Court Opinion

ID: 2884399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 17:18:54.829615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:23.031086
License: Public Domain

In The
              Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

         ______________________________

               No. 06-08-00122-CR
         ______________________________

            ALLEN RAY SHIPP, Appellant

                           V.

          THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

    On Appeal from the 336th Judicial District Court
                Fannin County, Texas
                Trial Court No. 22668

      Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
              Opinion by Justice Carter
                                           OPINION

       Based on events occurring during one visit to the Wal-Mart store in Bonham, Allen Ray

Shipp was charged, in three separate indictments, with possession of a controlled substance; forgery

of a government instrument; and forgery of a commercial instrument. The controlled substance

charge alleged Shipp possessed methamphetamine and also alleged Shipp possessed the drug within

1,000 feet of a school, which would have enhanced the punishment for that charge. See TEX .

HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN . § 481.134 (Vernon Supp. 2008). The charge of forgery of a

government document claimed Shipp had a false Texas driver's license. The commercial instrument

charge alleged Shipp had presented a forged Wal-Mart receipt while in that store.

       Shipp now challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support these convictions; Shipp also

alleges error in the trial court's order cumulating his sentences. The State moved to consolidate the

three indictments and try Shipp in a single criminal action. Shipp did not object or move to sever

any of the actions. A Fannin County jury found Shipp guilty of all three charges and found "true"

the allegation of possession of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone. The trial court sentenced

him to sixty years' imprisonment for the possession charge; twenty-five years for the forgery of a

government instrument charge; and twenty years and a $10,000.00 fine for the forgery of a

commercial instrument charge. The trial court originally ordered the sentences to run concurrently,

but later ordered consecutive sentences. Finally, Shipp claims deprivation of due process where the

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State was allowed to consolidate three charges into one trial, while at the same time being allowed

to seek cumulation of sentences.

       The instant cause number and opinion concerns Shipp's conviction for possession of a

controlled substance. We refer the reader to our opinions in cause numbers 06-08-00123-CR

(forgery of government instrument) and 06-08-00124-CR (forgery of commercial instrument) for our

decisions addressing Shipp's appeals of those two convictions.

I.     A Trip to Wal-Mart

       On August 8, 2007, Shipp went to Wal-Mart with his wife, Carol, and the couple's adult

daughter, Courtney Butner. Carol had in a shopping cart a computer and a computer desk. She gave

the cart and a receipt, supposedly for the items in the cart, to Allen (in some instances we refer to

appellant Allen Shipp as Allen, to distinguish him from Carol; or as Shipp). She told him she was

going to the bathroom, that she had paid for the items in the cart, and would meet Allen in the car.

When Allen presented his cart and receipt to the store attendant located at the exit, the attendant

noticed the receipt did not feel like the usual receipts she handled; on closer inspection, the store

number and telephone number were incorrect. As many as five Wal-Mart employees reviewed the

receipt and also found these inconsistencies. Shipp went from asking what was the delay, to acting

nervous, to demanding a refund of $1,000.00; this, despite the fact the receipt showed a purchase of

$730.68. It was also discovered that the stock numbers listed on the receipt did not correspond to

the items in Shipp's basket. Bonham police responded to the store and began to interview Shipp.

                                                 3
Police also made contact in the parking lot with Carol and Butner. Carol said that at some point,

Allen brought her the keys and instructed her and Butner to leave. They left in the car, but shortly

returned to the Wal-Mart parking lot and were contacted by the police officers. Carol agreed to

allow the officers to search her purse and the car, but claimed the key was locked in the car.

Although she had told police she had no other keys to the car, a key was found in her purse. Officers

found in the center console a small M & M's container that contained methamphetamine, along with

a glass smoking pipe and small baggies used to portion narcotics. Tucked in the visor over the

driver's side seat were two more receipts, much like the one Shipp had presented in the store. Those

receipts, like the one Allen had in the store, also had incorrect store numbers and store telephone

numbers. Those receipts listed the same items, a computer and a desk, as the receipt presented in

the store. Also found in the car were a paper driver's license for Carol and a plastic driver's license

for Allen. Officer Josh Walker, who conducted the search and found these licenses, testified he

believed the paper license for Carol was counterfeit, and the plastic one for Allen had its corner cut

off and appeared to have areas ground off. Walker said he believed the Texas Department of Public

Safety cut the corner off licenses to indicate they were revoked.

       The State called Carol to testify against Allen. From statements made by Carol, the State,

and Allen's attorney, it appears that about two weeks before Allen's trial, Carol pled guilty to two

felonies, one of which may have been for the same possession of a controlled substance for which

Allen was on trial. It appears that part of her negotiated plea agreement was that she would testify

                                                  4
against Allen at his trial. From the context of some of the State's questions, it appears that she did

not testify exactly as the State anticipated. She testified that a few nights before the incident at Wal-

Mart, in the middle of the night, she took Allen's car without his knowledge or permission and drove

to Garland, Texas, where she bought the methamphetamine eventually found in the console of

Allen's car the day of the Wal-Mart arrest. She told the jury the methamphetamine found in the

console of Allen's car was hers. She said she had been carrying it with her, in a small M & M's

container. She said that when she, Butner, and Allen arrived at Wal-Mart, she put the container in

the center console of Allen's car. As they got out of the car, she claims she told Allen, "I put my

green thing in your console," where "green thing" referred to the container in which she carried her

methamphetamine. Carol testified she "assumed" Allen heard her say she put her container of

narcotics in his car, and "assumed" he knew what she meant about her "green thing," but she also

said she had "no clue" whether Allen knew what she was talking about. Illustrative of her testimony

is the following: "Well, I can't say that he knew for sure [that Carol had put her methamphetamine

in the car's console], but I assumed that he knew." Carol also claimed responsibility for originating

the idea to forge the store receipt. She said she made the fake receipt on Allen's computer while he

was not home. She also testified that she gave him the receipt with the cart of items so that he would

either successfully get the items out of the store, or get in trouble, which would repay him for things

he had done to her in the past.

                                                   5
       The Wal-Mart receipt led to Allen's conviction for forgery of a commercial instrument (see

this Court's opinion in cause number 06-08-00124-CR); the temporary driver's license found in

Allen's wallet led to his conviction for forgery of a government instrument (cause number 06-08-

00123-CR). The instant opinion addresses Shipp's conviction for possession of methamphetamine

and the finding that such possession was in a drug-free zone.

II.    Possession of Controlled Substance

       A.      Standard of Review

       Shipp attacks the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for

possession of a controlled substance (points of error 1 and 5), and to support the jury's finding on the

allegation the possession occurred in a drug-free zone (points of error 2 and 6).

       In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we view all the evidence in the light most

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

essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2000). In a factual sufficiency review, we review all the evidence, but do so in a neutral

light and determine whether the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak or is so outweighed by

the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that the jury's verdict is clearly wrong or

manifestly unjust. Roberts v. State, 220 S.W.3d 521, 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Watson v. State,

                                                   6
204 S.W.3d 404, 414–15 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 135 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1996).1

       To prove unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the State must establish that: (1) the

accused exercised control, management, or care over the substance; and (2) the accused knew that

the matter possessed was contraband. Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 405 (Tex. Crim. App.

2005); see TEX . HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN . § 481.115(a) (Vernon 2003). "'Possession' means

actual care, custody, control, or management." TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 1.07(39) (Vernon Supp.

2008). "Possession is a voluntary act if the possessor knowingly obtains or receives the thing

possessed or is aware of his control of the thing for a sufficient time to permit him to terminate his

control." TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 6.01(b) (Vernon 2003). The accused's mere presence in the

same place as the controlled substance alone is not sufficient to justify a finding of possession.

Harrison v. State, 555 S.W.2d 736, 737 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977). When the accused is not in

exclusive possession of the place where contraband is found, there must be additional independent

facts and circumstances which affirmatively link the person to the contraband. Poindexter, 153
S.W.3d at 406. "Whether this evidence is direct or circumstantial, 'it must establish, to the requisite

       1
         Under state law, in determining both the legal and the factual sufficiency of the evidence,
we measure the evidentiary sufficiency by the elements of the offense as defined by the
hypothetically correct jury charge for the case. See Vega v. State, 267 S.W.3d 912, 915 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2008); Wooley v. State, 273 S.W.3d 260, 268 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). A hypothetically correct
jury charge "sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment, does not unnecessarily increase the
State's burden of proof or unnecessarily restrict the State's theories of liability, and adequately
describes the particular offense for which the defendant was tried." Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234,
240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).

                                                  7
level of confidence, that the accused's connection with the drug was more than just fortuitous.'" Id.

at 405–06 (quoting Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995)). This connection

is designed to protect the innocent bystander from conviction based solely upon his fortuitous

proximity to someone else's drugs." Id. at 406.

       Under either sufficiency standard, it is unnecessary for the State's evidence to exclude every

other possible hypothesis but that of the accused's guilt, as long as there are sufficient links to

connect the accused to the crime. Sonnier v. State, 913 S.W.2d 511, 516 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995);

Benson v. State, 240 S.W.3d 478, 482 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2007, pet. ref'd); Harris v. State, 133
S.W.3d 760, 764–65 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. ref'd). In the context of a charge of

possession of controlled substance, many links to consider have been recognized:

       (1) the contraband was in plain view or recovered from an enclosed place; (2) the
       accused was the owner of the premises or the place where the contraband was found;
       (3) the accused was found with a large amount of cash; (4) the contraband was
       conveniently accessible to the accused; (5) the contraband was found in close
       proximity to the accused; (6) a strong residual odor of the contraband was present;
       (7) the accused possessed other contraband when arrested; (8) paraphernalia to use
       the contraband was in view, or found on the accused; (9) the physical condition of
       the accused indicated recent consumption of the contraband in question; (10) conduct
       by the accused indicated a consciousness of guilt; (11) the accused attempted to flee;
       (12) the accused made furtive gestures; (13) the accused had a special connection to
       the contraband; (14) the occupants of the premises gave conflicting statements about
       relevant matters; (15) the accused made incriminating statements connecting himself
       or herself to the contraband; (16) the quantity of the contraband; and (17) the accused
       was observed in a suspicious area under suspicious circumstances.

Muckleroy v. State, 206 S.W.3d 746, 748 n.4 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, pet. ref'd) (citing

Lassaint v. State, 79 S.W.3d 736, 740–41 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.); Kyte v. State,

                                                  8
944 S.W.2d 29, 31–32 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1997, no pet.)). It is the logical force of such links,

rather than mere quantity, that is important in determining whether the evidence is sufficient to

connect the accused to the alleged contraband or crime. Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 162 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2006).

       B.      Evidence of Allen's Possession

       The facts here reveal that Allen and Carol had been married, had children, and sporadically

lived together over more than a twenty-year period. A few nights before this incident, Carol had

used Allen's car to drive to Garland to obtain methamphetamine. Allen was upset that she had used

his vehicle as Carol was not allowed to drive his vehicle.

       The day of August 8, 2007, Carol went with Allen in his vehicle to the Wal-Mart store in

Bonham. Carol had the container of drugs in her "hand" and as they left the car, she put the

container of drugs in the console of Allen's vehicle and told Allen that she left her "green thing" in

his car. By alluding to the "green thing," Carol was referring to the "dope." While Carol originally

stated that she could "not recall" if Allen understood she was referring to the dope, she ultimately

testified that she assumed he knew what she meant. During the search of the vehicle, the drugs and

drug paraphernalia were found in the center console.

       C.      Legal and Factual Sufficiency Analysis

       Inference stacking is not part of factual sufficiency analysis. The jury can draw multiple

reasonable inferences as long as each inference is supported by evidence presented at trial. They

                                                  9
may not come to conclusions based on mere speculation or factually unsupported inferences or

presumptions. Hooper v. State, 214 S.W.3d 9, 15–16 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). In this case, the facts

show that Allen and Carol had a long-time relationship, drugs were found in the vehicle owned by

Allen, Carol purchased the drugs while using Allen's vehicle, and told him that she had placed the

"green thing" in his car. From these facts, may a jury reasonably infer that Allen knowingly and

jointly exercised care, custody, or control of the contraband?

        The vehicle in which the contraband was found belonged to Allen and he had the right to

control the contents placed in it. If Allen knew that drugs were placed in a vehicle that he controlled

while he had sufficient time to terminate that possession, but he failed to do so, he could be a joint

possessor. See Castellano v. State, 810 S.W.2d 800, 806 (Tex. App.—Austin 1991, no pet.) (citing

United States v. Olivier-Becerril, 861 F.2d 424, 426 (5th Cir. 1988)). While knowledge of the

presence of contraband may be inferred from control over the vehicle in which the contraband is

concealed particularly if the amount of contraband is large enough to indicate the defendant knew

of its presence, we do not solely rely upon the control of the vehicle, in this instance, to show

knowledge. In this case, there is evidence that Carol made an effort to tell Allen of the presence of

the contraband in the vehicle. The ultimate question here is whether the jury may reasonably infer

that Allen had knowledge of the drugs in his car when Carol told him that she put the "green thing"

in the car.

                                                  10
       This question should be decided based on the evidence that the jury was considering. Before

this incident at Wal-Mart in Bonham, Allen knew that a few days earlier, Carol had taken his car in

the middle of the night on an excursion after which he became angry. It may be reasonably inferred

that he was well aware of Carol's habits since they had been together for the better part of twenty-

four years. Mere words themselves may connote no particular meaning to two persons who are

unacquainted and unfamiliar with the other person and his/her manner of speech, whereas two long

time, intimate friends or spouses may be able to speak in a short-hand manner to each other with

complete understanding and awareness. Further, it is not uncommon in drug cases for the

participants to refer to controlled substances by some euphemistic word or phrase. See, e.g., In re

E.G., No. 05-95-00961-CV, 1996 Tex. App. LEXIS 5210 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 26, 1996, no

writ) (not designated for publication) (the term "fifties" is a common slang term for cocaine).

       Carol testified that when they arrived at Wal-Mart, she had a container of methamphetamine

in her hand (the search revealed that in the container was a glass pipe, baggies with trace amounts

of methamphetamine, and three bags of methamphetamine). As they were walking into the

Wal-Mart store, she told Allen that she left the "green thing" in his car. By that statement, Carol

testified she was referring to "dope." Carol further testified that she assumed that her wording was

such that Allen would know she placed drugs in the car.

       A defendant's knowledge is typically established by circumstantial evidence. Thomas v.

State, 208 S.W.3d 24, 25 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2006, no pet.). While there is no direct testimony

                                                11
that Allen knew and understood by Carol's statement that she had placed an illegal controlled

substance in his vehicle, we believe, under these facts, a jury could reasonably infer that her

statement made him aware of the existence of the drugs in his car. That being the case, Allen had

drugs in the vehicle that he controlled and had the time, opportunity, and authority to terminate any

possession charged to him, and he failed to do so. While the quantity of facts linking Allen to the

drugs are but a few, the logical force of them is substantial. In reviewing the evidence in a light most

favorable to the verdict, we agree that a rational jury could have found all elements of this crime,

including knowledge of the illegal substance, beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence is legally

sufficient to support the jury's finding.

        In considering the factual sufficiency, we are to review the evidence in a neutral light and

determine whether the evidence supporting the verdict is so weak or is so outweighed by the great

weight and preponderance of the evidence that the jury's verdict is clearly wrong or manifestly

unjust. Lancon v. State, 253 S.W.3d 699, 705 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). The primary question in this

case is whether Allen had knowledge that his vehicle contained an illegal substance—that evidence

has been reviewed in detail. There is no evidence specifically refuting Allen's knowledge of the

drugs in his car; we cannot find that a great preponderance of the evidence requires us to determine

the jury verdict is clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. The evidence is factually sufficient to uphold

the jury verdict that Allen possessed the illegal substance.

                                                  12
III.   Drug-Free Zone

       Shipp claims the evidence was legally (point of error 2) and factually (point of error 6)

insufficient to support the jury's affirmative finding that he possessed the methamphetamine in a

drug-free zone. Specifically, the State alleged Shipp possessed the controlled substance within 1,000

feet of Bonham High School.

       Bonham police officer Walker testified he measured from the nearest fixed object to the

location of Shipp's car in the Wal-Mart parking lot to the edge of the softball field on the Bonham

High School campus. Walker testified the car was parked between a light pole and a rack for

shopping carts; he said he measured, using a "rolling wheel," about 816 feet from the light pole to

the outfield fence on the school's softball field. He was not able to measure a strict straight line:

he had to go over curbs, around some cars, and through ditches. Walker said he maneuvered around

these impediments, starting at a line in the parking lot. He said from that line to the outfield fence

was 816 feet. He estimated about fifty feet lay between his starting spot and the point where the car

was parked.

       Allen centers his complaint on the fact that Carol testified she and Butner left the store, then

drove the car out of the parking lot, "made the block," re-entered the parking lot, and then parked the

car again. Allen claims that because there is no evidence of where he parked the car, as opposed to

where Carol and Butner parked, it cannot be known if he, along with the vehicle in which the

methamphetamine was found, was ever within the prohibited zone.

                                                  13
       The State counters this argument with the testimony of Officer Tammy Bohler, who testified

that she was not aware of any back entrance to the Wal-Mart parking lot. As far as she knew, one

would have to enter the parking lot via one of two entrances, either of which would put the person

entering the parking lot "closer to Bonham High School than" when the person entered the parking

lot.

       No one denies that Carol and Butner left the Wal-Mart store while Allen was still inside.

Allen had given Carol the key to the car, and she and Butner left in the vehicle. Officer Bohler

observed them in the vehicle as they were re-entering the Wal-Mart parking lot. Allen was not in

the vehicle. It is further undisputed that Walker measured the distance from the light pole nearest

the car as it was parked when Carol and Butner re-entered and parked the car after moving it from

its original location. Walker acknowledged that he was not aware that the car had been moved,

could not testify that it was in the same place, and could not testify that the vehicle was within 1,000

feet of the school grounds from the original location where the car was parked.

       We have explained in some detail that the evidence was sufficient to allow the jury to infer

that Allen was in possession of the drugs in the vehicle after he was told in rather vague terms by

Carol that she had placed the drugs in the vehicle. Before that time, there is not sufficient evidence

that Allen knowingly possessed the drugs. Consequently, at the time Allen drove the vehicle onto

the Wal-Mart parking lot, he could not be found to possess the drugs since there is insufficient

evidence at that time that he was aware of drugs in his vehicle. The fact Allen drove the vehicle

                                                  14
through one of the entrances that is within 1,000 feet of the school grounds, under these

circumstances, is irrelevant. Being unaware of the existence of the controlled substance at the time

he entered the parking lot, he would not be in possession of the drugs.

       There is no evidence of the distance between the school grounds and the site where the

vehicle was parked when Allen parked the car and was notified of the existence of the drugs.

Neither is there any evidence of the size of the Wal-Mart parking lot nor that all portions of the lot

are within 1,000 feet of the school grounds. The fact that the vehicle, after Carol left the parking lot

in it and returned, was finally parked at a distance within 1,000 feet from the school grounds does

not allow an inference that the car, as originally parked, was within the requisite 1,000 feet. Absent

additional facts, the fact-finder could only speculate as to that distance.

       Further, after Carol and Butner took exclusive possession and dominion of the vehicle, Allen,

although he was the vehicle owner, no longer had control, management, or care over the substance.

The only evidence is that Carol bought the drugs and had actual physical possession of them until

she placed them in the vehicle. When Carol was approached after re-parking the car, Allen was not

present at the vehicle, but was being detained by the police officers elsewhere. He no longer had the

ability to care, manage, or control the substance and, therefore, could not jointly possess the

substance. The evidence is legally insufficient to uphold the jury verdict that Shipp's possession of

an illegal substance occurred within 1,000 feet of a school zone.

                                                  15
IV.     Consecutive or Concurrent Sentences

        Shipp's ninth point of error relates to all three convictions. The trial court, after receiving the

jury's punishment assessments, pronounced sentences in each of the three cases: sixty years for the

possession of a controlled substance; twenty-five years for forgery of a government instrument; and

twenty years, plus a $10,000.00 fine for forgery of a commercial instrument. The trial court then

ordered the sentences to run concurrently, and remanded Shipp to the custody of the Fannin County

Sheriff. After the trial court pronounced these sentences and ordered them to run concurrently, the

State objected. Citing Section 481.134(h) of the Texas Health and Safety Code, the State claimed

that because the jury's verdict included an affirmative finding on the allegation that Shipp possessed

a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, the statute precluded the sentence for the

possession of controlled substance charge from running concurrently with punishment for a

conviction under any other criminal statute. See TEX . HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN . § 481.134(h).

In answer to the State's objection, the trial court said:

        You will need to bring case law on that point. The Court will take that under
        consideration in the motion for new trial. And that would be within 30 days['] time,
        and the Court will still have jurisdiction and can reform a sentence. But you will
        need to bring case law to indicate that is your position.
                I expect [defense counsel] to bring her case law indicating that [Penal Code
        Section] 3.03 precludes that. I will be open to either one, whatever the law is
        indicating.

About five weeks later, at the hearing on Shipp's motion for new trial, the trial court initially

concluded that Section 3.03 of the Texas Penal Code controlled and reiterated its pronouncement

                                                   16
at sentencing that the sentences run concurrently. However, upon discovering that Section 481.134

of the Texas Health and Safety Code had been enacted later than Section 3.03, the trial court ruled

the sentences for the two forgery convictions would run consecutive to the sentence for possession

of a controlled substance.

       We have found that the evidence is legally insufficient to sustain the jury verdict that Shipp

possessed an illegal substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone. As a result, that statute's

prohibition against concurrent sentences in inapplicable. The record shows that the trial court

changed the sentence based on the provisions of Section 481.134(h) and since we have found that

section inapplicable, we will determine if there is any other justification for the imposition of

consecutive sentences.

       In this case, Shipp was indicted and tried for possession of a controlled substance, forgery

of a government document, and forgery of a commercial instrument. The three causes were

consolidated and tried together in a single criminal action. See TEX . PENAL CODE ANN . § 3.02(a)

(Vernon 2003). Each of the offenses occurred within minutes of the other at the Wal-Mart store on

August 8, 2007, pursuant to the same transaction and therefore arose out of the same criminal

episode. Under these circumstances, the sentences normally would be concurrent. TEX . PENAL

CODE ANN . §§ 3.01, 3.03(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008). The trial court originally sentenced Shipp to

concurrent sentences, but was later persuaded that the provision in Section 481.134(h) (drug-free

                                                17
zone) applied and precluded the drug conviction from running concurrently with the other charges.2

Since we have found Section 481.134(h) does not apply, the sentences were required to run

concurrently.

       Additionally, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that the trial court may modify

its sentence if the modification is made on the same day as the assessment of the initial sentence and

before the court adjourns for the day. State v. Aguilera, 165 S.W.3d 695, 698 (Tex. Crim. App.

2005). Here, the sentence was formally imposed May 12, 2008, after which the trial court remanded

Shipp into the custody of the sheriff of the county to be held there until he was delivered to the

prison. Shipp's sentence began to run on that date. See TEX . CODE CRIM . PROC. ANN . art. 42.09, § 1

(Vernon Supp. 2008). The re-sentencing was done more than thirty days later. Based on the

precedent of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the trial court was without authority to

re-sentence Shipp. The sentence of May 12, 2008, is reinstated and the sentences herein shall run

concurrently.

V.     Due Process

       In a supplemental, or tenth point of error, Shipp complains that the trial court violated his

due process rights by allowing the State to, first, consolidate three offenses into one trial; then,

       2
        "Punishment that is increased for a conviction for an offense listed under this section may
not run concurrently with punishment for a conviction under any other criminal statute." TEX .
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN . § 481.134(h).

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second, allowing the State to receive the benefit of cumulated sentencing. We overrule this point

of error.

        Rule 33.1(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure requires that to preserve error for

review on appeal, the record must show the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely

request, objection, or motion that specifically stated the grounds for the ruling sought and that the

trial court ruled on the request, objection, or motion, either expressly or implicitly or refused to rule.

TEX . R. APP . P. 33.1(a); see also Cole v. State, 931 S.W.2d 578, 580 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995, pet.

ref'd). Due process and due course of law complaints also must be preserved for appeal. See Hull

v. State, 67 S.W.3d 215, 216–18 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Dews v. State, No. 06-06-00221-CR, 2007

Tex. App. LEXIS 3537 (Tex. App.—Texarkana May 10, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated

for publication); Marrow v. State, 169 S.W.3d 328, 330 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, pet. ref'd). The

rationale behind the waiver rule is that such complaint in the trial court gives that court or the

opposing party a chance to remedy any perceived error. See Purtell v. State, 761 S.W.2d 360, 365

(Tex. Crim. App. 1988). Shipp has not preserved this complaint for our review.

        We affirm the judgment of conviction regarding Shipp's possession of a controlled substance.

Having found there is no evidence to sustain the finding that possession of a controlled substance

occurred within 1,000 feet of a school zone, we vacate that finding. Finally, we modify the judgment

                                                   19
that the forgery of a government instrument sentence will run concurrently with the possession of

controlled substance charge rather than consecutively.3

                                             Jack Carter
                                             Justice

Date Submitted:       April 27, 2009
Date Decided:         July 23, 2009

Publish

       3
      In cause number 06-08-00124-CR, we have reversed and acquitted Shipp on the forgery of
a commercial instrument charge.

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