Court Opinion

ID: 2880754
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 15:06:06.312707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:00.309282
License: Public Domain

,

    Writ of Habeas Corpus Granted, Opinion and Order issued May 26, 1999

                                                    In The
                                         801 S.W.2d 833, 834-35 (Tex. 1990) (orig.

proceeding). Therefore, Burleson is entitled to habeas corpus review and we sustain her first issue. See

id. However, in order to grant the writ of habeas corpus, this Court must find the commitment order is

void, "either because it was beyond the power of the court or because it deprived the relator of his liberty

without due process oflaw." See Er:parte Barnett, 600 S.W.2d 252, 254 (Tex. 1980) (orig. proceeding).

        In this case, the sentence imposed by the trial court in its order of enforcement is for criminal

or "punitive" contempt because the relator cannot by her own actions "purge" herself of the contempt and

avoid the sentence. See Ex parte Johns, 807 S.W.2d 768, 770-71 (Tex. App.-Dallas 1991, orig.

proceeding). The Texas Government Code provides a trial court is limited to imposition of a sentence

of not more than six months confinement for each finding of criminal contempt. See TEX. Gov'T. CODE

A.t'm. § 21. 002(b) (Vernon 1988). We conclude the trial court's enforcement order is void because it

imposes a sentence of two years confinement, which is beyond the maximum sentence permitted qy law.

See id. Therefore, we sustain Burleson's second issue.

        In her third and fourth issues, Burleson contends Phelps' motion for enforcement and the trial

court's order do not specify the dates for each alleged act of contempt as required by the Texas Family

Code. The family code provisions referred to by relator involve the requirements for motions to enforce

payment of child support obligations. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 157.002 (b) (Vernon Supp. 1999).

The particular provision being enforced in this case is not one for payment of child support. Therefore,

we hold the requirement to include the dates of noncompliance does not apply in this case. The family

code requires a motion for enforcement of other provisions of a divorce decree to state in ordinary and

concise language the provision of the order allegedly violated and sought to be enforced, the manner of

noncompliance, and the relief requested, along with the signature of the movant or her attorney. See TEX.

FAM. CoDE ANN. § 15 7. 002 (a) (Vernon 1996). The motion in the present case meets these requirements.

Consequently, we deny Burleson's third and fourth issues.

                                                   -3-
       We hereby GRANT relator's petition for writ of habeas corpus because the trial court improperly

imposed a sentence of more than six months confinement for one act of criminal or "punitive" contempt.

We hereby ORDER Angelia K. Burleson f/k/a Angelia K. Phelps unconditionally released and

discharged from those portions of the orders issued February 1, 1999 by the 33Qth District Court ofDallas

County, Texas in cause number 94-2763-Y styled In the Interest of Wesley Phelps. a Child imposing a

sentence for contempt and conditions of probation for two years on Angeli a K. Burleson f/k/a Angelia

K. Phelps.

Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47
990703F.U05

                                                  -4-
                                                                                                                                                                               !!!'!!:".....;.-··   ···~--                    ~--   .. -., •

                              Qlourt of Apprnl.a                                                                                                          '~
                                                                                                                                                            '~
                                                                                                                                                                               --.;:.c· ..           -~-:Jill/6_    ...

                                                                                                                                  l\
                                                                                                                                                   .. 1
                                                                                                                                                          ..,._"!              ~-

                    1Jitft~ i!H.strtct of ID'rxn.s at ftlnlln.s
                             George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building
                                                                                                          '.                                                    1
                                                                                                                                                               .I
                                                                                                                                                                               ~,· ..;                . d.... -..

                                                                                                                                      ·•                                       11_,.....-,.:-
                             600 Commerce Street, Second Floor
                                 Dallas, Texas 75202-4658                                                                        ....      '
                                                                                                                                                    C\
                                                                                                                                                   ~~
                                                                                                                                                          ./

                                                                                                                                                                               --
                                                                                                                                                                               ~hi~-
                                                                                                                                                                                                      ~···--- ~---...__
                                                                                                                                                                                                     .. ......._----~-··""   ·-·-

                                                                                             SCOTT A PHELPS
                                                                                             10840 MALADY
                                                                                             DALLt\S TX 75228

                      ·. -
                                                    ~
,_.   -----~"''.-            ·v~·-·~--~,
                                                       / ~~~-,'''     -,0 "'\.
'
                                                                                                               ~nT n~~ ntFRAHL£ AS ADDRESSED
                       <..:::: ~J       I
i                                                                     ~              (.'.
i                                                                Wo              c".t
! 'n.-.IUir
      --                   '-" \•·                                          /'<.
                                                                           '\
                                        '
                                                            - ..,__., .......
                                                                                 ~_,~,

                    ,:·;:_il                              j· f     ,. 'j        -"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1111
                                                                                            '7 ~=-:-Jj.:Z:?!.~-=lh
1
L-.p -------                                                "'-·
                                                                                                                     llllllllllllll II\ 111111 11111111\ 1.1 1.111111111
                                                                                                                                  I            I                    II I   I