Court Opinion

ID: 3075893
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:15:09.62482+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:16.537272
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-12-00391-CR

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

          TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                    TYLER, TEXAS

MICHAEL SHEDDAN,                                 §           APPEALS FROM THE 217TH
APPELLANT

V.                                               §           JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE                                         §           ANGELINA COUNTY, TEXAS

                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                      PER CURIAM
       Michael Sheddan appeals his convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,
deadly conduct with a firearm, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Appellant’s
counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L.
Ed. 2d 493 (1967), and Gainous v. State, 436 S.W.2d 137 (Tex. Crim. App. 1969). We modify
the judgment and, as modified, affirm.

                                          BACKGROUND
       Appellant was charged by indictment with the offenses of aggravated assault with a deadly
weapon, a second degree felony; two counts of deadly conduct with a firearm, a third degree
felony; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a third degree felony. The indictment
also included a felony enhancement paragraph relating to each of the alleged offenses, except for
the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Before trial, the State dismissed one of
the counts of deadly conduct with a firearm. Appellant entered an open plea of ―guilty‖ to the
offense charged. Appellant and his counsel signed a document entitled ―Written Plea
Admonishments—Waivers—Stipulations‖ in which Appellant swore and judicially confessed that
he committed each and every element of the offenses alleged in the indictment. He also pleaded
―true‖ to the enhancement paragraph. The trial court accepted Appellant’s plea of guilty to each
count of the indictment and his plea of ―true‖ to the enhancement paragraph.
         After a punishment hearing, the trial court adjudged Appellant guilty of aggravated assault
with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct with a firearm, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a
felon, and found the enhancement paragraph to be ―true.‖ The trial court assessed Appellant’s
punishment at twenty-five years of imprisonment for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon;
twenty years of imprisonment for deadly conduct with a firearm; and ten years of imprisonment for
unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The trial court also made an affirmative deadly
weapon finding. Further, the sentences are to run concurrently. This appeal followed.

                              ANALYSIS PURSUANT TO ANDERS V. CALIFORNIA
         Appellant’s counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders and Gainous, stating that he
has diligently reviewed the appellate record and is of the opinion that the record reflects no
reversible error and that there is no error upon which an appeal can be predicated. From our
review of counsel’s brief, it is apparent that counsel is well acquainted with the facts in this case.
In compliance with Anders, Gainous, and High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812 (Tex. Crim. App.
1978), counsel’s brief presents a chronological summation of the procedural history of the case,
and further states that counsel is unable to raise any arguable issues for appeal. We have reviewed
the record for reversible error and have found none.1 See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d 824,
826-27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
         We note, however, that the trial court's written judgment incorrectly reflects that the plea
to, and finding on, the first enhancement paragraph were ―N/A.‖ We have authority to modify a
judgment to speak the truth when we have the necessary information before us to do so. See TEX.
R. APP. P. 43.2(B); Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27–28 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); Asberry v.
State, 813 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex. App.–Dallas 1991, pet. ref'd). Appellant pleaded ―true‖ to the

         1
           Counsel for Appellant certified that he provided Appellant with a copy of his brief and informed Appellant
that he had the right to file his own brief. Appellant was given time to file his own brief, but the time for filing such a
brief has expired and we have received no pro se brief.

                                                            2
first enhancement paragraph. Likewise, the trial court found the first enhancement paragraph to
be ―true.‖ Therefore, the trial court's judgment should be modified to reflect that Appellant
pleaded ―true‖ to first enhancement paragraph and that the trial court found the first enhancement
paragraph to be ―true.‖

                                                   CONCLUSION
         As required, Appellant’s counsel has moved for leave to withdraw. See In re Schulman,
252 S.W.3d 403, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (orig. proceeding); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d
503, 511 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). We are in agreement with Appellant’s counsel that the appeal
is wholly frivolous. Accordingly, his motion for leave to withdraw is hereby granted. We
modify the trial court’s judgment to reflect that Appellant pleaded ―true‖ to the first enhancement
paragraph and that the trial court found that the first enhancement paragraph was ―true.‖ We
affirm as modified. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2; Bray v. State, 179 S.W.3d 725, 726 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2005, no pet.) (en banc) (holding that an appellate court has the authority to reform a
judgment in an Anders appeal and to affirm that judgment as reformed).
         Counsel has a duty to, within five days of the date of this opinion, send a copy of the
opinion and judgment to Appellant and advise him of his right to file a petition for discretionary
review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4; In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 411 n.35. Should Appellant
wish to seek further review of this case by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he must either
retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary review or he must file a pro se petition for
discretionary review.         See In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408 n.22.          Any petition for
discretionary review must be filed within thirty days from the date of either this opinion or the last
timely motion for rehearing that was overruled by this court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2. Any
petition for discretionary review must be filed with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3. Any petition for discretionary review should comply with the requirements
of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.4; In re
Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 408 n.22.
Opinion delivered July 3, 2013.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.

                                              (DO NOT PUBLISH)
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                                     COURT OF APPEALS
           TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                             JUDGMENT

                                              JULY 3, 2013

                                         NO. 12-12-00391-CR

                                       MICHAEL SHEDDAN,
                                            Appellant
                                               V.
                                      THE STATE OF TEXAS,
                                            Appellee

                           Appeal from the 2174th Judicial District Court
                         of Angelina County, Texas. (Tr.Ct.No. 2012-0086)

                      THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
                      It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that Appellant’s
counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted, the trial court's judgment should be modified to reflect
that Appellant pleaded ―true‖ to the first enhancement paragraph and that the trial court found the
first enhancement paragraph to be ―true,‖ and as modified, the judgment of the court below be in
all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court below for observance.
                       By per curiam opinion.
                       Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.