Court Opinion

ID: 2942942
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 01:40:42.004663+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:31.674272
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                         OF TEXAS
                                           NO. AP-76,431

                        EX PARTE BILLY DON SMITH, Applicant

              ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
             CAUSE NO. 2006-1465-C2 IN THE 19TH DISTRICT COURT
                         FROM MCLENNAN COUNTY

        Per curiam.

                                           OPINION

        Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the

clerk of the trial court transmitted to this Court this application for a writ of habeas corpus. Ex parte

Young, 418 S.W.2d 824, 826 (Tex. Crim. App. 1967). Applicant was convicted of one count of

aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child and sentenced to fifteen years’

imprisonment on each count. The Tenth Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions. Smith v. State,

No. 10-07-00126-CR (Tex. App.–Waco 2008, pet ref’d).

        Applicant contends, among other things, that he was subjected to multiple punishments in

violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause and that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance.
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On March 3, 2010, we remanded this application for findings of fact and conclusions of law. On

remand, the trial court made findings and conclusions and recommended that we deny relief. We

agree that trial counsel was not ineffective. However, based on our own independent review of the

record, we find that Applicant committed a single act when he touched the complainant’s genitals

(Count II) and digitally penetrated her sexual organ (Count I). The jury could not have convicted and

punished Applicant for both of these offenses. Evans v. State, 299 S.W.3d 138, 141-42 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2009). When a defendant is subjected to multiple punishments in violation of the Double

Jeopardy Clause, the appropriate remedy is to retain the most serious offense and set aside the

other(s). Bigon v. State, 252 S.W.3d 360, 372-73 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Accordingly, Applicant’s

conviction for indecency with a child, Count II, in cause number 2006-1465-C2 from the 19th

Judicial District Court of McLennan County is set aside. Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the

Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional Institutions Division and Pardons and Paroles

Division.

Delivered: October 6, 2010
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