Court Opinion

ID: 2911529
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-10 05:31:39.084912+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:32:26.727565
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                           TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                  No. 10-09-00101-CR

                     EX PARTE DAVID WAYNE SHIPMAN

                        From the County Court at Law No. 1
                              Johnson County, Texas
                            Trial Court No. H200900001

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

       David Wayne Shipman filed an application for habeas corpus with the trial court

alleging that his sentence for a 1987 conviction for driving while intoxicated was illegal.

TEX. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 6701l-1(c) (Repealed by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.15, eff.

Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, § 63, eff. Sept. 1, 1995). The trial court denied

the writ, and Shipman appeals. Because the sentence was not illegal, we affirm the trial

court’s judgment.

       An appellate court reviewing a trial court's ruling on a habeas claim must review

the record evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling and must

uphold that ruling absent an abuse of discretion. Kniatt v. State, 206 S.W.3d 657, 664

(Tex. Crim. App. 2006). A "void" or "illegal" sentence is one that is not authorized by
law and is cognizable on a writ of habeas corpus. See Ex parte Pena, 71 S.W.3d 336, 336

n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); see also Ex parte Rich, 194 S.W.3d 508, 511 (Tex. Crim. App.

2006). "A sentence that is 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).

       The resolution of this case depends on whether Shipman's sentence is illegal.

Shipman argues that the maximum sentence he could have received for his driving

while intoxicated conviction was 180 days. Because the trial court sentenced him to “6

months” which could be up to 181 days, the argument continues, his sentence was

outside the maximum range and, therefore, illegal. However, at the time Shipman was

sentenced for driving while intoxicated, the range of punishment available was 72

hours to two years. See TEX. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 6701l-1(c) (Repealed by Acts 1993, 73rd

Leg., ch. 900, § 1.15, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, § 63, eff. Sept. 1,

1995). Because Shipman’s sentence was within the range of punishment applicable for

an offense committed in 1987, his sentence was not illegal. Consequently, the trial court

did not abuse its discretion in denying Shipman’s writ of habeas corpus.

       Shipman’s sole issue is overruled, and the trial court’s order denying Shipman’s

application for writ of habeas corpus is affirmed.

                                          TOM GRAY
                                          Chief Justice

Ex parte Shipman                                                                       Page 2
Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Reyna, and
       Justice Davis
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed October 28, 2009
Do not publish
[CR25]

Ex parte Shipman                               Page 3