Court Opinion

ID: 4050322
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 01:14:06.005435+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:17.551309
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                              12-15-00129-CR
                                                                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                               TYLER, TEXAS
                                                                        7/23/2015 10:39:47 AM
                                                                                CATHY LUSK
                                                                                       CLERK

          Nos. 12-15-00130-CR & 12-15-00129-CR

                                                            FILED IN
                                                     12th COURT OF APPEALS
         IN THE TWELFTH COURT OF              APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS
                   TYLER, TEXAS                      7/23/2015 10:39:47 AM
                                                          CATHY S. LUSK
                                                              Clerk

              LATOSHA LANETTE MCGEE

                               Appellant,

                              v.

                  THE STATE OF TEXAS

                                   Appellee

On Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas
       Trial Cause Nos. 114-1775-13 and 114-1776-13

         ORAL ARGUMENT NOT REQUESTED

                          Austin Reeve Jackson
                          Texas Bar No. 24046139
                          112 East Line, Suite 310
                          Tyler, TX 75702
                          Telephone: (903) 595-6070
                          Facsimile: (866) 387-0152
                    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Attorney for Appellant

Appellate Counsel:
Austin Reeve Jackson
112 East Line, Suite 310
Tyler, TX 75702

Trial Counsel:
Melvin Thompson
423 S. Spring St.
Tyler, TX 75702

Attorney for the State on Appeal

Michael J. West
Assistant District Attorney, Smith County
4th Floor, Courthouse
100 North Broadway
Tyler, TX 75702

                                            ii
                                          TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ................................................................. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................... iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ......................................................................................... iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE....................................................................................... 2
ISSUE PRESENTED ...................................................................................................... 3
STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................................. 3
PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF THE RECORD ................................................ 3
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ............................................................................. 4
ARGUMENT .................................................................................................................. 4

    I.      THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN
            REVOKING APELLANT'S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION .................. 5
     Standard of Review ................................................................................................... 5
     A. There was Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Revocation ................... 5
          1. The Plea ......................................................................................................... 6
          2. Sufficiency of the Evidence ........................................................................... 7
     B. Appellant's Setence was Within the Statutory Range of Punishment ................. 9
     C. Appellant Received Effective Assistance of Counsel ....................................... 10

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER .................................................................................. 11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ..................................................................................... 12
CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL ................................................................................... 13
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ............................................................................ 13

                                                             iii
                                 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT:

Anders v. California,
 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967) ................................... 3, 11, 13

Robinson v. California,
 370 U.S. 660, 82 S. Ct. 1417, 8 L. Ed. 2d 758 (1962) ..................................... 9

Solem v. Helm,
 463 U.S. 277, 103 S. Ct. 3001, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637 (1983) ................................. 9

Strickland v. Washington,
  466 U.S. 668, 105 S. Ct. 1965, 85 L. Ed. 2d 344 (1984) ................................. 10

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

Aguirre-Mata v. State,
 125 S.W.3d 473 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003) ........................................................ 6

Cardona v. State,
 665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984) ........................................................ 4

Cobb v. State,
 851 S.W.2d 871 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) ........................................................ 7, 8

Cole v. State,
 578 S.W.2d 127 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979) ........................................................ 7

Ex parte Brown,
 158 S.W.3d 449 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005) ........................................................ 10

Garcia v. State,
 57 S.W.3d 436 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001) ......................................................... 11

Hernandez v. State,
 988 S.W.2d 70 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) ......................................................... 10

                                                   iv
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (CON’T):

Jackson v. State,
  877 S.W.2d 768 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994) ....................................................... 11

Jordan v. State,
  495 S.W.2d 949 (Tex.Crim.App. 1973) ....................................................... 9

Lyles v. State,
 850 S.W.2d 497 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) ........................................................ 4

Mendez v. State,
 138 S.W.3d 334 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004) ........................................................ 6

Miniel v. State,
 831 S.W.2d 310 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) ....................................................... 11

Moore v. State,
 605 S.W.2d 924 (Tex.Crim.App. 1980) ........................................................ 7

Moore v. State,
 694 S.W.2d 528 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985) ........................................................ 11

Moses v. State,
 590 S.W.2d 469 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979) ....................................................... 7 n.2

Rhoades v. State,
 934 S.W.2d 113 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996) ....................................................... 9

Rickles v. State,
  202 S.W.3d 759 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006) ........................................................ 4, 7

Stafford v. State,
  813 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991) ....................................................... 11

Thompson v. State,
 9 S.W.3d 808 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999) ........................................................... 11

                                                    v
TEXAS COURTS OF APPEAL:

Brooks v. State,
 995 S.W.2d 762 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999).......................................... 7

Canseco v. State,
 199 S.W.3d 437 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006) ............................... 5

Castaneda v. State,
 135 S.W.3d 719 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003) .................................................. 9

Duke v. State,
 2 S.W.3d 512 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999).............................................. 4

Hays v. State,
 933 S.W.2d 659 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1996) ......................................... 5, 6, 7, 8

Joseph v. State,
  3 S.W.3d 627 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999) ................................. 5

Lewis v. State,
 195 S.W.3d 205 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2006).......................................... 5

Mays v. State,
 904 S.W.2d 290 (Tex.App.—Fort Wroth 1995) ............................................ 4

Noland v. State,
 264 S.W.3d 144 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007) .............................. 9

Reasor v. State,
 281 S.W.3d 129 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2008).......................................... 8

Roman v. State,
 145 S.W.3d 316 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004) ............................. 10

Sims v. State,
  326 S.W.3d 707 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 2010) ............................................. 6

Trevino v. State,
 174 S.W.3d 925 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 2005) ...................................... 9

                                                 vi
STATUTES AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:

TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.115 ......................................................... 9

TEX. PEN. CODE § 12.34 .................................................................................... 10

TEX. PEN. CODE § 12.35 .................................................................................... 9-10

TEX. PEN. CODE § 22.01 .................................................................................... 10

TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 .......................................................................................... 6, 9

U.S. CONST. AMEND. VIII ................................................................................. 9

U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV ................................................................................. 9

                                                            vii
                   Nos. 12-15-00130-CR & 12-15-00129-CR

                  IN THE TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
                            TYLER, TEXAS

                       LATOSHA LANETTE MCGEE

                                       Appellant,

                                      v.

                             THE STATE OF TEXAS

                                           Appellee

        On Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas
               Trial Cause Nos. 114-1775-13 and 114-1776-13

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT:

      COMES NOW, Austin Reeve Jackson, attorney for Latosha McGee and

files this brief pursuant to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and would

show the Court as follows:
                          STATEMENT OF THE CASE

      Latosha McGee seeks to appeal her convictions and sentences for the of-

fenses of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Assault on a Public Servant

rendered against her in the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas. (I CR1

98; I CR2 105).1 After being indicted for theses offenses in December of 2013,

Ms. McGee entered pleas of “guilty” in each case and was placed on deferred ad-

judication community supervision for a period of five years. (I CR1 60; I CR2 62).

      In April of this year, the State, by way of an Application to Proceed to Final

Adjudication, sought to revoke that community supervision. (I CR1 93; I CR2

101). Following a hearing on that application the trial court did adjudicate guilt,

revoked Ms. McGee’s community supervision, and imposed a sentence of con-

finement on 24 April 2015. (I CR1 98; I CR2 105). Notice of appeal was then

timely filed. (I CR1 105; I CR2 114).

1
  The Clerk’s Record in cause 12-15-00129-CR / 114-1775-13 is cited as “CR1” and that of
cause 12-15-00130-CR / 114-1776-13 as “CR2.”

                                           2
                                ISSUE PRESENTED

      THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRETION IN
      REVOKING APPELLANT’S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.

                           STATEMENT OF FACTS

      In early 2014 Appellant, Ms. Latosha McGee, entered pleas of “guilty” in

the two cases currently before the Court. (I CR1 60; I CR2 62). In exchange for

her plea, she was placed by agreement on a five-year term of deferred adjudication

community supervision. (Id.).

      In April of this year, the State, by way of an Application to Proceed to Final

Adjudication, sought to revoke that community supervision. (I CR1 93; I CR2

101). Following a hearing on that application the trial court did adjudicate guilt,

revoked Ms. McGee’s community supervision, and imposed a sentence of con-

finement on 24 April 2015. (I CR1 98; I CR2 105). Notice of appeal was then

timely filed. (I CR1 105; I CR2 114).

            PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF THE RECORD

      In accordance with the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738,

744, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 1400, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967), counsel has reviewed the record

and determined that, in his professional opinion, the record contains no reversible

error or jurisdictional defects. Under circumstances where there appears to be no

arguable grounds for reversal on appeal, counsel is required to present a profes-

                                         3
sional evaluation of the record supporting this assertion. See Mays v. State, 904
S.W.2d 290, 922-23 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1995, no pet.).

                      SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

      Pursuant to the responsibilities and requirements of the governing code of

professional conduct, a thorough review of the record has been made. Counsel’s

research has revealed no arguable, non-frivolous grounds that could be advanced in

support of a claim that there exists reversible error in the trial, judgment, or sen-

tence of Appellant. A review and analysis of any potential issues is herein present-

ed for the Court.

                                  ARGUMENT

      Standard of Review

      Where a trial court revokes a previously imposed term of community super-

vision the decision to do so is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard.

Rickels v. State, 202 S.W.3d 759, 763 (Tex.Crim.App. 2006); Cardona v. State,

665 S.W.2d 492 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984). A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts

without reference to guiding principles. Lyles v. State, 850 S.W.2d 497, 502

(Tex.Crim.App. 1993). This review considers the record in the light most favora-

ble to the trial court’s decision. Duke v. State, 2 S.W.3d 512, 515 (Tex.App.—San

Antonio 1999, no pet.).

                                         4
      Proof of even a single violation is sufficient to support a revocation. Can-

seco v. State, 199 S.W.3d 437, 439 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet.

ref’d). Therefore, in order to prevail an appellant must show that taking the evi-

dence in the light most favorable to the court’s decision there is insufficient evi-

dence to support each and every finding of the court. Lewis v. State, 195 S.W.3d
205, 209 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.); Joseph v. State, 3 S.W.3d 627,

640 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). Additionally, a plea of true,

standing alone, is sufficient to support a trial court’s revocation of community su-

pervision. See Hays v. State, 933 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1996,

no pet.) (holding that a plea of “true” to any violation can by itself support a revo-

cation).

             THE TRIAL COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS DISCRE-
             TION IN REVOKING APPELLANT’S COMMUNITY
             SUPERVISION.

      A. There Was Legally Sufficient Evidence to Support the Revocation.

      By way of a written motion to proceed to final adjudication, Ms. McGee was

alleged to have violated the terms of her community supervision. (I CR1 93; I

CR2 101). The application included the following allegations:

Application Paragraph      Allegation
            I              Identity of Defendant
           II              Possession of a Controlled Substance
          III              Use of a Controlled Substance
      IV and V             Failure to Pay Fees and Costs

                                          5
(Id.). To paragraphs I, IV, and V, pleas of “true” were entered. (VII RR 10-12.).

Thus, if the pleas of “true” were entered freely, knowingly, and voluntarily, the tri-

al court had before it sufficient evidence to revoke Ms. McGee’s community su-

pervision. Hays, 933 S.W.2d at 661.

      1. The Plea

      Before accepting her pleas, the trial court advised Ms. McGee as to the con-

sequences of entering her pleas, including the potential range of punishment, and

also advised her of the right to remain silent and the right to have a hearing on the

allegations at issue. (VII RR 4-13). After having been so advised, Ms. McGee

persisted in her desire to enter pleas of “true” and gave no indication that she was

doing so involuntarily. (Id.); see Sims v. State, 326 S.W.3d 707, 713 (Tex.App.—

Texarkana 2010, pet. struck) (citing Mendez v. State, 138 S.W.3d 334, 350

(Tex.Crim.App. 2004)) (holding that challenges to the voluntariness of a plea must

be raised before the trial court in order to preserve the error for appeal); see also

TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a)(1). Finally, could any error be advanced regarding the

trial court’s admonishments, such error would be non-constitutional error subject

to a harm analysis and, given the record before the Court, Ms. McGee could not

meet that burden in this case. See Aguirre-Mata v. State, 125 S.W.3d 473, 474-76

(Tex.Crim.App. 2003).

                                          6
       2. Sufficiency of the Evidence

       The State must prove allegations in a revocation setting by a preponderance

of the evidence. Cobb v. State, 851 S.W.2d 871, 873 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). Evi-

dence, therefore, is sufficient if an analysis of its comparative weight tends to sup-

port the trial court’s conclusion that at least one condition of probation was violat-

ed. See Rickels, 202 S.W.3d at 764 (holding that evidence is sufficient to support a

revocation where the greater weight of the credible evidence before the court sup-

ports a reasonable belief that a condition of probation has been violated). Moreo-

ver, a plea of true, standing alone, is sufficient to support a trial court’s revocation

of community supervision. See Hays v. State, 933 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.App.—

San Antonio 1996, no pet.) (holding that a plea of “true” to any violation can by

itself support a revocation). Thus, where the Court finds that a voluntary plea of

true was entered, as was the case here, the evidence is legally sufficient to support

the revocation. (V RR 14); Moore v. State, 605 S.W.2d 924, 926 (Tex.Crim.App.

1980); Cole v. State, 578 S.W.2d 127, 128 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979); Brooks v. State,

995 S.W.2d 762, 763 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.).2

       Because a validly made plea of true to even a single violation provides suffi-

cient evidence to support a revocation, the Court need not look at those allegations
2
  The record also contains a written stipulation of evidence, signed by Ms. McGee, offered and
accepted by the court at trial, and admitting to the truth of the allegations made against her. (I
CR1 103; I CR2 110; VII RR 13). Such a written stipulation is, likewise, sufficient to support
the trial court’s decision. See Moses v. State, 590 S.W.2d 469, 470 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979) (a
plea of true and written stipulation is sufficient to support revocation).

                                                7
to which pleas of “not true” were made. Hays, 933 S.W.2d at 661; see also Reasor

v. State, 281 S.W.3d 129, 134 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2008, pet. ref’d) (holding

that where the Court finds that the record supports any ground alleged as a basis

for revocation the Court need not look to the sufficiency of any other ground al-

leged);

          However should the Court do so, such a review reveals that there was evi-

dence as to those violations from which the Court could have concluded that they

had been proved. Specifically, as to the allegations relating to the use and posses-

sion of cocaine, the technician who oversaw the detailed testing of Ms. McGee’s

urine sample that had originally revealed the presence of cocaine, testified that,

although the amount of cocaine found in the sample was low it was, nonetheless,

could indicate use. (VII RR 26). While he also conceded that the sample results

may also show secondhand exposure or the result of Ms. McGee taking amoxicillin

and such a scenario could not be ruled out, the trial court, under the applicable pre-

ponderance of the evidence standard, could have found that the totality of the evi-

dence weighed in favor of a finding that it was more likely than not that Ms.

McGee had consumed cocaine while on probation. (VII RR 26, 30, 31, 38, 46);

See Cobb v. State, 851 S.W.2d 871, 873 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993) (State must prove

allegations by a preponderance of the evidence).

                                          8
      B. Appellant’s Sentence Was Within the Statutory Range of Punishment.

      The Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of “cruel and unusual pun-

ishment.” U.S. CONST. AMEND. VIII. The Eighth Amendment is applicable to the

states through the Fourteenth Amendment. U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV; Robinson v.

California, 370 U.S. 660, 667, 82 S. Ct. 1417, 8 L. Ed. 2d 758 (1962).

      Here, neither Ms. McGee nor her trial counsel raised the issue of cruel or

excessive punishment at the time sentence was imposed and, therefore, this issue

has likely been waived on appeal. See TEX. R. APP. PROC. 33.1(a)(1)(A); Rhoades

v. State, 934 S.W.2d 113, 120 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Noland v. State, 264 S.W.3d
144, 151-52 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d); Castaneda v. State,

135 S.W.3d 719, 723 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.); but see Solem v. Helm,

463 U.S. 277, 288, 103 S. Ct. 3001, 3008-09, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637 (1983) (noting excep-

tion to this general rule if sentence assessed is grossly disproportionate to the

crime). Additionally, the sentences imposed of eighteen months and seven years’

confinement were within the statutory punishment ranges for the respective offens-

es and, consequently, are virtually presumed not to be constitutionally cruel and

unusual.   (I CR1 98; I CR2 105); Jordan v. State, 495 S.W.2d 949, 952

(Tex.Crim.App. 1973); Trevino v. State, 174 S.W.3d 925, 928 (Tex.App.—Corpus

Christi 2005, pet. ref’d); see also TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 481.115 (defin-

ing possession of a controlled substance as alleged as a state jail felony); TEX. PEN

                                         9
CODE § 12.35 (punishment range for a state jail felony); TEX. PEN. CODE §

22.01(defining assault as alleged as a third degree felony); TEX. PEN CODE § 12.34

(punishment range for a third degree felony).

      Finally, due process requires that the trial court consider the full range of

punishment for an offense and weigh both mitigating and incriminating evidence in

the assessment of sentence.           Ex parte Brown, 158 S.W.3d 449, 454

(Tex.Crim.App. 2005). In the absence of a clear showing to the contrary, on ap-

peal the Court will presume that the trial court did not act arbitrarily and consid-

ered all of the evidence before it.        Roman v. State, 145 S.W.3d 316, 319

(Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. ref’d). Given the record before the

Court, this presumption cannot be overcome on direct appeal.

      C. Appellant Received Effective Assistance of Counsel.

      Effective assistance of counsel is to be evaluated under the standard enunci-

ated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 105 S. Ct. 1965, 85 L. Ed. 2d 344

(1984); see also, Hernandez v. State, 988 S.W.2d 70 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999). To

prevail in a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show (1)

that her trial counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable-

ness, and (2) that a reasonable probability exists that, but for trial counsel’s alleged

errors, the result would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88. On

appeal, the defendant carries the burden of proving ineffective assistance by a pre-

                                          10
ponderance of the evidence. Moore v. State, 694 S.W.2d 528, 531 (Tex.Crim.App.

1985). Finally, trial counsel’s performance is not to be judged with the benefit of

hindsight. Miniel v. State, 831 S.W.2d 310, 323 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992).

      With this standard in mind, a comprehensive review of the record has been

made of the proceedings including pretrial matters, Ms. McGee’s original pleas,

the revocation hearing, and the arguments of counsel. Here, that review fails to

shows, given the totality of the representation provided by trial counsel, any basis

from which to argue that ineffective assistance was rendered. See, e.g., Garcia v.

State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex.Crim.App. 2001); Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d
808, 812 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999); Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771

(Tex.Crim.App. 1994).

                        CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

      As counsel was unable to raise any arguable issues for appeal, he is required

to move for leave to withdraw.         See Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503

(Tex.Crim.App. 1991).

      WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, counsel prays that the Court,

after affording Ms. McGee the opportunity to review the record and file a pro se

brief should she desire to do so, accept this brief and grant the attached Motion to

Withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493, 87 S. Ct.
1396 (1967).

                                        11
                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson
                                               Texas Bar No. 24046139
                                               112 East Line, Suite 310
                                               Tyler, TX 75702
                                               Telephone: (903) 595-6070
                                               Facsimile: (866) 387-0152

                         CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I certify that a true and correct copy of this brief was delivered to counsel for

the State by facsimile on this the 23rd day of July 2015.

                                               /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

                                          12
                           CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL

      The attorney’s role as an advocate requires that I support my client’s appeal

to the best of my ability. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738. I, Austin Reeve

Jackson, counsel of record in this appeal, do hereby state that I have diligently

searched the entire record in this cause. I have researched the law applicable to the

facts and issues contained therein, and it is my professional opinion that the record

reflects no reversible error. In conformity with the applicable law pertaining to an

appeal of this nature, I have set forth any potential grounds of error and have

briefed them to the extent possible. I have further caused a copy of this brief to be

served by certified mail on Appellant, accompanied by a letter informing Appellant

of the right to examine the record for the purpose of filing a pro se brief.

                                               /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

                       CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

      I certify that this document complies with the requirements of Rule 9.4 and

consists of 2,576 words.

                                               /s/ Austin Reeve Jackson

                                          13