Court Opinion

ID: 4425699
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-15 08:51:27.843538+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:50.461464
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                      San Antonio, Texas
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION

                                          No. 04-18-00841-CV

                                            EX PARTE K.S.

                      From the 57th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                   Trial Court No. 2018-CI-05238
                            Honorable Antonia Arteaga, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

Sitting:          Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
                  Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
                  Irene Rios, Justice

Delivered and Filed: August 14, 2019

REVERSED AND REMANDED

           In this restricted appeal, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) challenges an order

granting K.S.’s petition for expunction. DPS argues the order is not supported by sufficient

evidence, contends the trial court misconstrued relevant statutory provisions, and complains about

the lack of a reporter’s record. We reverse the expunction order and remand for further

proceedings.

                                             BACKGROUND

           K.S. filed a petition for expunction of records of two arrests for theft. After conducting a

hearing on May 17, 2018, the trial court signed an order that same day granting K.S.’s petition.

The order recites K.S. appeared in person without counsel and an Assistant District Attorney

appeared on behalf of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.
                                                                                      04-18-00841-CV

          DPS filed a November 7, 2018 notice of restricted appeal, stating it did not participate at

the May 17, 2018 hearing. DPS also filed a request for the reporter’s record. The court reporter

filed a notice with this court, stating “no record was taken” in this case on May 17, 2018. The

record shows DPS filed its notice of restricted appeal within six months after the date on which

expunction order was signed; DPS was a party to the underlying lawsuit; and DPS did not

participate in the hearing resulting in the expunction order. Because this is a restricted appeal, our

sole remaining inquiry is whether “error is apparent on the face of the record.” See Wray v. Papp,

434 S.W.3d 297, 299 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2014, no pet.). K.S. did not file a brief in this

appeal.

            LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE & MISCONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE

          In its first issue, DPS argues legally sufficient evidence was not admitted at the May 17,

2018 hearing. In its third issue, DPS argues the trial court erred by granting the expunction because

K.S. was convicted for one theft charge, and K.S. was arrested for both offenses at the same time.

However, in the expunction order, the trial court found K.S.’s arrests were on November 11, 2005,

and May 26, 2010, respectively, but did not find there was a final conviction. We cannot assess

the sufficiency of the evidence without a reporter’s record. See Ex parte Munoz, 139 S.W.3d 349,

352 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, no pet.). And without a reporter’s record, we must presume

sufficient evidence supports the trial court’s findings. See In re L.C.H., 80 S.W.3d 689, 691 (Tex.

App.—Fort Worth 2002, no pet.). We therefore overrule these issues.

                                ABSENCE OF A REPORTER’S RECORD

          In its second issue, DPS complains about the absence of a reporter’s record. In numerous

cases, this court has held that, when DPS complains about the absence of a reporter’s record in a

restricted appeal from an expunction order, the absence of a reporter’s record constitutes error

apparent on the face of the record. Ex parte Graves, No. 04-16-00570-CV, 2017 WL 3159459, at

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                                                                                  04-18-00841-CV

*1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 26, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (citing Ex Parte Garcia, No.

04-15-00174-CV, 2016 WL 527517, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Feb. 10, 2016, no pet.) (mem.

op.); Ex parte Ruiz, No. 04-11-00808-CV, 2012 WL 2834898, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio

July 11, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.)). In those cases, this court has summarily reversed the trial

court’s expunction order and remanded for a new hearing. See Graves, 2017 WL 3159459, at *2;

Garcia, 2016 WL 527517, at *2; Ruiz, 2012 WL 2834898, at *1. Because this a restricted appeal,

and DPS has complained about the absence of a reporter’s record, consistent with our prior

decisions, we hold error is apparent on the face of the record. See Graves, 2017 WL 3159459, at

*2; Garcia, 2016 WL 527517, at *2; Ruiz, 2012 WL 2834898, at *1.

                                         CONCLUSION

       The trial court’s order is reversed, and the case is remanded to the trial court for a new

hearing.

                                                Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

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