Court Opinion

ID: 2918040
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-10 22:31:58.540484+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:38:23.521924
License: Public Domain

NO.
12-07-00019-CR
 
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 
 
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
 
TYLER, TEXAS
DUDLEY HOWARD HICKMAN,   §                      APPEAL FROM THE 114TH
APPELLANT
 
V.        §                      JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF
 
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE   §                      SMITH
COUNTY, TEXAS
                                                                                                                                                           

MEMORANDUM OPINION
            Dudley
Howard Hickman appeals from his conviction for sexual assault of a child for
which the jury sentenced him to a fifteen year prison term and a $5,000.00
fine.  In one issue, Appellant asserts
that the evidence is factually insufficient to support the sentence.  We affirm.
 
Background
            Appellant
entered a plea of guilty to the offense of sexual assault of a child and
elected to have a jury trial on the issue of punishment.  The jury assessed Appellant’s punishment at
imprisonment for fifteen years and a $5,000.00 fine.  The trial court sentenced Appellant
accordingly, and this appeal followed.
 
Factual
Sufficiency of Evidence as to Punishment
            In
his sole issue, Appellant contends that the evidence is factually insufficient
to support the sentence imposed.  A
review of the evidence for factual sufficiency is inappropriate with respect to
the assessment of punishment.  See Bradfield
v. State, 42 S.W.3d 350, 351 (Tex. App.–Eastland  2001, pet. ref’d); Kanouse v. State,
958 S.W.2d 509, 510 (Tex. App.–Beaumont 1998, no pet.); Flores v. State,
936 S.W.2d 478, 479 (Tex. App.–Eastland 1996, pet. ref’d).  Therefore, we decline to conduct a factual
sufficiency review of the evidence on punishment.
            The
general rule is that as long as a sentence is within the statutory range, it
will not be disturbed on appeal.  See Gerhardt
v. State, 935 S.W.2d 192, 196 (Tex. App.–Beaumont 1996, no pet.).  The punishment for sexual assault of a child
is imprisonment for not more than twenty years or less than two years and a
fine of up to $10,000.00.  Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 12.33,
22.011(f) (Vernon 2003 & Supp. 2007). 
Since Appellant’s fifteen year term and $5,000.00 fine fall within the
permissible range set forth by the legislature, we will not disturb it.  Appellant has not raised any issue contending
that his sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.  We overrule Appellant’s sole issue.
 
Disposition
            Having
overruled Appellant’s sole issue, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
 
 
 
                                                                                                   JAMES T. WORTHEN   
                                                                                                               Chief Justice
 
 
Opinion
delivered March 31, 2008.
Panel
consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(DO NOT PUBLISH)