Brittany Michelle Barrett v. State
12-15-00147-CR
Tex. App.Oct 22, 2015Background
- Barrett challenged restitution awards after guilty pleas to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in two Smith County cases.
- Trial court deferred guilt, placed Barrett on ten-year community supervision, and ordered restitution to victims pending a post-sentence investigation.
- Post-sentence investigation (PSI) filed Oct. 9, 2012, showing itemized medical bills for victims; restitution amounts amended in Nov. 2012 orders.
- Final adjudication occurred May 12, 2015, revoking supervision and ordering new restitution amounts to ETMC/ETMC-EMS and Trinity Mother Francis Hospital.
- The State argues PSI provides sufficient factual basis; Barrett forfeited objections to third-party restitution and argues only legal sufficiency of amounts.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was the restitution award supported by a sufficient factual basis? | Barrett argues insufficient factual basis for the amounts. | State argues PSI's itemized medical bills provide the basis for awards. | Yes; the record shows a sufficient factual basis for restitution. |
Key Cases Cited
- Burt v. State, 445 S.W.3d 752 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (restitution must be supported by a factual basis in the record)
- Cartwright v. State, 605 S.W.2d 287 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) (abuse of discretion standard for restitution orders)
- Jones v. State, 713 S.W.2d 796 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1986, no pet.) (PSI/factual basis can support restitution to victims)
- Idowu v. State, 73 S.W.3d 918 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (forfeiture rule for challenges to restitution on appeal)
- Campbell v. State, 5 S.W.3d 693 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (discussion of restitution standards)
