Ford v. State

Apr 29, 1981
60654
Reporters:
,
Before:
Odom

OPINION

ODOM, Judge.

This is an appeal from a conviction for rape. Punishment, enhanced by allegation and proof ‍​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‍of one prior felony conviction was assessed at 60 years.

*728 In his brief appellant points to fundamental error in the jury charge that requires reversal. Although the rape statute, V.T. C.A., ‍​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‍Penal Code Sec. 21.02, does not expressly provide for a culpable mental state, one is nevertheless required because the statute does not plainly dispense with the need for one. V.T.C.A., ‍​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‍Penal Code Sec. 6.02(b) and (c); Braxton v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 528 S.W.2d 844; Zachery v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 552 S.W.2d 136. Although the indictment in this case properly alleged that appellant “knowingly and intentionally” committed acts constituting ‍​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‍rape, the jury charge in its application of the law to the facts of the case omitted this element of the offense. This error is fundamental and requires reversal. See Banks ‍​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‍v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 586 S.W.2d 518; North v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 598 S.W.2d 634 (aggravated rape).

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.