Court Opinion

ID: 4066624
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 22:43:37.043539+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:54.329751
License: Public Domain

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                                                                                 ORIGINAL
                                   NO.   -03-14-00059

     THOMAS BROCK                                 §                  IN THE CDURT OF
           Appellant
                                                  §

                                                  §
     Vs.                                                              CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                                  §

     THE STATE OF TEXAS
                                                  §
     ApEJepjlgf) |N                                                   of texas COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS                                                            AUG 17 2015
                                                  §
       AUG 17 20i5
                                PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW                Abel Acosta, Clerk
    Abel Acosta, Clerk      under texas rule of appellate procedure 68
     TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF SAID COURT:

           Now, Comes, THOMAS BROCK, Appellant, and files this Petition for Discretionary

     Review, Under, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 68. And request this Honorable

     Court to Grant, His (PDR) for the following reasons.

                                                . I.

       Appellant, Brock, was incompetent on the day of his sentencing and trial. Due to

     he was having major problems with his (PTSD) and having flashbacks, hearing voice's

     and having nightmares of what had happen to his-self in the past.

       In citing Bouchillon V. Collins 907 F.2.d 589, 592 (5th Cir 1990)

             (finding that there was sufficient evidence at trial to establish a reasonable

     probability that defendant was incompetent at the time of a guilty plea to post

     traumatic stress disorderer).

       It is clear the Appellant, Brock was in a delusional state while in the county iail

     and at the time of court which he had inform his Court Appointed Attorney of these on

     going problems and sha did noting to inform the court of her, client's problems and

     the bizarre things he had told her about          etc! Such as experiencing hallucination,

     seeing satan, having nightmares reliving the killing of his victim           etc.
                                         II.

   Appellant, Brock, contends that the district "court erred by failing to make a sua

sponte inquiry into [his] competency to stand trail" after he return from the state

hospital.

 .Thus, Appellant, Brock, had a clear case of Ineffectinve Assistance of Counsel due

to the fact Appellant's Attorney refuse to bring it before the Court that h^r, Client

was having flashback, nightmares and suffina from on goinq ''PTSD). Before he was qoing

to trial and while at trial.

   The actual fact is Appellant, Brock, Attorney didn't give him any type of listing

to about his on going mental problems which he repeatedly told her about things going

on in iail and in court.

   Appellant, Brock also told his, Attorney about he.was also having flashback's of

other things such as his first case of the alleged attempted murder. And the fact he

was seeing things like satan, his self coming to get him out of jail. He also recalled

being with satan at a place in the woods and a lot of other's of satan lot was there

to take part in a sacrifice that satan was doing to a young lady and they all drank
                                    i

her blood once satan had cut her throat. He told his, Attorney about this and the

other on going things and she just smile at him.

   So the above clearly show's Appellant, Brock was not at all competent to stand trial

and shouldn't of been able to go to a trial. He should of received a second inpatient

treatment and observation. Due to his mental state at time of: trial.

   citing: see Turner V. State, 422 S.W. 3d 676,688 (Tex. Crim.App. 2013)(explaining

that person wh:> is m*t competent may not be put on trial without violating due process);

   So the fact that Appellant, Brock was repeatedly tellinq his, attorney of all the

bizarre things about drinking a young lady's blood and beinq. with satan. His, Attorney

should of put the cpart on notice of her client having the flashback's and nightmare's

and on qoing episode's-of (PTSD)....and other serious mental illness problems while

in the county jail and qoing to trial.

                                          2.
For the above reasons within this Petition it is claer that Appellant, Brock's "DUE

PROCESS VIOLATION" Therefore the Appellant request that his (PDR) be granted and

his being convicted be over turn and him be given a second inpatient treatment and

observation.                                                    ...

                                          PRAYER

  WHEREFORE. PREMEMISES, CONSIDER, Herein the Appellant, Pray's the Honorable Court

will Grant this (PDR) and over turn the conviction of said Appellant.

                                                         Resc

                               CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

    I,THOMAS BROCK, Appellant, hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the Laws

of the United States of American that on August 10,2015 a Origional of the above for

going (PDR) was send by U.S. Mail to the below address.

                                 CLERK OF THE COURT
                                OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                   P.O.    BOX 12308
                                Austin,    Texas 79711

                                                           Thomas Broc?
                                                           TDCJ-ID #1907902
                                                           Clements,Unit
                                                           9601 Spur 591
                                                           Amarillo,Texas
                                                                   79107-9606

c/c Brock file
                                            3.
     TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                      NO. 03-14-00059-CR

                                   Thomas Brock, Appellant

                                  The State of Texas, Appellee

    FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 167TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
     NO. D-l-DC-12-202194, HONORABLE P. DAVID WAHLBERG, JUDGE PRESIDING

                            MEMORANDUM                  OPINION

               ThomasBrockwas chargedwith murderingLuisVigil. SeeTex.PenalCode § 19.02(b)

(setting out elements of offense of murder), (c) (providing that in general murder is first-degree

felony). In addition, the indictment contained an enhancement paragraph alleging that Brock had

previously been convicted of the crime of attempted murder. See id. § 15.01 (governing attempt

offenses). Afterhe was charged, Brock agreed to pleadguilty to the offense at issue, but he entered

a plea of not true regarding the enhancement allegation. Once the district court accepted Brock's

plea, it sentenced him to45 years' imprisonment. See id. § 12.32 (setting out punishment range for

first-degree felonies). The judgment reflects that Brock pleaded true totheenhancement allegation.

On appeal, Brock contends that the district "court erred byfailing to make asua sponte inquiry into

[his] competency to stand trial," that the district "court erred by finding [that he] was competent,"

and that the "judgment ofconviction should beamended to reflect that [he] entered aplea ofnot true
to the enhancement paragraph." We will modify the judgment to reflect that Brock pleaded not true

to the enhancement allegation and affirm the district court's judgment of conviction as modified.

                                             DISCUSSION

Sua Sponte Inquiry into Competency

                   In his first issue, Brock urges that the district court should have made its own

determination regarding his competency before accepting his plea after he made "bizarre remarks

... at the outset of his trial." See Turner v. State, 422 S.W.3d 676, 688 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013)

(explaining that person who is not competent may not be put on trial without violating due process);

see also Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.004(b) (stating that "[i]f evidence suggesting the defendant
               r

may be incompetent to stand trial comes to the attention of the court, the court on its own motion

shall suggest that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial").

                   As supportfor this assertion, Brock points to the portion of the record in which the

district court asked about his history of hearing voices prior to accepting his plea of guilty. That

exchange occurred as follows:

        [Court]: Okay. I think somewhere in all of the materials that I've sort of briefly
       reviewed here, there's some indication that you have a history of hearing voices or
       something along those lines; is that right?

        [Brock]: Yes, sir, that's true.

        [Court]: Sort of tell me a little bit about how long that's been going on and what
        that's like.

        [Brock]: Since I was 15, I've heard voices that have told me to do things to myself
        and some things are inappropriate.
[Court]: So without asking - I'm not asking you —

[Brock]: Right.

[Court]: - for the details. I'm just sort of trying to get a general —

[Brock]: Yes, sir.

[Court]: - understanding of your situation.

[Brock]: Yes, sir. The voices would definitely —they'd make me do things.

(Sotto voce discussion between attorney and defendant)

[Brock]: Oh, yeah, yeah. Around eight or nine, the invisible stuff started happening.

[Court]: When you say invisible stuff, what are we talking about?

[Brock]: I'm talking about my uncle who was able to use a device to make himself
transparent, and he's a freemason and differentstuff. He's a wealthyman. I've never
been able to prove it, but I'd like to just to get him in here, but I can't, you know. It
really is shocking how he did that. Another thing that happened to me was when I
was an infant, I was taken to the church of Satan and my head was cut off and —

[Court]: How did it get back on?

[Brock]: Okay, okay, good question. There is a replication device used made offront
surface, silver-coated mirrors and halogen lights and it breaks down subatomic
particles andrestabilizes them andin a matter of seconds it's a molecular replicator.
It was used by Nazis at one time and now still goes on being used by the Illuminati
and people who don't talk about it, but I talk about it because it was used on me. I
think whathappened was, I wasthought of to havea decent lifewithmy grandfather
and everybody and they wanted me to come up and go to the Air Force and also
become a Skull and Bones member, an Illuminati member and do something, you
know, spectacular for my family, like any family would want their child to grow to
be a doctor, et cetera. Insteadthat happened to me and I look on being done like that
and I've went over it in my mind and I tried to write to my mom and my dad, hey,
this has happened to me. I know it sounds completely unbelievable, but I know for
sure it's happened. And so far Ihaven't gotten any feedback and dialogue and Iwish
I could.
                In light of this exchange, Brock contends that there was "ample reason to suggest

that his competency was in question" and that the district court abused its discretion by failing to

conduct a further inquiry into his competency. Moreover, Brock notes that he has had a history of

these types of delusions and then chronicles the testimony and evidence of his extensive history of

mental-health issues and his periods of incompetency that were presented to the district court prior

to his entering his plea of guilty. In particular, Brock points to the following:

                Shortly after his arrest, he told the police that "he hears voices and had been
                replicated and reincarnated over the years" and that he killed the victim to
                "instill belief."

                Approximately one month later, his counsel and the State raised the issue
                of competency and asked that he be examined by a psychiatrist.

                Subsequent to the evaluation, his attorney and the State agreed that he was
                incompetent to stand trial, and he was committed for inpatient treatment
                and observation for 120 days.

                After the expiration of that period, the State moved to extend his mental-
                health treatment.

                During the hearing on the State's motion, one of his treating physicians,
                Dr. Maureen Burrows, testified that he was not competent to stand trial;
                that he was unable to confer with counsel; that he was suffering from
                "schizo-affective disorder, bipolar type"; that he was "still... paranoid and
                delusional, and experiencing hallucinations that are integral to his case, and
                it impairs his ability to have a rational approach in this case"; that he
                believed that the criminal offense stemmed from a racial war as well as a
                 replicator box that copied his identity; and that he needed to be hospitalized
                 for treatment.

                 At the end of the hearing, the magistrate judge extended his inpatient
                 treatment for a period not to exceed twelve months.
In light ofthe preceding, Brock insists that the district court abused its discretion by failing to further

inquire into his competency before accepting his plea.

                 Generally speaking, a "defendant is presumed competent to stand trial and shall be

found competent to stand trial unless proved incompetent by a preponderance ofthe evidence." Tex.

Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.003(b). "A person is incompetent to stand trial if the person does not have":

        (1) sufficient present ability to consult with the person's lawyer with a reasonable
        degree of rational understanding; or

        (2) a rational as well as factual understandingof the proceedingsagainst the person.

Id. art.46B.003(a). Moreover, thedefendant, the State,or thetrialcourtmaysuggestthatthedefendant

is not competent to stand trial. Id. art. 46B.004(a). In addition, "[o]n suggestion that the defendant

may be incompetent to stand trial, the court shall determine by informal inquiry whether there is

someevidence fromanysourcethat would supporta finding thatthe defendant maybe incompetent

to standtrial." Id. art.46B.004(c). Further,a "suggestionof incompetencyis the thresholdrequirement

for an informal inquiry . . . and mayconsist solely of a representation from anycredible source that

the defendant may be incompetent." Id. art. 46B.004(c-l); see also id. (explaining that trial court

"is not required to have a bona fide doubt about the competency of the defendant" before inquiry

may be initiated). Among other factors, competency determinations may be based on the ability of

the defendant to:

        (A) rationally understand the charges against the defendant and the potential
        consequences of the pending criminal proceedings;

        (B) disclose to counsel pertinent facts, events, and states of mind;
       (C) engage in a reasoned choice of legal strategies and options;

       (D) understand the adversarial nature of criminal proceedings;

       (E) exhibit appropriate courtroom behavior; and

       (F) testify.

Id. art. 46B.024(1); see also id. art. 46B.004(c-l) (providing that trial court may consider factors

listed in article 46B.024 when deciding competency). In making a determination, the court may

also consider whether the defendant has a mental illness, how long the condition is expected to last,

how much the condition impairs the defendant, and whether the defendant is taking medication. Id.

art. 46B.024(2)-(5). Althoughevidenceof a historyof mental illness might bear on this determination,

thattype of evidence willonlycompel further action by the trialcourtif it indicates thatthe defendant

is currently incapable ofunderstanding theproceedings against him or of consulting withhis attorney.

SeeIniquez v. State, 374 S.W.3d 611, 617 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012, no pet.) (applying bona-fide

standard from previous version of statute).

                 The decision by a trial court to not "conduct further inquiry into the" defendant's

competency is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See Luna v. State, 268 S.W.3d 594, 599 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2008). Under thatstandard, atrial court'sruling will onlybedeemed anabuse ofdiscretion

if it is so clearly wrong as to lie outside the zone of reasonable disagreement, Lopez v. State,

86 S.W.3d 228, 230 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002), or is arbitrary or unreasonable, State v. Mechler,

153 S.W.3d 435, 439 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Moreover, the trial court's ruling will be upheld

provided that the decision "isreasonably supported by the record and is correct under any theory of

law applicable to the case," and reviewing courts must consider "the trial court's ruling in light of
what was before the trial court at the time the ruling was made." Carrasco v. State, 154 S.W.3d 127,

129 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).

                 In addition to the evidence and testimony that Brock points to, other evidence

regarding Brock's mental health was presented before the district court accepted hisplea.1 Specifically,

a few months after the magistrate approved the request for extended mental-health treatment,another

hearing was convened in response to Brock's attorney's request that Brock be declared competent

to stand trial in accordance with the competency report prepared by one of his treating physicians,

Dr. Michele Borynski. In the competency report, Dr. Borynski explained that since Brock was

transferred to the hospital, he hasbeen treated with various medications2 and recounted how when

he first arrivedat the hospital, he was sufferingfrom intense delusions and hallucinations,including

onesrelatedto a replicator box and to his identityhavingbeen copied. However, Dr.Borynski wrote

that "Brock has made progress with respect to the impairments that previously impacted his

functioning" andthenchronicled thereductions inhissymptoms overtimeandgeneral improvement

in his ability to function in the facility. In fact, regarding her most recent interview, Dr. Borynski

explained thatBrock "didnotexpress delusions orotherwise evidence symptoms ofmental illness,"

was cooperative andpolite, and"discussed matters in an organized, logical, and coherent fashion."

        1 We note that after Brock made the bizarre comments that form the basis for this issue,
his attorney did not suggest that Brock was not competent to stand trial. Cf. Iniquez v. State,
374 S.W.3d 611,618 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012, no pet.) (determining that trial courtdid not abuse
its discretion by failing to conduct sua sponte competency hearing and noting that defendant did
not present opinion of mental-health professional "or an affidavit from counsel that [he] could not
effectively communicate").

        2After Brock entered his plea, Dr. Burrows testified and explained thatwhen Brock isonhis
medication, he distances himselffrom his "delusions and believes - or can think aboutthemmore
flexibly" and that the reduction in his "symptoms might be 90 percent."
Furthermore, she concluded that Brock understood the legal consequences of being declared

competent or incompetent, demonstrated "an adequate factual and rational understanding of the

charge against him and the possible penalties," discussed the allegations, identified the crime for

which he was charged, understood the types of pleas that he might enter and how the different pleas

might affect the nature of the proceedings against him, discussed potential legal strategies,

understood the adversarial nature of a criminal proceeding, demonstrated an ability to engage in

appropriate courtroom behavior, and possessed the ability to testify if he chose to.3 During the

hearing to restore his competency, Brock confirmed that he was able to discuss his case with his

attorney as well as the various types of pleas that he could enter. In accordance with the parties'

wishes and with the recommendation contained in the report, the district entered an order

determining that Brock had been restored to competency. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.112

(authorizing trial court to determine that defendant has been restored to competency if both parties

agree and court concurs).

        3In addition to the report submitted when Brock's competency was restored, another report
prepared by anotherphysician, Dr. David Landers, was also admitted as an exhibit by Brock after
the district court accepted his plea. In the report, which was prepared a few weeks after Brock's
competency was restored, Dr. Landers concluded that Brock was competent to proceed, correctly
identified thecharge against him,"demonstrated anadequate understanding ofbasiclegalprocesses"
and of the adversarial system, "did not express anygrosslyunrealistic expectations aboutthe outcome
of his case," and expressed a desireto workwith his attorney. However, Dr. Landers alsonotedthat
Brock's ability to disclose facts to his attorney was not "optimal," that Brock becomes more
symptomatic when stressed, andthatduring oneofhisinterviews withBrock, Brock appeared more
symptomatic and expressed the idea that the victim might not actually be dead, but Dr. Landers
concluded that Brock did not "hold" onto that belief "with unwavering conviction" and that the
delusion was not"affecting his rational understanding otherwise." Accordingly, Dr. Landers concluded
thatBrock was competent butthathisattorney should be"sensitive totheprospect ofdeterioration."
                Moreover, prior to accepting the plea, the district court asked Brock various questions,

including questions about his prior treatment for mental-health issues and about his current level of

competency, and Brock answered that he understood the charges against him, that he had

"[definitely" been treated for mental-health issues previously, that he believed that he was currently

competent to stand trial, that he had discussed potential legal defenses with his attorney, that he

understood the nature of the proceedings as well as the charges against him, that he understood the

permissible punishment range, that the punishment range might be raised due to the enhancement

allegation, and that he wanted to plead guilty to the crime charged but not true to the enhancement.

                In addition, the district court asked Brock's attorney whether she thought Brock

was competent, and she revealed that Brock was extensively treated and confined in a mental

hospital for months in an effort to discover the right medicine to treat his symptoms, to allow the

medicine to take effect, and to give Brocktimeto understand the charges againsthim. Brockagreed

with his attorney's assessment. Brock's attorney also discussed the prior proceeding in which

Brock's competency was restored. Next, she revealed that after that determination, she discussed

with Brock his options and that theyagreed that insanity was not a viable defense because various

mental-health professionals had determined that Brock was sane at the time of the offense. In

addition, she informed the district court that she and Brock agreed that his best option was to enter

a plea but to plead not true to the enhancement allegation.

                 Next, Brock's attorney sought permission to question him in front of the court to

demonstrate his competency. In response to the questions posed by his attorney, Brock answered

thathewas "charged withfelony murder, first-degree felony murder"; thatthepunishment range was

"from 5 to 99 years inprison"; and that by pleading guilty, he was waiving his rights, including the
right to remain silent and to have a jury trial. In fact, Brock explained that rather than risk a jury

trial, he wanted to appear before the district court "and ask [its] favor. That's what I've decided to

do." After Brock finished answering her questions, his attorney stated that she believed that Brock

was competent.

                 Once Brock's attorney finished her questioning, the district court clarified that Brock

intended to give up his right to a jury trial and desired to plead guilty and to allow the district court

to assess the proper punishment, and Brock agreed that was his desire. Further, the district court

asked Brock whether he understood that he was giving up his right to confront witnesses who might

testify against him and to present evidence and call witnesses to testify on his behalf, and Brock

responded that he understood. In addition, the district court inquired whether Brock understood that

if he entered a plea of not guilty, the State would be required to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable

doubt and that his failure to testify could not be held against him, and Brock answered that he

understood. Next, the district court asked whether his decision to enter a guilty plea was ofhis "own

personal decision-making" and was not due to anythreats or coercion, and Brockagreedthat he had

decidedto enter a guiltyplea. Finally, concerning the writtenplea, the districtcourt inquiredwhether

he discussed the plea with his attorney before signing it; whether he understood that by signing it,

he waivedhis constitutionalrights and agreedthat the allegationsagainsthim were true; and whether

his signature on the plea was his, and Brock answered affirmatively to all of the questions.

                 Although Brock points to evidence concerning his prior mental illness and to the

portion of the record in which he informed the district court about delusions thathe has had, given

the remainder ofhis interactions with his counsel and with the district court after his competency had

                                                   10
been restored and before the district court accepted his plea, we cannot conclude that the district

court abused its discretion by failing to conclude that there was a current suggestion that Brock did

not have a sufficient ability to rationally consult with his attorney or that Brock did not have a

rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him. For those same reasons, we also

cannot conclude that the district court abused its discretion by failing to conduct an informal inquiry

into his competency. Cf. Hobbs v. State, 359 S.W.3d 919, 925 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2012, no pet.) (noting that history of mental illness and being on psychiatric medications are

insufficient "to warrant a competency inquiry absent evidence of a present inability to communicate

with his attorney or understand the proceedings"); Learning v. State, 227 S.W.3d 245, 250 (Tex.

App.—San Antonio 2007, no pet.) (explaining that to be entitled to second competency hearing

after being deemed competent, "defense counsel would have had to offer new evidence of a change

in . . . mental condition since the first competency hearing").

                 For these reasons, we overrule Brock's first issue on appeal.

Competency Determination

                 In an alternative argument related to his first issue, Brock contends in his second

issue that if this Court were to conclude that the district court did in fact convene an informal inquiry

into Brock's competency through the questions that it posed to Brock, then we would have to

determine that the district court abused its discretion when it determined that Brock was competent

to stand trial. Montoya v. State, 291 S.W.3d 420, 426 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (explaining that

competency determinations arereviewed under abuse-of-discretion standard), superseded by statute

on other grounds as stated in Turner, 422 S.W.3d at 692 n.31.; see also Tex. Code Crim. Proc.

                                                   11
art. 46B.005 (requiring trial court to hold trial on competency if it performs informal inquiry and

determines that evidence exists to support finding of incompetency). Essentially, Brock seems to

be arguing that if the district court did in fact hold an informal hearing, the statements that he made

regarding persistent delusions that he has experienced plus the evidence of his history of mental

illness, including his history of substance abuse as well as his diagnosis for schizoaffective disorder

and a personality disorder, would be enough to constitute some evidence to support a finding of

incompetency, see Turner, 422 S.W.3d at 692-93 (explainingthat when conveninginformal inquiry,

trial courts set aside indications that defendant is competent and consider whether there is some

evidence that would rationally lead to conclusion of competency), and the district court would have

been obligated to stay the proceedings,see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 46B.004(d), and to order an

examination and hold a trial to determine his competency, id. art. 46B.005. In light ofthe preceding,

Brock contends that, in the absence of an examination and trial on the issue of his competency, the

district court's determination that he was competent was premature.

                 However, having determined that the district court did not abuse its discretion by

failing to conduct an informal inquiry into Brock's competency, we need not decide whether the

district court improperlydeterminedthat Brockwas competentafter performingan informalinquiry.

                 For these reasons, we overrule Brock's second issue on appeal.

Enhancement Allegation

                 In his third issue on appeal, Brock contends that the district court's judgment

incorrectly reflects that he entered a plea of true to the enhancement allegation contained in the

indictment. As pointed outby Brock, the record in this case reveals thatBrock indicated his desire

                                                   12
to plead not true to the enhancement allegation. In light of the record, Brock and the State both

agree that the district court's judgment should be modified to show that he entered a plea of not true

to the enhancement allegation. This Court has the authority to modify incorrect judgments when it

has the information necessary 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). Accordingly, we sustain Brock's third issue on appeal and modify

the judgment of conviction to reflect that Brock pleaded not true to the enhancement allegation.

                                          CONCLUSION

                 Having sustained Brock's third issue on appeal, we modify the district court's

judgment of conviction to reflect that Brock pleaded not true to the enhancement allegation.

Having overruled Brock's remaining two issues, we affirm the district court's judgment ofconviction

as modified.

                                               David Puryear, Justice

Before Justices Puryear, Pemberton, and Bourland

Modified and, as Modified, Affirmed

Filed: May 22, 2015

Do Not Publish

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