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Clemons v. StateClemons v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Apr 12, 1967
40287
Reporters:
Before:
Onion

Lead Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

The conviction is for a violation of the liquor laws; with punishment assessed at a fine of $500.

Notice of appeal was given after January 1, 1966.

The record ‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍on appeal does not include sentence pronounced by the court, as required by Arts. 40.09(1) and 42.02 Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P.

The appeal is dismissed.






Lead Opinion

OPINION ON APPELLANT’S MOTION TO REINSTATE APPEAL

ONION, Judge.

In dismissing his appeal, appellant insists that the Court overlooked the sentence contained in the record. The instrument to which he now directs our attention is the ‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍judgment of the Court, not the sentence. Since the effective date of the 1965 Code of Criminal Procedure, a sentence must be pronounced in every felony case and in every misdemeanor case, except where the maximum possible punishment is by fine only. Article 42.02, V.A.C.C.P. Further, Article 42.04, V.A.C.C.P. requires that the sentence in a case ‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍like that at bar shall be pronounced before the appeal is taken.

We observe that the written notice of appeal contained in the record expressly states that sentence was imposed. If such a sentence was pronounced and entered of record, but was not included in the record on appeal as required by Article 40.09, Section 1, V.A.C.C.P., ‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍it may be forwarded to this Court under proper certification. See Culbert v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 415 S.W.2d 646.

If a sentence was in fact pronounced in the case at bar but there was a failure for some reason to enter such sentence it may be entered nunc pro tunc. Article 42.06, V.A.C.C.P.

If, on the other hand, no sentence ‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍was ever pronounced, the trial court may now pronounce sentence and appellant may then appeal from that sentence if he so desires.

Appellant’s motion to reinstate his appeal is overruled.

Case Details

Case Name: Clemons v. State
Court Name: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Date Published: Apr 12, 1967
Citations: 414 S.W.2d 940; 40287
Docket Number: 40287
Court Abbreviation: Tex. Crim. App.
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