Latisha Leann White v. State
12-16-00111-CR
| Tex. App. | May 24, 2017Background
- Latisha Leann White pleaded guilty pursuant to plea bargains to four offenses and received ten-year sentences, all suspended with ten years community supervision.
- The State filed applications to revoke community supervision; two allegations were abandoned and White pleaded true to the remainder.
- The trial court revoked supervision and sentenced White to eight years’ imprisonment in each case.
- Each judgment assessed a $133 consolidated court fee and other costs; one judgment’s total cost figure ($289) differed from its bill of costs ($284).
- White appealed asserting (1) the consolidated court costs were unconstitutional and (2) one judgment contained a typographical error as to total costs.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutionality of $133 consolidated fee under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §133.102 | White: fee includes unconstitutional components and should be reduced/removed | State: Salinas-based reduction does not apply because White’s trial ended before Salinas mandate and no timely PDR preserved claim | Court: Overruled; Salinas relief inapplicable because proceedings ended before Salinas and no timely PDR was pending |
| Alleged typographical error / discrepancy between bill of costs ($284) and judgment ($289) | White: judgment contains a typo and should be modified to match bill of costs | State: record unclear whether typo; remedy is a nunc pro tunc in trial court; court should nonetheless test whether assessed costs have a record basis | Court: Overruled; $5 electronic filing fee provides a record basis for the $289 total, so no correction needed on appeal |
Key Cases Cited
- Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) (standard for assessing and reviewing court costs in criminal cases)
