case. (III RR 20).

1
 The Clerk’s Record in cause 12-14-00349-CR / 114-0777-14 is cited as “CR1” and that of 12-
14-00354-CR / 114-0778-14 as “CR2.”

                                            2
      Unfortunately, just a few months later Ms. Kirksey was once again before

the court on an application to revoke. (IV RR 1). To the alleged violations made

against her Ms. Kirksey entered pleas of “true.” (IV RR 4, 11-13). Finding the

pleas to be freely and knowingly made, and finding that the same established a vio-

lation of the terms and conditions of her community supervision, the trial court re-

voked Ms. Kirksey’s probation. (IV RR 30). In the possession case Ms. Kirksey

was sentenced to serve a term of twelve months’ confinement while a term of five

years’ confinement was imposed in the tampering case. (Id.). Sentence was pro-

nounced on 6 November and notice of appeal then timely filed. (I CR1 78, 84; I

CR2 75, 81).

            PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF THE RECORD

      In accordance with the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738,

744, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 1400, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967), counsel has reviewed the record

and determined that, in his professional opinion, the record contains no reversible

error or jurisdictional defects. Under circumstances where there appears to be no

arguable grounds for reversal on appeal, counsel is required to present a profes-

sional evaluation of the record supporting this assertion. See Mays v. State, 904
S.W.2d 290, 922-23 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1995, no pet.).

                                         3
                      SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      Pursuant to the responsibilities and requirements of the governing code of

professional conduct, a thorough review of the record has been made. Counsel’s

research has revealed no arguable, non-frivolous grounds that could be advanced in

support of a claim that there exists reversible error in the trial, judgment, or sen-

tence of Appellant. A review and analysis of any potential issues is herein present-

ed for the Court.

                                  ARGUMENT

      Standard of Review

      Where a trial court revokes a previously imposed term of community super-

vision the decision to do so is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard.

Rickels v. State, 202 S.W.3d 759, 763 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006); Cardona v. State,

665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984). A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts

without reference to guiding principles. Lyles v. State, 850 S.W.2d 497, 502

(Tex.Crim.App. 1993). This review considers the record in the light most favora-

ble to the trial court’s decision. Duke v. State, 2 S.W.3d 512, 515 (Tex.App.—San

Antonio 1999, no pet.).

      Proof of even a single violation is sufficient to support a revocation. Can-

seco v. State, 199 S.W.3d 437, 439 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet.

ref’d). Therefore, in order to prevail an appellant must show that taking the evi-

                                         4
dence in the light most favorable to the court’s decision there is insufficient evi-

dence to support each and every finding of the court. Lewis v. State, 195 S.W.3d
205, 209 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.); Joseph v. State, 3 S.W.3d 627,

640 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). Additionally, a plea of true,

standing alone, is sufficient to support a trial court’s revocation of community su-

pervision. See Hays v. State, 933 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1996,

no pet.) (holding that a plea of “true” to any violation can by itself support a revo-

cation).

           I.          THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRE-
                       TION IN REVOKING APPELLANT’S COMMUNITY
                       SUPERVISION.

           A. There Was Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Revocation.

           By way of a written motion to proceed to final adjudication, Ms. Kirksey

was alleged to have violated the terms of her community supervision. (I CR1 70; I

CR2 69). The application included the following allegations:

Application Paragraph                          Allegation
            I                                  Identity of Defendant
           II                                  Failure to Report
          III                                  Failure to Report
          IV                                   Failure to Pay Costs and Fees
           V                                   Failure to Pay Costs and Fees2

2	
  This	
  allegation	
  appeared	
  only	
  in	
  cause	
  114-­‐0777-­‐14.	
  	
  (I	
  CR	
  72).	
  

                                                                         5
(Id.). To all paragraphs pleas of “true” were entered. (IV RR 29). Thus, if the

pleas of “true” were entered freely, knowingly, and voluntarily, the trial court had

sufficient evidence to revoke Ms. Kirksey’s community supervision. Hays, 933
S.W.2d at 661.

      1. The Plea

      Before accepting her plea, the trial court advised Ms. Kirksey as to the con-

sequences of entering a plea of true, including the potential range of punishment,

and also advised her of the right to remain silent and the right to have a hearing on

the allegations at issue. (IV RR 6-14). After having been so advised, Ms. Kirksey

persisted in her desire to enter pleas of “true” and gave no indication that she was

doing so involuntarily. (Id.); see Sims v. State, 326 S.W.3d 707, 713 (Tex.App.—

Texarkana 2010, pet. struck) (citing Mendez v. State, 138 S.W.3d 334, 350

(Tex.Crim.App. 2004)) (holding that challenges to the voluntariness of a plea must

be raised before the trial court in order to preserve the error for appeal); see also

TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a)(1). Finally, could any error be advanced regarding the

trial court’s admonishments, such error would be non-constitutional error subject

to a harm analysis and, given the record before the Court, Ms. Kirksey could not

meet that burden in this case. See Aguirre-Mata v. State, 125 S.W.3d 473, 474-76

(Tex.Crim.App. 2003).

                                         6
      2. Sufficiency of the Evidence

      The State must prove allegations in a revocation setting by a preponderance

of the evidence. Cobb v. State, 851 S.W.2d 871, 873 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). Evi-

dence, therefore, is sufficient if an analysis of its comparative weight tends to sup-

port the trial court’s conclusion that at least one condition of probation was violat-

ed. See Rickels, 202 S.W.3d at 764 (holding that evidence is sufficient to support a

revocation where the greater weight of the credible evidence before the court sup-

ports a reasonable belief that a condition of probation has been violated). Moreo-

ver, a plea of true, standing alone, is sufficient to support a trial court’s revocation

of community supervision. See Hays v. State, 933 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.App.—

San Antonio 1996, no pet.) (holding that a plea of “true” to any violation can by

itself support a revocation). Thus, where the Court finds that a voluntary plea of

true was entered, as was the case here, the evidence is legally sufficient to support

the revocation. (IV RR 14); Moore v. State, 605 S.W.2d 924, 926 (Tex.Crim.App.

1980); Cole v. State, 578 S.W.2d 127, 128 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979); Brooks v. State,

995 S.W.2d 762, 763 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

      B. Appellant’s Sentence Was Within the Statutory Range of Punishment.

      The Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of “cruel and unusual pun-

ishment.” U.S. CONST. AMEND. VIII. The Eighth Amendment is applicable to the

                                           7
states through the Fourteenth Amendment. U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV; Robinson v.

California, 370 U.S. 660, 667, 82 S. Ct. 1417, 8 L. Ed. 2d 758 (1962).

      Here, neither Ms. Kirksey nor her trial counsel raised the issue of cruel or

excessive punishment at the time sentence was imposed and, therefore, this issue

has likely been waived on appeal. See TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Rhoades

v. State, 934 S.W.2d 113, 120 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Noland v. State, 264 S.W.3d
144, 151-52 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d); Castaneda v. State,

135 S.W.3d 719, 723 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.); but see Solem v. Helm,

463 U.S. 277, 288, 103 S. Ct. 3001, 3008-09, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637 (1983) (noting excep-

tion to this general rule if sentence assessed is grossly disproportionate to the

crime). Additionally, the sentences imposed were not only within the proper range

of punishment for each offense, but also were each one-half of the potential sen-

tence Ms. Kirksey was facing; a factor tending to weigh against a finding of an

Eighth Amendment violation.           Jordan v. State, 495 S.W.2d 949, 952

(Tex.Crim.App. 1973); Trevino v. State, 174 S.W.3d 925, 928 (Tex.App.—Corpus

Christi 2005, pet. ref’d); Bolden v. State, 73 S.W.3d 428, 434 (Tex.App.—Houston

[1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref’d); see also TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.115 (de-

fining possession of a controlled substance, as alleged, as a state jail felony); TEX.

PEN CODE § 12.35 (punishment range for a state jail felony); TEX. PEN. CODE §

                                          8
37.09 (defining tampering with evidence as a third degree felony); TEX. PEN. CODE

§ 12.34 (punishment range for a third degree felony).

      Finally, due process requires that the trial court consider the full range of

punishment for an offense and weigh both mitigating and incriminating evidence in

the assessment of sentence.           Ex parte Brown, 158 S.W.3d 449, 454

(Tex.Crim.App. 2005). In the absence of a clear showing to the contrary, on ap-

peal the Court will presume that the trial court did not act arbitrarily and consid-

ered all of the evidence before it.        Roman v. State, 145 S.W.3d 316, 319

(Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. ref’d). Given the record before the

Court, this presumption cannot be overcome on direct appeal.

      C. Appellant Received Effective Assistance of Counsel.

      Effective assistance of counsel is to be evaluated under the standard enunci-

ated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 105 S. Ct. 1965, 85 L. Ed. 2d 344

(1984); see also, Hernandez v. State, 988 S.W.2d 70 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). To

prevail in a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show (1)

that her trial counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable-

ness, and (2) that a reasonable probability exists that, but for trial counsel’s alleged

errors, the result would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88. On

appeal, the defendant carries the burden of proving ineffective assistance by a pre-

ponderance of the evidence. Moore v. State, 694 S.W.2d 528, 531 (Tex.Crim.App.

                                           9
1985). Finally, trial counsel’s performance is not to be judged with the benefit of

hindsight. Miniel v. State, 831 S.W.2d 310, 323 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).

      With this standard in mind, a comprehensive review of the record has been

made of the proceedings including pretrial matters, Ms. Kirksey’s original plea, the

revocation hearing, and the arguments of counsel. Here, that review fails to shows,

given the totality of the representation provided by trial counsel, any basis from

which to argue that ineffective assistance was rendered. See, e.g., Garcia v. State,

57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001); Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812

(Tex.Crim.App. 1999); Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex.Crim.App.

1994).

                        CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

      As counsel was unable to raise any arguable issues for appeal, he is required

to move for leave to withdraw.         See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503

(Tex.Crim.App. 1991).

      WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, counsel prays that the Court,

after affording Ms. Kirksey the opportunity to review the record and file a pro se

brief should she desire to do so, accept this brief and grant the attached Motion to

Withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493, 87 S. Ct.
1396 (1967).

                                        10
                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson
                                              Texas Bar No. 24046139
                                              112 East Line, Suite 310
                                              Tyler, TX 75702
                                              Telephone: (903) 595-6070
                                              Facsimile: (866) 387-0152

                         CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I certify that a true and correct copy of this brief was delivered to counsel for

the State by facsimile on this the 5th day of February 2015.

                                              /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

                                         11
                           CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL

      The attorney’s role as an advocate requires that I support my client’s appeal

to the best of my ability. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738. I, Austin Reeve

Jackson, counsel of record in this appeal, do hereby state that I have diligently

searched the entire record in this cause. I have researched the law applicable to the

facts and issues contained therein, and it is my professional opinion that the record

reflects no reversible error. In conformity with the applicable law pertaining to an

appeal of this nature, I have set forth any potential grounds of error and have

briefed them to the extent possible. I have further caused a copy of this brief to be

served by mail on Appellant, accompanied by a letter informing Appellant of the

right to examine the record for the purpose of filing a pro se brief.

                                               /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

                       CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

      I certify that this document complies with the requirements of Rule 9.4 and

consists of 2,282 words.

                                               /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

                                          12