Court Opinion

ID: 3077929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:30:23.162136+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:21.696798
License: Public Domain

In The
                                Court of Appeals
                       Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo

                                       No. 07-13-00012-CR

                         ORVILLE RAY ANDERSON, APPELLANT

                                                V.

                            THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

                           On Appeal from the 100th District Court
                                    Carson County, Texas
                   Trial Court No. 4319; Honorable Stuart Messer, Presiding

                                         July 23, 2013

                               MEMORANDUM OPINION
                    Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

       On October 19, 2009, pursuant to a plea of guilty, Appellant, Orville Ray

Anderson was convicted of driving while intoxicated, third or more, and sentenced to

five years confinement, suspended in favor of five years community supervision, and a

$3,000 fine. 1 On September 20, 2012, the State filed a motion to revoke Appellant’s

community supervision alleging multiple violations of his conditions of supervision. At a

hearing on the State’s motion, Appellant pled true to some, but not all, of the

1
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.09(b)(2) (W EST SUPP. 2012).
allegations.     After hearing testimony, the trial court found that Appellant did violate

certain conditions of community supervision and revoked his community supervision.

Punishment was modified to four years confinement with the original fine of $3,000.

The 2012 judgment recites that the judgment and sentence are reformed, to-wit: it

shows Appellant was convicted as follows: “Offense for which Defendant Convicted:

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED” and under “Statute for Offense: 49.04 Penal Code.”

In presenting this appeal, counsel has filed an Anders 2 brief in support of a motion to

withdraw. We grant counsel=s motion and affirm.

        In support of his motion to withdraw, counsel certifies he has conducted a

conscientious examination of the record and, in his opinion, the record reflects no

potentially plausible basis for reversal of Appellant’s conviction. Anders v. California,

386 U.S. 738, 744-45, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967); In re Schulman, 252
S.W.3d 403, 406 (Tex.Crim.App. 2008). Counsel candidly discusses why, under the

controlling authorities, the record supports that conclusion. See High v. State, 573
S.W.2d 807, 813 (Tex.Crim.App. 1978).                     Counsel has demonstrated that he has

complied with the requirements of Anders and In re Schulman by (1) providing a copy of

the brief to Appellant, (2) notifying him of his right to file a pro se response if he desired

to do so, and (3) informing him of his right to file a pro se petition for discretionary

review. In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408. 3 By letter, this Court granted Appellant an

2
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967).
3
 Notwithstanding that Appellant was informed of his right to file a pro se petition for discretionary review
upon execution of the Trial Court=s Certification of Defendant=s Right of Appeal, counsel must comply with
Rule 48.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure which provides that counsel shall within five days
after this opinion is handed down, send Appellant a copy of the opinion and judgment together with
notification of his right to file a pro se petition for discretionary review. In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408
n.22 & at 411 n.35.

                                                      2
opportunity to exercise his right to file a response to counsel=s brief, should he be so

inclined. Id. at 409 n.23. Appellant did not file a response. Neither did the State favor

us with a brief.

       At the hearing on the State’s motion, Appellant’s community supervision officer

testified that Appellant began violating the conditions of his community supervision

within the first month and that he was non-compliant. The defense attempted to lessen

Appellant’s culpability by presenting testimony that he was involved in a car accident

and hospitalized for weeks with serious injuries, including a head injury. 4 However, the

car accident did not occur until October 2010, one year after Appellant had been placed

on community supervision. Appellant testified that he was very busy with work and was

unable to comply with the conditions of community supervision or notify his supervision

officer of his accident. He admitted letting his violations get out of control.

       Following presentation of testimony from several witnesses, including Appellant,

the trial court found he violated seven conditions of community supervision. The trial

court noted that Appellant did not comply with community supervision requirements

even before the accident.

       By the Anders brief, counsel presents three potential issues for review: (1)

sufficiency of the evidence to support Appellant’s conviction and revocation; (2)

ineffective assistance of counsel; and (3) severity of the punishment.                   Counsel

concedes that after a diligent evaluation of the record and an analysis of the law, these

issues would be without merit.

4
Appellant testified that he fell asleep at the wheel and struck a large concrete pole.

                                                     3
      When reviewing an order revoking community supervision, the sole question

before this Court is whether the trial court abused its discretion. Cardona v. State, 665
S.W.2d 492, 493 (Tex.Crim.App. 1984); Jackson v. State, 645 S.W.2d 303, 305

(Tex.Crim.App. 1983).     In a revocation proceeding, the State must prove by a

preponderance of the evidence that the probationer violated a condition of community

supervision as alleged in the motion to revoke. Cobb v. State, 851 S.W.2d 871, 874

(Tex.Crim.App. 1993).    If the State fails to meet its burden of proof, the trial court

abuses its discretion in revoking community supervision. Cardona, 665 S.W.2d at 494.

In determining the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a revocation, we view the

evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling.   Jones v. State, 589
S.W.2d 419, 421 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979). When more than one violation of the conditions

of community supervision has been alleged, the revocation order shall be affirmed if any

ground sufficiently supports the court's order. Moore v. State, 605 S.W.2d 924, 926

(Tex.Crim.App. 1980); Jones v. State, 571 S.W.2d 191, 193 (Tex.Crim.App. 1978);

Leach v. State, 170 S.W.3d 669, 672 (Tex.App.--Fort Worth 2005, pet. ref'd).

Additionally, a plea of true standing alone is sufficient to support the trial court=s

revocation order. Moses v. State, 590 S.W.2d 469, 470 (Tex.Crim.App. 1979).

      We have independently examined the entire record to determine whether there

are any non-frivolous issues which might support the appeal. See Penson v. Ohio, 488
U.S. 75, 109 S. Ct. 346, 102 L. Ed. 2d 300 (1988); In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409;

Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991). We have found no such

issues. See Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex.Crim.App. 1969). After reviewing

                                           4
the record and counsel=s brief, we agree with counsel that there is no plausible basis for

reversal. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824 (Tex.Crim.App. 2005).

                                      CONCLUSION

      The trial court’s judgment is affirmed and counsel's motion to withdraw is

granted.

                                                       Patrick A. Pirtle
                                                           Justice

Do not publish.

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