Court Opinion

ID: 2807209
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-11 05:11:30.561758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:03.318155
License: Public Domain

Affirmed and Opinion Filed June 10, 2015

                                         S   In The
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      No. 05-14-01114-CR

                        DEVONTAE KAVAUER MAGBY, Appellant
                                       V.
                           THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

                      On Appeal from the 363rd Judicial District Court
                                   Dallas County, Texas
                           Trial Court Cause No. F-13-60514-W

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION
                       Before Justices Francis, Lang-Miers, and Whitehill
                                  Opinion by Justice Whitehill
        Devontae Kavauer Magby pled guilty to aggravated assault of a child younger than

fourteen years of age. The jury found him guilty as instructed by the court and assessed

punishment at forty-five years’ imprisonment. In two issues on appeal, Magby argues that (i) the

trial court lacked jurisdiction because the indictment was returned in one court in the same

county and (ii) erred by including the statutorily required parole and good conduct instruction in

the jury charge. Concluding that Magby’s arguments lack merit, we affirm the trial court’s

judgment.

Did the Trial Court Lack Jurisdiction?

       The indictment in this case was returned in the 203rd District Court but was first filed in

the 363rd District Court. The case was heard and the judgment rendered in the 363rd District
Court. Both courts are seated in Dallas County. Magby’s first issue argues that the 363rd Court

lacked jurisdiction because there is no written transfer order between the two courts.

          We have considered and rejected this argument numerous times, and we reject it again.

See Bourque v. State, 156 S.W.3d 675, 678 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet ref’d). We thus

overrule Magby’s first issue.

Was the Statutorily Required Instruction Given in Error?

          Magby’s second issue argues that the trial court erred by including a good conduct time

instruction in the jury charge on punishment. According to Magby, the instruction is misleading

and erroneous because he is not eligible for good conduct time.1 The Court of Criminal Appeals

holds otherwise.

          In Luquis v. State, 72 S.W.3d 355, 363 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002), the court held that Texas

Code of Criminal Procedure art. 37.07, § 4(a) requires the trial court to instruct the jury with the

statute’s precise wording although it may not apply in certain cases. Id. Because the legislature

mandates giving this instruction, a trial does not err in doing so. Id.

          We thus conclude that the trial court did not err in giving the required instruction and

reject Magby’s second issue.

          For the above reasons, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47                                                      /Bill Whitehill/
141114F.U05                                                             BILL WHITEHILL
                                                                        JUSTICE

   1
       Magby does not explain how the purportedly erroneous charge caused him harm.

                                                                  –2–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

DEVONTAE KAVAUER MAGBY,                            On Appeal from the 363rd Judicial District
Appellant                                          Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                   Trial Court Cause No. F-13-60514-W.
No. 05-14-01114-CR        V.                       Opinion delivered by Justice Whitehill.
                                                   Justices Francis and Lang-Miers
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                       participating.

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

Judgment entered June 10, 2015.

                                             –3–