Court Opinion

ID: 2891934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 21:47:41.948575+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:41.790901
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-04-0579-CR

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                      AT AMARILLO

                                        PANEL D

                                    AUGUST 10, 2005

                          ______________________________

               CHRISTOPHER SCOTT HICKENBOTTOM, APPELLANT

                                            V.

                          THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

                        _________________________________

            FROM THE 108TH DISTRICT COURT OF POTTER COUNTY;

                   NO. 36,037-E; HONORABLE ABE LOPEZ, JUDGE

                         _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.

                               MEMORANDUM OPINION

       Appellant Christopher Scott Hickenbottom was sentenced to ten years of community

supervision after pleading guilty to indecency with a child by sexual contact. Following a

hearing on the State’s motion to proceed with adjudication of guilt, the trial court revoked

appellant’s community supervision and sentenced him to four years confinement. In
presenting this appeal, counsel has filed an Anders1 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 diligently reviewed the

record, and in his opinion, the record reflects no reversible error upon which an appeal can

be predicated. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744-45, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493

(1967); Monroe v. State, 671 S.W.2d 583, 585 (Tex.App.--San Antonio 1984, no pet.).

Thus, he concludes the appeal is frivolous. In compliance with High v. State, 573 S.W.2d
807, 813 (Tex.Cr.App. 1978), counsel has candidly discussed why, under the controlling

authorities, there is no error in the court's judgment. Counsel has also shown that he sent

a copy of the brief to appellant and informed appellant that, in counsel's view, the appeal

is without merit. In addition, counsel has demonstrated that he notified appellant of his right

to review the record and file a pro se response if he desired to do so. Appellant did not file

a response. Neither did the State favor us with a brief.

       In July 2004, the State filed its motion to proceed with adjudication of guilt claiming

appellant failed to (1) provide his new address to authorities, (2) notify his community

supervision officer of his change of address, (3) pay supervision fees, (4) pay court costs,

restitution, and attorney’s fees, (5) report to his community supervision officer, and (6)

complete a sex offender treatment program. At the revocation hearing, appellant pled true

to three of the six violations. After hearing testimony, the trial court concluded he had

       1
           Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967).

                                              2
violated the terms of his community supervision and sentenced him to four years

confinement. Appellant subsequently filed a notice of appeal.

       By his Anders brief, counsel advances several arguable grounds for appeal. The

first is whether appellant’s guilty plea was entered voluntarily or knowingly. Counsel also

acknowledges the court did not admonish appellant at the revocation hearing in accordance

with article 26.13(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art.

26.13(a) (Vernon Supp. 2004-05).

       Texas courts have held that where the record indicates a defendant has received

an admonishment as to punishment, that is prima facie evidence his guilty plea was

knowing and voluntary. Fuentes v. State, 688 S.W.2d 542, 544 (Tex.Cr.App. 1985). In

addition, article 26.13(d) provides that “[t]he Court may make the admonitions required by

this article either orally or in writing.” Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 26.13(d).

       Prior to the revocation hearing, appellant was presented with and signed written plea

admonishments that were consistent with the requirements of article 26.13(a). He also

stipulated that he understood the admonishments and was aware of the consequences of

his plea. Upon a review of the record, we find appellant’s plea was entered knowingly and

voluntarily and that he was properly admonished in accordance with the Code of Criminal

Procedure.

                                              3
       We also find appellant was afforded effective assistance of counsel. See Strickland

v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); Hernandez v. State,

726 S.W.2d 53, 55 (Tex.Cr.App. 1986). To establish ineffective assistance of counsel

following a guilty plea, appellant must establish (1) counsel's performance fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2) there

is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, appellant would not have pled

guilty and would have insisted on going to trial. See Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58, 106
S. Ct. 366, 88 L. Ed. 2d 203, 210 (1985); Ex parte Adams, 707 S.W.2d 646, 649 (Tex.Cr.

App. 1986) (applying Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d
674 (1984)).

       Here, trial counsel challenged the State’s case by vigorously cross-examining

witnesses and raised several successful objections. Furthermore, we have already

determined appellant’s guilty plea was entered voluntarily and knowingly. Thus, we find the

plea was not a consequence of any errors by counsel. Absent evidence regarding

counsel’s trial strategy and provided the presumption that trial counsel’s conduct falls within

the wide range of reasonable and professional representation, no reversible error is

demonstrated. See Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 833 (Tex.Cr.App. 2002); Mallett v.

State, 65 S.W.3d 59, 63 (Tex.Cr.App. 2001).

       We have made an independent examination of the entire record to determine

whether there are any arguable grounds which might support this appeal. See Penson v.

                                              4
Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 109 S. Ct. 346, 102 L. Ed. 2d 300 (1988); Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d
503, 511 (Tex.Cr.App. 1991). We have found no such grounds and agree with counsel that

the appeal is frivolous. Currie v. State, 516 S.W.2d 684 (Tex.Cr.App. 1974); Lacy v. State,

477 S.W.2d 577, 578 (Tex.Cr.App. 1972).

       Accordingly, counsel's motion to withdraw is hereby granted and the judgment of the

trial court is affirmed.

                                         Don H. Reavis
                                           Justice

Do not publish.

                                            5