Case Information
*0 RECEIVED IN 12th COURT OF APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS 10/5/2015 3:18:42 PM PAM ESTES Clerk *1 ACCEPTED 12-15-00154-CR TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS 10/5/2015 3:18:42 PM Pam Estes CLERK D. Matt Bingham SMITH COUNTY COURTHOUSE TELEPHONE: (903) 590-1720 TELECOPIER: (903) 590-1719 100 N. BROADWAY 4 th Floor Criminal District Attorney TYLER, TEXAS 75702 Michael J. West, Appellate Chief Smith County Aaron S. Rediker, Appellate Prosecutor April A. Sikes, First Assistant Jennifer Barfield, Office Manager
5 October 2015
Ms. Cathy S. Lusk, Clerk
Twelfth Court of Appeals
1517 West Front Street, Suite 354
Re: 12-15-00154-CR, Daniel Lee Knod v. The State of Texas ;
State’s Supplemental Letter Brief
To the Honorable Court of Appeals:
In an amended brief filed on 22 September 2015, appellant
alleges that his sentence for the offense of state jail felony theft was
improperly enhanced with a prior theft conviction (Appellant’s Am.
Br. 17-20). As appellant’s argument appears to be valid, the Court
should overrule his first issue for the reasons argued in the State’s
Brief and affirm the judgment as to the finding of guilt, but sustain
his second issue and reverse only as to punishment.
Appellant was charged by indictment with the state jail felony
offense of theft, where the property stolen was valued at less than
$1,500, and appellant had been convicted twice before of theft
(Clerk’s R. at 2). Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 31.03(e)(4)(D) (West
2014). “Under this subsection, a defendant's history of theft
convictions, regardless of their number or degree, cannot elevate a
subsequent theft of property worth less than $ 1500 beyond the
status of a state jail felony.” Brown v. State , 14 S.W.3d 832, 832-833
(Tex. App.–Austin 2000, pet. ref’d). Nevertheless, the State filed a
Brooks notice prior to trial, alleging a third prior conviction for theft
and one conviction for retaliation (Clerk’s R. at 19-21). See Brooks v.
State , 957 S.W.2d 30, 32-34 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). After a jury trial
on the issue of guilt/innocence, the trial court heard evidence on
punishment, made findings of “true” to the prior conviction
allegations contained in the State’s Brooks notice, and sentenced
appellant to confinement for eighteen years in the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice–Institutional Division without a fine,
within the punishment range for a second degree felony (VIII Rep.’s
R. at 120; Clerk’s R. at 72-73). See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 12.33,
12.425(b) (West 2014). As appellant was convicted of state jail
felony theft under section 31.03(e)(4)(D), his punishment could not
be enhanced with another theft conviction, and the sentence of
confinement for eighteen years was void. Freeman v. State , 970
S.W.2d 55, 59-60 (Tex. App.–Tyler 1998, no pet.). See also Rawlings
v. State , 602 S.W.2d 268, 270 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) (applying
similar prior statutes); Ex parte Firo , 815 S.W.2d 568, 569 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1991) (same).
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the State of Texas prays
that the Court of Appeals affirm the judgment of the 7th District
Court of Smith County, Texas, as to the finding of guilt and remand
the cause for reassessment of punishment. Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. Ann. art. 44.29(b) (West 2014); Freeman , 970 S.W.2d at 60.
Respectfully submitted, Asst. Criminal District Attorney SBOT #: 24046692 *3 100 North Broadway, 4th Floor phone: (903) 590-1720 fax: (903) 590-1719 arediker@smith-county.com C ERTIFICATE OF C OMPLIANCE Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(3), the
undersigned attorney certifies that the word count for this
document is 426 words as calculated by Corel WordPerfect X6.
/s/ Aaron S. Rediker Aaron S. Rediker C ERTIFICATE OF S ERVICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that on this 5th day of October
2015, the following have been completed:
(1) The State’s Supplemental Letter Brief in the above-captioned causes was electronically filed.
(2) A copy of the foregoing letter was sent by email to Austin R. Jackson, counsel for appellant, at JLawAppeals@gmail.com.