Court Opinion

ID: 9684797
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:14:13.55743+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:59.659325
License: Public Domain

McCORMICK, Judge,
dissenting.
In Thomas v. State, 621 S.W.2d 158 (Tex. Cr.App.1981), we held that terms which are specifically defined in the statutes and which do not go to an act or omission of the defendant need not be more specifically pled in an indictment, and an indictment is not subject to a motion to quash in such a case. Since the majority does not follow the rule announced in Thomas, I must dissent.
The information in the instant case alleged that appellant did unlawfully:
“... in a public place knowingly solicit A.F. Rossi to engage with the Defendant in sexual conduct for hire.”
The majority overlooks the fact that appellant was not charged with a consummated act of prostitution. The act alleged here and which is the gravamen of the offense is the solicitation. The term “solicit” was not challenged by appellant in her motion to quash. Additionally, the solicitation was to commit some act in the future. Since the sexual conduct was allegedly to be performed in the future, it is not part of the conduct element in this casé and need not be further alleged. See and compare Cardenas v. State, 640 S.W.2d 291 (1982). Our holding in Thomas dictates that the State’s motion for rehearing be granted.
If the majority is correct that the motion to quash should have been granted, then I am also constrained to point out that this Court should hold as a matter of law that the “Motion to Quash” was not sufficient to point out to the trial court the actual complaint of the accused. A “motion to quash” is not a formalized pleading in our jurisprudence. That term has been used as a substitute for motions to set aside the indictment or information, for exceptions to the substance of an indictment or information, and for exceptions to the form of an indictment or information. See Articles 28.04 and 28.05, V.A.C.C.P., and Craven v. State, 613 S.W.2d 488 (Tex.Cr.App.1981).
Appellant’s “motion to quash” filed herein requested the trial court to quash the complaint and dismiss the charges pending against her. Such relief would be authorized only pursuant to a motion to set aside the information on the basis that it was not based upon a valid complaint (Article 27.-03(1), Y.A.C.C.P.) or pursuant to an exception to the substance of the information (Article 27.08, V.A.C.C.P.), since these are the only “motions to quash” which, if granted, authorize the discharge of the accused. See Article 28.04, supra.
The complaint in this cause is sufficient, and a motion to set aside the information on the basis of an invalid complaint does not apply. Nor can it be realistically argued that the information was subject to an exception to the substance pursuant to any of the four enumerated subsections of Article 27.08. If it could be argued that appellant’s motion was an exception to the form of the information, then I would follow the teachings expressed in Craven v. State, supra, and hold that the record before us would not show any prejudice to the rights of appellant. See Article 21.19, V.A.C.C.P.
For these reasons, I must vigorously dissent.
W.C. DAVIS, J., joins in this dissent.