Court Opinion

ID: 9683601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:32:41.971153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:48.966193
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON STATE’S MOTION FOR REHEARING
GREEN, Commissioner.
The State’s motion for rehearing, filed with leave of the Court, alleges that the Court erred in remanding this cause to the trial court for another trial. The State, for the first time, takes the position that if petitioner is entitled to any relief it is that petitioner’s sentence should be reformed to confinement in the Department of Corrections for a term of twelve years, the maximum sentence under Article 62, Vernon’s Ann.P.C., for the offense of burglary with intent to commit theft.
The indictment in the case alleged the primary offense of burglary with intent to commit theft, and two prior convictions of burglary, so as to bring the case under the provisions of Article 63, V.A.P.C. One of the prior convictions, to-wit, Cause No. 9454 in the District Court of Brazos County, was declared void by this Court in the original opinion of the Court on this ha-beas corpus proceeding, hence, Article 63, V.A.P.C., cannot be applied.
The indictment alleged another prior conviction of appellant for burglary in Cause No. 9614 in the District Court of Brazos County, and that said conviction was a final conviction for an offense less than capital, to-wit, burglary, committed prior to the primary offense of burglary alleged in the indictment, and that said conviction became final prior to the commission of the primary offense of burglary-
Appellant, in his application, does not attack the prior conviction in Cause *902No. 9614, supra. As shown by the record in the trial of the case, and by the opinion of this Court in Shivers v. State, 460 S. W.2d 915, this conviction was proved and was considered by the court in assessing the punishment under Article 63, V.A.P.C. The offense of which appellant was convicted in No. 9614, to-wit, burglary, was a like offense to the primary offense, to-wit, burglary with intent to commit theft. Dodty v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 493 S.W.2d 787.
In ex parte Scott, 485 S.W.2d 921, this Court held as invalid one of the prior convictions used to enhance petitioner’s punishment under Article 63, V.A.P.C.; however, since the other prior conviction used for enhancement, which was for a like offense as the primary offense, both being for burglary, was not subject to attack, the Court held that the petitioner was not entitled to a new trial, and that Article 62, V.A.P.C., was applicable. In so holding the Court, speaking through Judge Odom, said:
“We hold that petitioner is not entitled to a new trial but is entitled to relief from the life sentence under which he is confined. See, e. g., Ex parte Shapley, Tex.Cr.App., 458 S.W.2d 687; Ex parte Hammonds, Tex.Cr.App., 407 S.W.2d 779. Therefore, it is ordered that petitioner’s confinement under this conviction cannot exceed 12 years under Article 62, V.A.P.C.”
See, also, Ex parte Herrera, Tex.Cr.App., 493 S.W.2d 809, footnote 1; Ex parte Bird, Tex.Cr.App., 457 S.W.2d 559; Dodty v. State, supra.
The State’s motion for rehearing is granted to the extent that the order remanding petitioner to the sheriff of Brazos County to answer the indictment in Cause No. 9985 is set aside, and it is ordered that petitioner’s confinement under this conviction cannot exceed 12 years in accordance with Article 62, V.A.P.C.
A copy of this opinion is being sent to the Department of Corrections.
Opinion approved by the Court.