Court Opinion

ID: 4067433
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 23:18:26.514175+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:07.613069
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                    06-15-00154-CR
                                                                         SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                               TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                              10/16/2015 3:48:31 PM
                                                                                   DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                             CLERK

                        NO. 06-15-00154-CR

                                                                   FILED IN
                       **************                       6th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                              TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                            10/19/2015 8:47:00 AM
                    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS                      DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                     Clerk
              SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                       TEXARKANA TEXAS

                          **********

                    ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS,
                                      Appellant
                                 VS.
                      THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                      Appellee
                          **********

                    Appealed from the 71st District Court
                       Harrison County, Texas
                      Trial Court No. 15-0053X
__________________________________________________________________

                      BRIEF OF APPELLANT
__________________________________________________________________

                                             EBB B. MOBLEY
                                             State Bar # 14238000
                                             Attorney at Law
                                             422 North Center St.-Lower Level
                                             P. O. Box 2309
                                             Longview, TX 75606
                                             Telephone: (903) 757-3331
                                             Facsimile: (903) 753-8289
                                             ebbmob@aol.com

                                             ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
                             NO.06-15-00154-CR

                        ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS,
                                          Appellant
                                      VS.

                           THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                           Appellee

__________________________________________________________________

               IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
                      Pursuant to T.R.A.P. 38.1(a)
__________________________________________________________________

Appellant:           ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS Gurney Unit - TDCJ-ID
                     Inmate #2023158       Palestine, Texas 75803
Appellant's          CRAIG A. FLETCHER            110 South Bolivar #210
trial counsel:       Attorney at Law              Marshall, Texas 75670

State's trial        SHAWN ERIC CONNALLY P.O. Box 776
counsel:             MICHAEL NORTHCUTT JR. Marshall, Texas 75671
                     Assistant District Attorneys

Trial Judge:         HON. BRAD MORIN              200 West Houston Street, Suite 219
                     71st District Judge          Marshall, Texas 75670
Appellant's          EBB B. MOBLEY                P. O. Box 2309
counsel on appeal:   Attorney at law              Longview, TX 75606

State's counsel      COKE SOLOMON                 P.O. Box 776
on appeal:           Criminal District Attorney   Marshall, Texas 75671

                                   Page 1 of 11
                                         TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                                                                  Page

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
STATEMENT OF THE CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ISSUES PRESENTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

STATEMENT OF FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ISSUE NUMBER ONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
       Did the trial court err in the manner of submission of the parole law
     charge in the punishment charge to the jury?

         SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
         ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
ISSUE NUMBER TWO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

        Did the trial court err in assessing payment of court appointed counsel
      fees against the appellant, an indigent person?
         SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

         ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10

PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

                                                    Page 2 of 11
                                     INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases

Almaza v. State, 686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984) (opinion on reh’g) . . . .7
Armstrong v. State, 340 S.W.3d 759, 765-66 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Cates v. State, 402 S.W.3d 250, 252 (Tex.Crim.App. 2013) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Hill v. State, 30 S.W.3d 505, 509 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2000, no pet.) . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Loun v. State, 273 S.W.3d 406 Tex.App. - Texarkana 2008, no pet.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Martin v. State, 405 S.W.3d 944, 946-47 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2013, no pet.) . . . .10

Mayer v. State, 309 S.W.3d 552, 556 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,10

Rogers v. State, 38 S.W.3d 725 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2001, pet. ref’d) . . . . . . . . . . .7
Skinner v. State, 956 S.W.2d 532, 544 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Villareal v. State, 205 S.W.3d 103 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2006)
      (pet. dismissed, untimely filed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Wilder v. State, No. 06-15-00091-CR, slip op. 9-22-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Statutes
Code of Criminal Procedure Article 26.05(g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.07(4)(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.07(4)(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.07(4)(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

     All references to Texas statutes, rules, etc. are to the latest edition published by
West Publishing Company, unless otherwise indicated.

                                                 Page 3 of 11
                          STATEMENT OF THE CASE
      This is an appeal from a conviction for possession of methamphetamine and

possession of cocaine. ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS was tried and convicted after his
open plea of guilty in the 71st District Court in Harrison County, Texas. He was then

sentenced by a jury to 10 years imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine and

15 years imprisonment for possession of cocaine, with the sentences to run

concurrently. CR-154.

      For clarity, THE STATE OF TEXAS will be referred to as "the State", and
ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS will be referred to as "Defendant" or "Appellant."

                               ISSUES PRESENTED

                              ISSUE NUMBER ONE
      Did the trial court err in the manner of submission of the parole law charge in the

punishment charge to the jury?

                              ISSUE NUMBER TWO

      Did the trial court err in assessing payment of court appointed counsel fees

against the appellant, an indigent person?

                                      Page 4 of 11
                            STATEMENT OF FACTS
      A Harrison County grand jury indicted ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS on

February 26, 2015, for two counts of possession of drugs. CR-8.
      Count I alleged possession of methamphetamine in an amount of more than

one gram but less than four grams, a third degree felony.

      Count II alleged possession of cocaine in an amount more than four grams but
less than 200 grams, a second degree felony.
      Trial commenced on September 8, 2015, with voir dire. The defendant entered

a plea of “not guilty.” 6 RR 12.

      After testimony of two State witnesses, some 2 ½ hours into the trial, the
defendant changed his plea to “guilty” on each count after admonishments by the trial

judge. 6 RR 72-74.
      The punishment phase of the trial started on September 9, 2015. The State
offered certified copies of ten different misdemeanor offenses. 8 RR SX 61-72. The

defendant called six witnesses to support his application for community supervision
from the jury. During its deliberations the jury sent out a note inquiring whether

sentences would run concurrently or consecutively. CR-138.           The trial judge

declined to directly respond to the note and referred the jury back to the charge. CR-
139. In its verdict the jury did not assess community supervision. Rather the jury

assessed 10 years for possession of methamphetamine and 15 years for possession of

cocaine. CR145-146.

      The defendant appeals his sentences and the assessment of court-appointed

counsel fees.

                                     Page 5 of 11
                               ISSUE NUMBER ONE
      Did the trial court err in the manner of submission of the parole law charge in

the punishment charge to the jury?

                        SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      The trial court’s submission of a modified instruction on parole law confused

the jury and allowed it to speculate on the effect of parole law on the total length of
time of incarceration of the defendant.

                       ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES
      The punishment charge at issue begins: As to Count I and II: under the law .
. . . . CR-142. The punishment charge was phrased in terms of Code of Criminal

Procedure Article 37.07(4)(c), as Count I involved a third degree felony and Count

II, a second degree felony. The defendant made no objection to combining the two
counts for one parole law instruction. 7 RR 89. The statute provides that . . . “the

court shall ( emphasis added) charge the jury in writing as follows: . . . .” in Sections
4(a),(b), and (c) of Art. 37.07. There is no provision for the trial judge to edit, alter,

modify or consolidate the charge in any way.

      The State’s opening argument on punishment called for a 10 year sentence for
each count. 7 RR 93.      No mention was made of parole.

      Defense argument on punishment made no mention of parole, and involved

a plea for probation in terms of “a second chance.” 7 RR 97-98.

      In closing argument on punishment the State’s attorney faulted the defendant
for not accepting responsibility and asked for a 10 year and a 15 year sentence. 7 RR

105. No mention was made of parole.

                                      Page 6 of 11
      The jury retired for deliberation, and eventually sent out a note inquiring

whether the sentences would run concurrently or consecutively. CR-38. The trial
court did not directly answer the note. He simply referred the jury to the charge as

given. CR-139, 7 RR 107. The defendant made no objection to the response or the

summary procedure used to respond to the jury note.

      The punishment verdicts included a 10 year sentence for possession of

methamphetamine and a 15 year sentence for possession of cocaine. Probation was
specifically rejected for each count. CR 145-146.

                             STANDARD OF REVIEW
      Since Appellant did not object to the punishment charge nor the judge’s

response to the jury note, his appellate complaint may be sustained only if he can
show egregious harm, i.e., harm so great that he was denied a fair and impartial trial.
See Skinner v. State, 956 S.W.2d 532, 544 (Tex.Crim.App. 1997). Almaza v. State,

686 S.W.2d 157, 171 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984) (opinion on reh’g).            A punishment
charge that modified the statutory parole law charge was found to be in error that

resulted in some harm. Rogers v. State, 38 S.W.3d 725 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2001,
pet. ref’d); Loun v. State, 273 S.W.3d 406 Tex.App. - Texarkana 2008, no pet.).

      It is apparent that the jury was concerned with the application of the parole law.

But the answer of the judge provided no guidance. The jury then assessed the

maximum sentence ( 10 years) on Count I and a substantial sentence (15 years) on

Count II. It seems reasonable to conclude that in the absence of a substantive

response to its note regarding parole, the jury continued to consider parole during its

assessment of punishment.

      Because the jury obviously had been considering the parole law on the

defendant’s punishment, because the record fails to demonstrate that the trial court

                                     Page 7 of 11
followed the proper procedural steps in responding to the jury note, and because the

jury assessed maximum and substantial sentences, the trial court’s erroneous
submission of a modified parole instruction resulted in some harm. See Villareal

v. State, 205 S.W.3d 103 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2006) (pet. dismissed, untimely

filed); Hill v. State, 30 S.W.3d 505, 509 (Tex.App. - Texarkana 2000, no pet.).

       The judgment should be reversed and the case remanded for a new trial on

punishment.

                                    Page 8 of 11
                               ISSUE NUMBER TWO
      Did the trial court err in assessing payment of court appointed counsel fees

against the appellant, an indigent person?

                        SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      No evidence in the record supports assessment of court appointed counsel

fees against ARTIS LADELL WILLIAMS, an otherwise indigent person.

                       ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

      The judgment at bar reflects assessment of $4211.25 in attorney fees against

appellant. CR-154. Appellant at all times has been represented by court appointed
counsel for both trial and appeal.

      Under Article 26.05(g) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a trial court
has the authority to order the reimbursement of court appointed attorney fees only if
“the court determines that a defendant has financial resources that enable him to

offset in part or in whole the costs of the legal services provided, including any
expenses and costs.” The defendant’s financial resources and ability to pay are

explicit critical elements in the trial court’s determination of the propriety of ordering

reimbursement of costs and fees of legal services provided. Armstrong v. State, 340
S.W.3d 759, 765-66 (Tex.Crim.App. 2011) (quoting Mayer v. State, 309 S.W.3d 552,
556 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010).

      There is no evidence in the record at bar that appellant’s indigent status

changed from the time of the initial appointment of trial counsel through the
punishment phase of trial. Code of Criminal Procedure Art. §26.05(g) requires a

                                      Page 9 of 11
present determination of financial resources and does not allow speculation about

possible future resources. See Cates v. State, 402 S.W.3d 250, 252 (Tex.Crim.App.
2013); see also Mayer v. State, 309 S.W.3d 552, 556 (Tex.Crim.App. 2010); Martin

v. State, 405 S.W.3d 944, 946-47 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2013, no pet.), and Wilder v.

State, No. 06-15-00091-CR, slip op. 9-22-15.

      The trial court judgment should be modified to delete the assessment of

appointed counsel fees.

                                  Page 10 of 11
                                     PRAYER
      Upon the issues presented, it is submitted that this case should be reversed and

remanded for a new trial on punishment; alternatively, the judgment should be
modified to delete any assessment of attorney fees.

                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                       EBB B. MOBLEY
                                       Attorney at Law
                                       422 North Center St - Lower Level.
                                       P. O. Box 2309
                                       Longview, TX 75606
                                       Telephone: (903) 757-3331
                                       Facsimile: (903) 753-8289
                                       ebbmob@aol.com

                                       /s/ Ebb B. Mobley
                                       EBB B. MOBLEY
                                       State Bar # 14238000

                                       ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

                      CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

      I certify that this brief contains 1792 words according to the computer
program used to prepare the document.
                                        /s/ Ebb B. Mobley
                                       EBB B. MOBLEY

                         CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        A copy of this brief was provided to Coke Solomon, Harrison County District
Attorney, P.O. Box 776, Marshall, Texas 75671 on the 16th day of October, 2015, by
e-file.

                                       /s/ Ebb B. Mobley
                                       EBB B. MOBLEY

                                    Page 11 of 11