Court Opinion

ID: 9763400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:44:10.424384+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:42.195370
License: Public Domain

MIRABAL, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent.
In my opinion, the trial court substantially complied with Tex.Code CRim.P.Ann. art. 26.13(a)(1) (Vernon 1989). Appellant has not affirmatively shown that he was not aware of the consequences of his plea and that he was misled or harmed by the admonishment of the court. Therefore, I would affirm.
Article 26.13(a) provides, in relevant part:
(a) Prior to accepting a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere, the court shall admonish the defendant of:
(1) the range of the punishment attached to the offense;
(2) the fact that the recommendation
of the prosecuting attorney as to punishment is not binding on the court. Provided that the court shall inquire as to the existence of any plea bargaining agreements between the state and the defendant.
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(4) the fact that if the defendant is not a citizen of the United States of America, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for the offense charged may result in deportation, the exclusion from admission to this country, or the denial of naturalization under federal law.
(b) No plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere shall be accepted by the court unless it appears that the defendant is *440mentally competent and the plea is free and voluntary.
(c) In admonishing the defendant as herein provided, substantial compliance by the court is sufficient, unless the defendant affirmatively shows that he was not aware of the consequences of his plea and that he was misled or harmed by the admonishment of the court.
Tex.Code Crim.P.Ann. art. 26.13 (Vernon 1989) (emphasis added).
In the present case, the trial judge himself gave appellant the admonishment covered by article 26.13(a)(4), namely, the possible repercussions of a conviction for a non-citizen. Immediately after the trial court gave that admonishment, the following occurred:
COURT: Are you ready to proceed on this plea?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
COURT: Alright. The State may proceed.
The prosecutor then covered the admonishments described in article 26.13(a)(1) and (2), and the matter covered by 26.13(b), as follows:
PROSECUTOR: You are here today on the charge of aggravated robbery. The sentence for aggravated robbery, it is a first degree felony, and the sentence is from a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 99 years or life and up to a twenty-thousand-dollar fine. Do you realize this?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: Do you also recognize that the plea bargain agreement between the State and the defendant is not binding on this Court?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: And that if the Court accepts—
DEFENSE COUNSEL: There is no plea bargain in this.
PROSECUTOR: That’s right. You are correct.
Is it your testimony today that you are competent to stand here and make your plea?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: And have you ever been under the care or treatment of a psychiatrist or psychologist?
DEFENDANT: No, sir.
PROSECUTOR: I show you what has been marked as State’s Exhibit No. 1. Do you recognize this document?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: Have you had a chance to go over this document with your attorney?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: And do you fully and completely understand the document?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: Towards the bottom is the signature marked “defendant.” Is that your signature?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: And was the signature freely and voluntarily made?
DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
PROSECUTOR: At this time the State moves to enter State’s Exhibit No. 1 into evidence.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: No objections, Your Honor.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
In my opinion, the record clearly indicates that the trial court intended for the prosecutor to cover the required admonishments. The record implies that the prosecutor acted under instructions from the trial court to admonish appellant in accordance with article 26.13.
This case is, therefore, similar to Goodie v. State, 737 S.W.2d 37 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1987), affirmed, 745 S.W.2d 379 (Tex.Crim.App.1988). In Goodie, the trial court instructed the prosecutor to read the admonishments required by article 26.-13, after receiving the consent of the defense counsel. The admonishments were directed toward the defendant, as in the present case. The court of appeals in Goodie held there was substantial compliance with article 26.13, and the Court of Criminal Appeals agreed the case did not *441merit reversal. I reach the same conclusion in the present case.1,2
I would affirm the judgment.

. I note that the procedure regarding giving the necessary admonishments has been relaxed somewhat by an amendment to article 26.13, effective August 1, 1987, which added section (d), as follows:
(d) The court may make the admonitions required by this article either orally or in writing. If the court makes the admonitions in writing, it must receive a statement signed by the defendant and the defendant’s attorney that he understands the admonitions and is aware of the consequences of his plea.
If the defendant is unable or refuses to sign the statement, the court shall make the admonitions orally.
Act of June 17, 1987, 70th Leg., R.S., ch. 443, § 1, 1987 Tex.Gen.Law 2021, 2022.
If this amendment had been in effect at the time the defendant signed the affidavit in Murray v. State, 561 S.W.2d 821 (Tex.Crim.App.1977), the outcome of that appeal may well have been different.

. I also note that, according to the statements of facts in this case, the trial court deferred entry of a finding of guilt until the PSI/punishment hearing. Prior to the pronouncement of a finding of guilty, the trial court specifically asked appellant if he understood the maximum sentence for his offense was life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine; appellant answered yes. The State argues the admonishments were therefore properly given by the trial judge in a timely fashion. I decline to comment on the merits of this argument.