Judy Elliot MARTIN, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 618-91.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, En Banc.
March 30, 1994.
806 S.W.2d 237
These cases reflect application of the clear language of
H. Jack Pytel, Jr., Larry Zinn, San Antonio, for appellant.
OPINION ON APPELLANT‘S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
MALONEY, Judge.
Appellant plead nolo contendere to a charge of securities fraud in violation of Section 29(C) of the Texas Securities Act.
Heretofore, appellant and James Augustus Connor formed an oil company, Gaelic Petroleum. Gaelic Petroleum subsequently declared bankruptcy, and the State Securities Board began an investigation that culminated in an indictment against appellant. The indictment alleged that appellant “did intentionally sell to ALFRED O. BROOME a security” in the amount of $3,717.19 and that appellant “did then and there commit fraud upon the said ALFRED O. BROOME by fraudulently and intentionally failing to disclose” certain matters concerning Gaelic Petroleum. As previously stated, the trial court placed appellant on ten years probation pursuant to
I.
(a) Terms and conditions of probation may include, but shall not be limited to, the conditions that the probationer shall:
...
(8) Pay his fine, if one be assessed, and all court costs whether a fine be assessed or not, in one of several sums, and make restitution or reparation in any sum that the court shall determine;
(b) A court may not order a probationer to make any payment[s] [sic] as a term and condition of probation, except for fines, court costs, restitution to the victim, and other terms or conditions related personally to the rehabilitation of the probationer or otherwise expressly authorized by law.
Caselaw supports the conclusion that restitution may be awarded only to victims of the crime adjudicated. While we have never addressed that exact issue, we have held that restitution may not be ordered as a condition of probation for losses caused by an offense for which the defendant is not criminally responsible. Gordon v. State, 707 S.W.2d 626 (Tex.Crim.App.1986). In Gordon a burglary suspect died as a result of injuries sustained during a custodial interrogation. Gordon, one of the law enforcement officers involved, was charged under
While appellant in the instant case was not acquitted of defrauding any of the Gaelic Petroleum investors (unlike the defendant in Gordon who was essentially acquitted of causing the suspect‘s death), neither was appellant‘s guilt in this case adjudicated with respect to any investor other than Broome. The State here charged appellant with fraudulently failing to disclose material information to Brоome, thereby defining the scope of appellant‘s offense by identifying a distinct investor who was defrauded.8 We conclude the court of appeals erred in holding that
II.
The State argues that appellant‘s actions constituted a scheme to defraud, and as such, restitution may properly be ordered payable to all victims of that scheme.10 In support of this proposition, the State cites federal court decisions holding permissible such recovery under the
Petitioner pleaded guilty only to the charge that he fraudulently used the credit card of [a single cardholder]. Because the restitution order encompassed losses stemming from alleged fraudulent uses of cards issued to persons other than [that single cardholder], suсh portions of the order are invalid.
Federal courts have reached different conclusions under Hughey as to the permissible scope of a VWPA restitution award in the context of an offense involving a scheme.13 Two circuits have interpreted Hughey in such a way as to permit restitution for all losses arising from the alleged scheme. See United States v. Bennett, 943 F.2d 738 (7th Cir.1991); United States v. Stouffer, 986 F.2d 916 (5th Cir.). These circuits hold that because the “offense of conviction” incorporates the scheme as a whole, restitution is properly ordered to cover all losses resulting from the scheme, not just those arising from the particular count with which the defendant has been convicted.
Five other circuits, however, have held that in the case of mail fraud the particular mailing is the “offense of conviction“, not the entire scheme. See, e.g., United States v. Cronin, 990 F.2d 663, 666 (1st Cir.1993); United States v. Seligsohn, 981 F.2d 1418 (3rd Cir.1992); United States v. Jewett, 978 F.2d 248 (6th Cir.1992); United States v. Stone, 948 F.2d 700 (11th Cir.1991); United States v. Sharp, 941 F.2d 811 (9th Cir.1991). These circuits have focused more upon the “offense of conviction” than the “specific conduct that is the basis” therefore, concluding that “the fact that an offense requires, as an essential element, the existence of a scheme to defraud ‘is too fine a point on which to distinguish Hughey.‘” Jewett, 978 F.2d at 251 (quoting Sharp, 941 F.2d at 815).
This Court is not bound by the interpretation of federal courts as to a federal statute. Because of the similarity of the issues involved and the State‘s contention here, we have reviewed the cited federal cases and note that we are more impressed with the reasoning of the federal circuits that have declined under the VWPA to allow the existence of a scheme to form the basis of a restitution order, but have focused instead upon the offense of cоnviction. This approach is consistent with our holding in Part I of this opinion that restitution may only be ordered payable to victims of the offense of conviction. In Part I of this opinion we held that by specifically providing that a defendant may not be ordered to make payments except restitution “to the victim“, the legislature intended to limit the discretion of the trial court in ordering restitution payments and accordingly limited restitution to the victim of the offense for which the defendant was convicted. We see no evidence in the language of article 42.12 § 11 or otherwise to indicate that the legislature intended that restitution may be ordered payable to persons other than the victim of the offense of conviction, who also suffеred as a result of a scheme of which the offense of conviction was a part.
The State argues that all the investors named in the restitution order14 “are so closely linked and integral to the offense charged that it would be consistent with justice and fairness to permit them to receive restitution for their losses.” We think it
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed and this cause is remanded to the trial court to reform the order of restitution in a manner not inconsistent with this opinion.
BAIRD, Judge, dissenting.
I respectfully dissent because I believe
I.
a) Terms and conditions of probation may include, but shall not be limited to, the conditions that probationer shall:
...
(8) Pay his fine, if one be assessed, and all court costs whether a fine be assessed or not, in one of several sums, and make restitution or reparation in any sum the court shall determine;
A judge may not order a defendant to make any payments as a term or condition of community supervision, except for fines, court costs, restitution to the victim, and conditions related personally to the rehabilitation of the defendant or otherwise expressly authorized by law....
As the majority correctly notes, § 11(b) limits the broad language оf § 11(a)(8) authorizing the trial judge to order restitution payments. Majority Op. pg. 676-677. However, I do not believe either the legislative history or the relevant decisional authority forces the conclusion that the term victim is limited to the complainants of a crime for which a defendant‘s criminal liability has been adjudicated.
II.
The legislative history of § 11(b) does not support the majority‘s conclusion that restitution payments are limited to only those victims of offenses for which a defendant‘s liability has been adjudicated. See, Majority Op. pg. 676-677. In fact, the legislative history provides little guidance on this issue. Prior to the enactment of the “restitution to the victim” provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure, the trial judge had broad authority to order a probationеr to “make restitu-
III.
The majority relies upon Gordon v. State, 707 S.W.2d 626 (Tex.Cr.App.1986), to hold a defendant‘s criminal liability must be adjudicated prior to ordering restitution. See, Majority Op. pg. 677. Gordon, a Harris County Deputy Sheriff, was charged with causing the death of a prisoner who died in Gordon‘s custody. Gordon was acquitted of causing the death but convicted of a lesser included offense. Id., at 628. The trial judge probated Gordon‘s sentence and ordered Gordon, as a condition of probation, to pay restitution for the complainant‘s funeral expenses. Id. We held the trial judge was without authority to order restitution for funeral expenses because the jury found Gordon was not criminally responsible for the complainant‘s death. Id., at 630.
The majority‘s reliance on Gordon is misplaced. The majority‘s interpretation of Gordon stems entirely from dicta. Majority Op. pg. 677, and n. 7. Gordon cited the concurring opinion in Bradley v. State, 478 S.W.2d 527 (Tex.Cr.App.1972), wherein Judge Roberts argued that a defendant placed on probation could not be ordered to pay restitution to a party other than the victim of the crime for which the defendant was convicted. Gordon, 707 S.W.2d at 629. However, the Gordon Court did not adopt Judge Roberts’ rationale but rather emphasized that there had been an adjudication, namely an acquittal of causing the complainant‘s death.
Rather, Gordon‘s holding is based upon less stringent due process considerations. In interpreting
Certainly whether to order restitution as a condition of probation is within the sound discretion of the trial court. But the dollar amount is a matter that the court ‘shall determine‘... Due process considerations thus implicated require that there must be evidence in the rеcord to show that the amount set by the court has a factual basis.
Gordon, 707 S.W.2d at 629 (citing Cartwright v. State, 605 S.W.2d 287, 289 (Tex.Cr.App. 1980)).4 The Gordon Court held the order of restitution to be a denial of due process, “tantamount to penalizing [Gordon] for an offense for which he had been acquitted.” Gordon, 707 S.W.2d at 630. In other words, Gordon‘s acquittal removed any factual basis upon which to predicate restitution for the funeral expenses. Accordingly, the trial judge was without authority to order Gordon to make restitution.
In Gordon, we relied upon Cartwright v. State, 605 S.W.2d 287 (Tex.Cr.App.1980). Cartwright was convicted of aggravated assault of a peace officer. The trial judge probated Cartwright‘s sentence, and, based on a presentence investigation report (PSI), ordered Cartwright to pay restitution in the amount of $36,000.00. We held that to support an order of restitution payments “there must be evidence in the record to show that the [restitution] amount set by the court has a factual basis.” Id., 605 S.W.2d at 289. Reviewing the record, we observed the only evidence supporting the trial judge‘s order of restitution was the PSI. Although the PSI mentioned the complainant‘s financial losses, the PSI did not otherwise support the restitution. Id., at 288. We concluded the PSI did not establish a factual basis upon which to order restitution. Id., at 289. See also, Thompson v. State, 557 S.W.2d 521, 525-526 (Tex.Cr.App.1977) (restitution order to complainant set aside because no evidentiary basis in record to support amount of restitution).
When read in conjunction, Gordon and Cartwright hold that a trial judge‘s authority to order restitution requires only: (1) that there be a factual basis in the record to conclude the defendant is liable for the criminal conduct, Gordon, 707 S.W.2d at 629-630, and (2) that there be a factual basis to determine the amount of the restitution, Cartwright, 605 S.W.2d at 289. Compare, LaFleur v. State, 848 S.W.2d 266, 270 (Tex. App.-Beaumont 1992), and, Romine v. State, 722 S.W.2d 494, 503 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1986, PDR ref‘d).
IV.
In light of the foregoing, I believe
MILLER, J., joins this opinion.
Notes
Martin, 806 S.W.2d at 238. Neither party disputes this conclusion. We shall assume, as do the parties, that the trial court intended that the restitution amount be divided among the forty investors, not just Alfred Broome. We note that the State asserts appellant waived her right to complain of the restitution order. However, a review of the record does not bear this out. The parties’ inability to agree on the issue of restitution prevented them from reaching a plea bargain agreement. Prior to the punishment hearing appellant filed a Memorandum of Law in Aid of Sentencing in which she argued that restitution could only be ordered payable to the victim of the offense of conviction. At the hearing, appellant pointed the court to the matters argued in her Memorandum. Moreover, the State did not raise the issue of waiver before the Court of Appeals. In fact, the addition оf “restitution to the victim” language toappears to have been based on evidence that as many as forty persons purchased program agreements involving [various leases], investing a total of $130,358.17.
“This is a floor amendment that would state that a court may not order a probationer to make any payment as a term or condition of probation except for fines, court costs, restitution to the victim and other terms and condi- tions expressly authorized by the section. ... We do find that where people are being burdened down to the point that there may be indications they are going out to steal to try to make the terms. And in fact, one of the largest number of people in our institutions are there for technical violations.”Although Sen. Farabee did not define the scope of “victim” for the purposes of restitution, he acknowledged “restitution” would include counseling costs for child abuse victims. Senate Session, Second and Third Readings of H.B. No. 83, 70th Leg., R.S. (May 23, 1987 (Tape 1)). However, this statement is not probative as to whether the scope of “victim” may extend to those persons affected by conduct for which a defendant has not been сharged and convicted. Consequently, the legislative history does not provide guidance on whether complainants unnamed in the indictment, yet injured by a defendant‘s criminal conduct, are considered victims under § 11(b). The addition of the “restitution to the victim” language merely evinces a general legislative intent to narrow the class of persons entitled to restitution because the subsection modifies the broad grant of authority to order restitution under
(8) Pay his fine, if one be assessed, and all court costs whether a fine be assessed or not, in one of several sums [and-make-restitution or reparation in any sum that the court shall determine];However, in Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., Ch. 900, § 4.01, p. 3725, the legislature did not rеcognize the above deletion in reprinting subsection (a)(8) for purposes of making the following changes thereto:
(8) Pay his fine, if one be assessed, and all court costs whether a fine be assessed or not, in one of several sums, and make restitution or reparation in any sum that the judge [court] shall determine;Accordingly, the language deleted by Chapter 806, § 2 appears in the in the passage of Chapter 900, § 4.01, effective on the same date. We express no opinion as to this apparent conflict. We also note the passage, effective September 1, 1993, of
A court may not order a probationer to make any payment[s] [sic] as a term and condition of probation, except for fines, court costs, restitution to the victim, payment to a local crime stoppers program under Subsection (h) of this section, and other terms and conditions expressly authorized by statute.
The rationale of both these pronouncements seems to be that when the defendant‘s criminal culpability for a third party‘s losses has not been adjudicated it would be unfair to order the defendant to pay for those losses.Id.
While each sale was a discrete offense, all sales were part of a single ongoing criminal scheme. We find that there is a factual basis in the record for concluding that appellant was criminally responsible for the fraudulent sale of drilling programs to individuals not named in the indictments; that these fraudulent sales were made pursuant to the same course of criminal conduct giving rise to the offenses to which appellant confessed and for which she was convicted; and that the money invested pursuant to this fraudulent scheme totalled $130,358.17.Martin, 806 S.W.2d at 243-44. We note that the court of appeals’ discussion of scheme pertained to the issue of whether the restitution order had a factual basis, an issue on which we declined to grant review. However, because the State contends in this appeal that the existence of a scheme is also pertinent to the issue of whether restitution may be ordered to persons not named in the indictment, we will address it in this context.
(1) engage in any fraud or fraudulent practice, or (2) employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud, or (3) knowingly make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (4) engage in any act, practice or course of business which operates or will operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person....
