Court Opinion

ID: 4040362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-28 22:30:11.731249+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:31.696087
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                    06-14-00233-CR
                                                                          SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                               TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                                                                               1/23/2015 3:58:10 PM
                                                                                    DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                                             CLERK

                             No. 06-14-00233-CR

                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS            FILED IN
                                                 6th COURT OF APPEALS
                  FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS TEXARKANA, TEXAS
                       AT TEXARKANA, TEXAS       1/26/2015 3:58:10 PM
                                                                DEBBIE AUTREY
                                                                   Clerk

                        TRAVIS SHANE BROWN,
                                Appellant

                                         vs.

                        THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                Appellee

                 On appeal from Criminal District Court No. 3
                           of Dallas County, Texas
                         In Cause No. F14-18343-J

       BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO WITHDRAW

                                                Counsel of Record:

Lynn Richardson                                 Julie Woods
Chief Public Defender                           Assistant Public Defender
Dallas County, Texas                            State Bar No. 24046173
                                                Frank Crowley Courts Building
                                                133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-2
Katherine A. Drew                               Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
Chief, Appellate Division                       (214) 653-3550 (phone)
Dallas County Public Defender’s Office          (214) 653-3539 (fax)
                                                Julie.Woods@dallascounty.org

                            Attorneys for Appellant
                              LIST OF PARTIES

APPELLANT
Travis Shane Brown

DEFENSE COUNSEL AT TRIAL
Pamela Segura-Muhammad
Dallas County Public Defender’s Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-2
Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

STATE’S ATTORNEY AT TRIAL
Dewey Mitchell
Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

APPELLANT’S ATTORNEY ON APPEAL
Julie Woods
Dallas County Public Defender’s Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-2
Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

STATE’S ATTORNEY ON APPEAL
Susan Hawk (or her designated representative)
Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

                                           ii
                                        TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF PARTIES ................................................................................................... ii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.................................................................................... iv

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ..................................................................................1

CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL ................................................................................2

SPECIAL STATEMENT TO THE COURT .............................................................3

CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................6

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ..................................................................................7

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE .........................................................................7

                                                         iii
                                     INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases
Anders v. California,
  386 U.S. 738 (1966) ...............................................................................................2
Cevalles v. State,
  513 S.W.2d 865 (Tex. Crim. App. 1974) ...............................................................5
Davenport v. State,
 858 S.W.2d 1 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1993, no pet.) ..................................................5
Davis v. State,
 130 S.W.3d 519 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, no pet.) ..............................................1
Dinnery v. State,
  592 S.W.2d 343 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979) ...............................................................5
Ex parte Wilson,
  716 S.W.2d 953 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) ...............................................................1
Gainous v. State,
 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969) ...............................................................2
Harmelin v. Michigan,
 501 U.S. 957 (1991) ...............................................................................................6
Harris v. State,
 656 S.W.2d 481 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) ...............................................................6
Hernandez v. State,
 726 S.W.2d 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) .................................................................5
Hopkins v. State,
 No. 05-07-01697-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3133 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 7,
 2009, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) ..................................................1
Jeffery v. State,
  903 S.W.2d 776 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995, no pet) ...............................................3
Parks v. State,
  960 S.W.2d 234 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d) .....................1
Strickland v. Washington,
  466 U.S. 668 (1984) ...............................................................................................5

                                                         iv
Studer v. State,
  799 S.W.2d 263 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989) ...............................................................3
Villela v. State,
  564 S.W.2d 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) ...............................................................1
Statutes
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.13 ..............................................................................3
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.14(b)..........................................................................3
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.15 ..............................................................................4
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.13 ............................................................................4
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.13(b)........................................................................4
TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.01 ..........................................................................................3
Constitutional Provisions
TEX. CONST. art. I, § 13..............................................................................................5
TEX. CONST. art. V, § 12 ............................................................................................3
U.S. CONST. art. VIII..................................................................................................5

                                                           v
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

       The undersigned attorney submits this brief in support of the motion to

withdraw. This is an appeal from a conviction for assault on a public servant in

Criminal District Court No. 3, Dallas County, Texas, the Honorable Gracie Lewis,

Judge presiding.

                              STATEMENT OF THE CASE

       A grand jury indicted Appellant for assault on a public servant. (CR: 7).

Appellant pleaded guilty and judicially confessed to the charge. (CR: 24-27, 33;

RR2: 6-7; State’s Ex. 1). He went “open” to the judge for punishment. (CR: 24-27;

RR2: 5). The judge accepted Appellant’s guilty plea and sentenced Appellant to

five years’ imprisonment.1 (CR: 28-31; RR2: 23). Appellant timely filed his notice

1
  Although the judge did not orally pronounce a specific finding of guilt, the judge’s assessment
of Appellant’s sentence at the conclusion of the open plea hearing necessarily implied a finding
of guilt. See Villela v. State, 564 S.W.2d 750, 751 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); see also Hopkins v.
State, No. 05-07-01697-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3133, at *7-8 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 7,
2009, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication) (finding no error in the trial court’s failure to
orally pronounce guilt because the judge fully admonished the defendant, accepted his guilty
plea, received evidence from the State and the defendant, and assessed punishment). The written
judgment in Appellant’s case reflects that the judge found Appellant guilty of the charged
offense. (CR: 29); see Ex parte Wilson, 716 S.W.2d 953, 956 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986)
(recognizing the presumption of regularity of judgments and plea proceedings absent a showing
to the contrary); Davis v. State, 130 S.W.3d 519, 522 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, no pet.). Based
on the record in Appellant’s case, the absence of oral pronouncement of guilt does not render the
judgment void and, therefore, is not reversible error. Parks v. State, 960 S.W.2d 234, 238 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d) (finding that the absence of an express oral
pronouncement of guilt did not render the written judgment void).
                                                 1
of appeal.2 (CR: 36-38).

                           CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL

       In compliance with the requirements of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738

(1966) and Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137, 138 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969), the

undersigned appointed attorney states that she has diligently reviewed the entire

record in this cause and the law applicable thereto and, in her opinion, this appeal

is without merit and wholly frivolous in that the record reflects no reversible error.

It is also the opinion of the undersigned appointed attorney on appeal that there are

no grounds of error upon which an appeal can be predicated.

       The undersigned appointed attorney on appeal has served a copy of this brief

on Appellant. At that time, the undersigned attorney informed Appellant by letter

that, in her professional opinion, the appeal was without merit. The undersigned

attorney also explained that Appellant has the right to review the record and to file

a pro se brief if he so desires. The undersigned attorney has provided a copy of the

record to Appellant. Appellant has also been informed by the undersigned attorney

that he may request an extension of time from this Honorable Court for the filing

of a pro se brief if he so desires.

2
  Appellant’s open plea hearing also included a revocation hearing in two other cases (Trial
Cause Nos. F11-47375-J and F12-27749-J). (RR2: passim). The two revocation cases are not on
appeal.
                                             2
      The undersigned attorney has also filed a Motion to Withdraw as mandated

by this Court’s opinion in Jeffery v. State, 903 S.W.2d 776 (Tex. App.—Dallas

1995, no pet).

                   SPECIAL STATEMENT TO THE COURT

      The record in this case clearly reflects that Appellant entered an open plea of

guilty to the indictment. (CR: 24-27; RR2: 5-7). The indictment contained all of

the elements of the offense as proscribed by TEX. PENAL CODE § 22.01. The

indictment conferred jurisdiction upon the trial court. TEX. CONST. art. V, § 12;

Studer v. State, 799 S.W.2d 263, 273 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). No complaint,

either in the form of an objection or a motion, was made to the indictment; hence,

nothing is presented for appellate review. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.14(b).

      The undersigned attorney has searched the record for any pretrial motions

which might support a point of error.        No pretrial motions were filed. (CR:

passim). Thus, there is nothing for appellate review.

      Appellant properly waived his right to a jury trial in accordance with the

terms of TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.13. The waiver was signed by all parties

and received the consent and approval of the trial court, as required by Art. 1.13.

(CR: 24-27, 29).

                                         3
      Prior to accepting Appellant’s plea, the court inquired as to the voluntariness

of the plea and Appellant’s understanding of the consequences of his plea. (RR2:

4-7). Appellant entered his plea freely and voluntarily. (CR: 26-27, 29; RR2: 7).

The trial court inquired as to Appellant’s competency and found that Appellant

was competent to enter his plea. (CR: 25, 27, 29; RR2: 6). After a complete

review of the record, the undersigned attorney is satisfied that Appellant was

competent to enter his plea and that this plea was made both freely and voluntarily.

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.13(b).

      The record indicates that Appellant signed paperwork containing written

admonishments in accordance with the terms of TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.13.

(CR: 24-27). Additionally, Appellant was orally admonished by the trial court;

those admonishments were in substantial compliance with Article 26.13. (RR2: 4-

7).   The undersigned attorney is satisfied that, in the case at bar, these

admonishments were sufficient to substantially comply with Article 26.13.

      The State introduced evidence sufficient to substantiate Appellant’s plea of

guilty. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 1.15. Appellant signed a judicial confession

and a stipulation of evidence. (CR: 33). His judicial confession was admitted as

State’s Exhibit 1. (RR2: 7). His judicial confession, standing alone, is sufficient

evidence to support Appellant’s conviction. Dinnery v. State, 592 S.W.2d 343,

                                         4
353 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979); Cevalles v. State, 513 S.W.2d 865, 866 (Tex. Crim.

App. 1974); Davenport v. State, 858 S.W.2d 1, 3 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1993, no

pet.). In addition to his judicial confession, Appellant testified that he pushed the

officer. (RR2: 9). He explained that at the time of the offense he had recently lost

his job and was struggling with the accompanying stress. (RR2: 9). He admitted

that he “overreacted” and “made a mistake” that day. (RR2: 15, 19). Appellant’s

testimony and his judicial confession are sufficient evidence to support his guilty

plea.

        The undersigned attorney has reviewed the record to determine if any

objections were made on Appellant’s behalf which would support an issue on

appeal. No objections were made. Nor does the record reflect any opportunity

where a proper objection could have been interposed on Appellant’s behalf.

        The undersigned attorney has reviewed the performance of trial counsel. The

record reflects that Appellant received reasonably effective assistance of trial

counsel, based on the standards of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687

(1984) and Hernandez v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53, 55 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).

        The punishment assessed is within the range established by the Legislature,

and, as such, does not violate the constitutional prohibitions against cruel and

unusual punishment under either U.S. CONST. art. VIII or TEX. CONST. art. I, § 13;

                                         5
Harris v. State, 656 S.W.2d 481, 486 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983). Nor does the

undersigned attorney discern anything in the record to suggest that the punishment

assessed is grossly disproportionate to the crime. See Harmelin v. Michigan, 501
U.S. 957, 1001-05 (1991). Additionally, no objection was made to the punishment

assessed at trial.

       In the undersigned attorney’s professional opinion, Appellant received a fair

trial free from reversible error.

                                    CONCLUSION

       After full review of the record, the undersigned attorney is of the opinion

that the appeal in this cause is frivolous and without merit.

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     /s/ Julie Woods
Lynn Richardson                                      Julie Woods
Chief Public Defender                                Assistant Public Defender
Dallas County, Texas                                 State Bar No. 24046173
                                                     Frank Crowley Courts Building
                                                     133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-2
Katherine A. Drew                                    Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
Chief, Appellate Division                            (214) 653-3550 (phone)
Dallas County Public Defender’s Office               (214) 653-3539 (fax)
                                                     Julie.Woods@dallascounty.org

                                          6
                         CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true copy of the foregoing brief was served on the
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office (Appellate Division), 133 N.
Riverfront Blvd., 10th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75207, by eServe on January 23, 2015.

      I hereby certify that a true copy of the foregoing brief was served on Travis
Shane Brown, TDCJ #01958914 Hutchins State Jail 1500 East Langdon Road
Dallas, Texas 75241, by placing a copy of the brief in the United States mail on
January 23, 2015.

                                                   /s/ Julie Woods
                                                   Julie Woods

                     CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

     I certify that the word count in this document, which was prepared in
Microsoft Word 2010, is 1,985.

                                                   /s/ Julie Woods
                                                   Julie Woods

                                        7