Court Opinion

ID: 3080679
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:52:07.938277+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:42:10.182836
License: Public Domain

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed April 17, 2014.

                                         S   In The
                                Court of Appeals
                         Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      No. 05-12-01696-CR
                                      No. 05-12-01697-CR
                                      No. 05-12-01698-CR
                                      No. 05-12-01701-CR

                                CARL STOVALL, Appellant
                                          V.
                              THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                    On Appeal from the 204th Judicial District Court
                                  Dallas County, Texas
      Trial Court Cause Nos. F10-57483-Q, F11-19054-Q, F12-54176-Q, F12-54177-Q

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION
                         Before Justices Francis, Lang-Miers, and Lewis
                                    Opinion by Justice Lewis
       After Carl Stovall pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, aggravated robbery,

and two charges of evading arrest, a jury assessed punishment at two years in prison and a

$5,000 fine for the methamphetamine case; 90 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the

aggravated robbery case; and ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each of the two evading

arrest cases. In a single issue, appellant complains he was denied effective assistance of counsel.

We affirm the trial court’s judgment. Because all dispositive issues are settled in law, we issue

this memorandum opinion. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(a), 47.4.

       We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under the standard outlined in

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). See Hernandez v. State 726 S.W.2d 53, 57 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1986). To prevail, appellant must prove (1) counsel’s performance was deficient in

that it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) counsel’s deficient performance

prejudiced the defense, resulting in an unreliable or fundamentally unfair outcome of the

proceeding. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687–88. To establish deficient performance under the

first prong, a defendant must show that no reasonable trial strategy could justify counsel’s

conduct. Id. at 689; Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). In the absence

of evidence of counsel’s reasons for the challenged conduct, we will assume a strategic

motivation if any can be imagined and find the challenged conduct “deficient only if the conduct

was so outrageous that no competent attorney would have engaged in it.” Andrews v. State, 159
S.W.3d 98, 101 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). As for the second prong, appellant must show a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding

would have been different. Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 812 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). A

reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id.

Finally, an appellant’s failure to satisfy one prong of the Strickland test negates a court’s need to

consider the other prong. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687–88.

        A finding of ineffective assistance requires counsel’s deficiency be affirmatively

demonstrated in the record. Thompson, 9 S.W.3d at 813. In most cases, a silent record which

provides no explanation for counsel’s actions will not overcome the strong presumption of

reasonable assistance. See Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110–11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

We may not reverse for ineffective assistance when counsel’s actions or omissions may have

been based on tactical decisions, but the record does not explain the reasons for counsel’s

decisions. Lopez v. State, 343 S.W.3d 137, 142 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). Because the

reasonableness of trial counsel’s choices often involve facts that do not appear in the appellate

record, an application for writ of habeas corpus is the more appropriate vehicle to raise

                                                –2–
ineffective assistance of counsel claims. See Mitchell v. State, 68 S.W.3d 640, 642 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2002).

        In this case, appellant contends he was not fully advised of the charges against him or his

options for disposing of the case. Appellant claims his counsel failed to file any pretrial motions

or present any mitigating evidence, including evidence of his “serious drug problem.”

        Initially we note the record shows defense counsel did file several pretrial motions,

contrary to appellant’s assertions. The record also shows a colloquy between the trial court,

defense counsel, and appellant where appellant refused to give his defense counsel any names of

witnesses that could be called to testify at trial.

        As for his remaining claims, appellant filed a motion for new trial but did not raise a

complaint of ineffective assistance of counsel; therefore, trial counsel has not been given an

opportunity to explain his actions. Because the record provides no explanation for counsel’s

actions or inactions, appellant has not met his burden of overcoming the strong presumption of

reasonable assistance. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687–88.

        Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude appellant has shown counsel was

deficient or that he was prejudiced.

        We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                                            /David Lewis/
                                                            DAVID LEWIS
                                                            JUSTICE

DO NOT PUBLISH
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.

121696F.U05

                                                      –3–
                                        S
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CARL STOVALL, Appellant                                On Appeal from the 204th Judicial District
                                                       Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-12-01696-CR         V.                          Trial Court Cause No. F10-57483-Q.
                                                       Opinion delivered by Justice Lewis.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                           Justices Francis and Lang-Miers
                                                       participating.

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 17th day of April, 2014.

                                                       /David Lewis/
                                                       DAVID LEWIS
                                                       JUSTICE

                                                 –4–
                                        S
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CARL STOVALL, Appellant                                On Appeal from the 204th Judicial District
                                                       Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-12-01697-CR         V.                          Trial Court Cause No. F11-19054-Q.
                                                       Opinion delivered by Justice Lewis.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                           Justices Francis and Lang-Miers
                                                       participating.

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 17th day of April, 2014.

                                                       /David Lewis/
                                                       DAVID LEWIS
                                                       JUSTICE

                                                 –5–
                                        S
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CARL STOVALL, Appellant                                On Appeal from the 204th Judicial District
                                                       Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-12-01698-CR         V.                          Trial Court Cause No. F12-54176-Q.
                                                       Opinion delivered by Justice Lewis.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                           Justices Francis and Lang-Miers
                                                       participating.

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 17th day of April, 2014.

                                                       /David Lewis/
                                                       DAVID LEWIS
                                                       JUSTICE

                                                 –6–
                                        S
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

CARL STOVALL, Appellant                                On Appeal from the 204th Judicial District
                                                       Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-12-01701-CR         V.                          Trial Court Cause No. F12-54177-Q.
                                                       Opinion delivered by Justice Lewis.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                           Justices Francis and Lang-Miers
                                                       participating.

       Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 17th day of April, 2014.

                                                       /David Lewis/
                                                       DAVID LEWIS
                                                       JUSTICE

                                                 –7–