Court Opinion

ID: 2985777
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-23 00:18:12.884742+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:44:43.671312
License: Public Domain

Motion Granted; Order filed October 15, 2013.

                                       In The

                     Fourteenth Court of Appeals
                                  ____________

                               NO. 14-10-01090-CR
                                 ____________

                          JOHN FRANGIAS, Appellant

                                         V.

                       THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                   On Appeal from the 262nd District Court
                           Harris County, Texas
                       Trial Court Cause No. 1256414

                                     ORDER
      On September 26, 2013, this Court rendered its judgment reversing the trial
court’s judgment convicting appellant John Frangias of sexual assault and
remanding the case for further proceedings. The same day, appellant filed a
motion requesting this Court to set reasonable bail. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art.
44.04(h). Appellant requested that bail be set at $30,000.00, which is the same as
the bail set before the original trial of this matter. On October 4, 2012, the State
filed a response to the motion asking that bail be increased to $60,000.00.
      In determining the amount that is reasonable, courts consider factors such as
the following:

      1.     The fact that the conviction has been overturned;1
      2.     The State’s ability, if any, to retry the appellant;2
      3.     The likelihood that the decision of the court of appeals will be
             overturned;3
      4.     The defendant’s work record;4
      5.     The defendant’s family and community ties;5
      6.     The defendant’s length of residency;6
      7.     The defendant’s prior criminal record;7
      8.     The defendant’s conformity with previous bond conditions;8
      9.     The existence of other outstanding bonds, if any;9
      10.    Aggravating circumstances alleged to have been involved in the
             charged offense;10
      11.    Whether ―bail [is] sufficiently high to give reasonable assurance that
             the undertaking will be complied with‖;11
      12.    Whether the amount of bail required is low enough that it is not ―an
             instrument of oppression‖;12
      13.    ―The nature of the offense and the circumstances under which it was
             committed are to be considered‖;13
      14.    The defendant’s ability to make bail;14 and
      15.    ―The future safety of a victim of the alleged offense and the
             community . . . .‖15

1
  Aviles v. State, 26 S.W.3d 696, 701 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.).
2
  Id.
3
  Id.
4
   Id. at 698 (citing Ex parte Rubac, 611 S.W.2d 848, 849–50 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.]
1981)).
5
  Id. (citing Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849–50).
6
  Id. (citing Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849–50).
7
  Id. (citing Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849–50).
8
  Id. (citing Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849–50).
9
  Id. (citing Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849–50).
10
    Id. (citing Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849–50).
11
    TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 17.15.
12
    Id.
13
    Id.
14
    Id.
15
    Id.
                                           2
      Appellant’s bail previously was set at $30,000.00, he appeared each time his
case was set for trial, and fully complied with his bond conditions. Although
appellant has not worked since his conviction, his family attests that it could make
bond in this amount. No other bonds are outstanding. Appellant has no prior
criminal history, and lived and worked in the Houston area for decades before the
charged offense occurred.      Although sexual assault is a serious offense, no
additional factors increase the severity of the offense with which appellant is
charged. He is not alleged to have used or displayed a weapon, to have threatened
or coerced the complainant, or to have inflicted any bodily injuries.           The
complainant resides in another country, and appellant is not alleged to have had
any contact with her since she reported the alleged offense.
      As of the date this order is being issued, the State has not moved for
rehearing or for rehearing en banc, and has not filed a petition for discretionary
review.
      We find appellant’s motion meritorious, grant the motion, and ORDER the
appellant released on bail upon his giving good and sufficient bond, signed by
appellant as principal and with sureties as required by law, in the sum of
$30,000.00, pending final disposition by the Court of Criminal Appeals or the
expiration of the time in which to file a petition for discretionary review.

                                   PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Christopher and McCally.

                                           3