Court Opinion

ID: 4051575
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 01:41:28.886025+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:42.021054
License: Public Domain

02/27/2015
                            APPELLATE COURT NO. 14-13-00961-CR

                                      TRIAL COURT NO. 1859025

ERIC GUY MARKLE                                             §         IN THE COUNTY CRIMINAL

v                                                           §         COURT AT LAW NUMBERS

THE STATE OF TEXAS                                          §         OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

                    FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

       Pursuant to the November 20, 2014, Order of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals

in the above entitled and numbered cause and this Court having taken judicial

notice of its files, and considered the evidence and testimony, makes the following

findings of fact.

                                                Findings of Fact

       The Court adopts the following findings of fact 1 filed by the State of Texas in

the Court of Appeals on November 12, 2014 in a motion entitled STATE'S

PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW.

           1. The Court finds that on June 11, 2014, a hearing was held in front of Judge

               Sherman Ross regarding Ms. Humphrey's progress on the records in

                Washington, Bryant, Bankett, Perez, Acosta, Castilo, Matamoros, and

               Markle (R.R.XIV 19; R.R. VI 4).

           2. The Court finds that on May 22, 2014, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals

1
    The adopted findings bear a different paragraph number than those in the State's document.
   issued an Abatement Order in Eric Guy Markle v. the State of Texas, 14-

   13-00962-CR, because Ms. Humphrey failed to file the reporter's record in

   that case (R.R.XIV 17; See Appendix Item 12 Abatement Order dated May

   22, 2014).

3. The Court finds that as of June 19, 2014, Ms. Humphrey had been paid

   $200 to complete the record in Eric Guy Markle v. the State of Texas, 14-

   13-00961-CR (R.R.VII 8).

4. The Court finds that on June 19, 2014, Judge Ross ordered that appellant

   Eric Guy Markle, 14-13-00961-CR, did not have to pay Ms. Humphrey any

   additional money for the reporter's record because she had yet to complete

   any record, thus there was no indication she would ever complete the

   record in Markle (R.R. VII 7-8).

5. The Court finds that on June 24, 2014, a second hearing was to be held in

   which Ms. Humphrey would attend and testify to the status of multiple

   records, but this hearing never took place, nor did Ms. Humphrey ever

   appear in the courtroom for this hearing, but she claimed to be present in

   the building printing out unedited versions of the reporter's records in Beal,

   Markle, Perez, Bryant, Acosta, Castilo, Bankett, and Matamoros (R.R.VII

   5, R.R.XIV 20, 35).

6. The Court finds that on June 27, 2014, Judge Ross inquired of counsel for
    Markle regarding payment to Ms. Humphrey for the completion of that

    record, and counsel for Markle, Charles Kingsbury, stated that it would be

    paid in full (R.R.X 7).

 7. The Court finds that on June 30, 2014, an agreement was made between

    Ms. Humphrey and counsel for Markle, Mr. Kingsbury, that payment for

    the reporter's record would be made once the record was complete (R.R.XI

    13-15).

 8. The Court finds that on July 7, 2014, it was determined that the audio in the

    Markle was missing the testimony of multiple witnesses (R.R.XIII 8).

 9. The Court finds that on July 14, 2014, it was determined that the audio in

    the Markle case that was turned over was incomplete in violation of the

    order of the Court (R.R.XIV 32, 48-49).

 10. The Court finds that on July 14, 2014, Ms. Humphrey stated that she would

    be able to complete and file the reporter's records in Bankett, Perez,

    Acosta, and Markle in the next three weeks (R.R.XIV 73 ).

                          Supplemental Findings of Fact

1. Trial counsel properly filed notice of appeal, and appellate counsel

   properly filed a specific designation of reporter's record, requesting a

   record in this case.
2. Ms. Humphrey's medical condition, personal, and professional problems

   during the latter part of 2013, and early 2014, indicate she may not have

   been in a condition where she could reliably report and transcribe the

   proceedings, or otherwise conduct herself in a professional manner. (R.R.II

   7-13), (R.R.III 5), (R.R.VI 12).

3. Ms. Humphrey never filed the completed reporter's record as she stated

   she would do at the July 24, 2014, hearing.

4. The appellant bears no fault for Ms. Humphrey's failure to complete and

   file the reporter's record.

5. The reporter's record is necessary to the appeal's resolution.

6. The reporter's record cannot be replaced, nor can the parties agree to the

   facts contained in the record.

7. On August 15, 2014, at the conclusion of the contempt hearing, the

   undersigned ordered Ms. Humphrey to then and there provide the court or

   court manager's office with a copy of all audio and stenographic files in all

   abatement cases then pending before the court.

8. Ms. Humphrey failed to do so at that time or at any time between August

   15, 2014, and February 26, 2015.

9. The exhibits and/or copies of the exhibits were filed with the Court of

   Appeals.
                                               Conclusions of Law

          1.    Sondra Humphrey violated her oath to keep a correct, impartial record of

                (1) the evidence offered in the case; (2) the objections and exceptions

                made by the parties to the case; and (3) the rulings and remarks made by

                the court in determining the admissibility of testimony presented in the

                case. Tex. Gov't Code Ann.§ 52.045(b) (West Supp. 2014).

          2.    The appellant is entitled to a new trial. Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(f).

Signed February 27, 2014.
                                                       SHERMAN A. ROSS, Ju~

2
    Tex. Gov't Code Ann.§§ 74.056(a), 74.121 (West Supp. 2014)