Steven Jerald McCAIN, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 10-99-348-CR.
Court of Appeals of Texas, Waco.
July 12, 2000.
In his ninth issue, Kimball argues the trial court erred in admitting the officer‘s testimony regarding the “911” call and the information from the dispatcher in violation of his right to confrontation pursuant to the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. As discussed above, the statement complained of was not a hearsay statement because it was not offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Instead, the statement was offered to show the reason for the officer‘s actions. Hence, there was no violation of Kimball‘s constitutional right to confrontation. We overrule Kimball‘s ninth issue.
Conclusion
Having overruled all of Kimball‘s issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Dan V. Dent, Dist. Atty., Hillsboro, for appellee.
Before Chief Justice DAVIS, Justice VANCE, and Justice GRAY.
OPINION
GRAY, Justice.
Steven Jerald McCain pled nolo contendere to Indecency with a Child—Exposure with the benefit of a plea recommendation from the State for a six year probated sentence. He was found guilty and sentenced in accordance with the plea agreement. A petition for revocation of the probated sentence was filed by the State. McCain filed a postconviction writ of habeas corpus complaining of the denial of counsel in violation of
FACTS
Steven Jerald McCain, was convicted of the felony offense of Indecency With a Child—Exposure. McCain appeared before the court on June 11, 1999 and waived
On September 27, 1999, a petition to revoke the probation of the sentence was filed by the State and a capias (warrant for his arrest) was issued. McCain was arrested and placed in jail. Subsequently, McCain was appointed an attorney. Prior to the disposition of the State‘s motion, McCain applied for a writ of habeas corpus seeking relief from his conviction on the grounds that he was denied counsel in violation of
APPELLATE JURISDICTION
The denial of habeas corpus relief is appealable after the trial court issues a writ and rules on the merits. Ex parte McCullough, 966 S.W.2d 529, 531 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). Therefore, because the trial court issued the writ, conducted a hearing on the merits of McCain‘s claims, denied McCain‘s requested relief, and McCain timely filed his notice of appeal, Id.; Apolinar v. State, 820 S.W.2d 792, 793-94 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991), we have jurisdiction.
WAIVER UNDER THE HELMS RULE
In issue one, McCain questions whether a conviction is void under
A defendant may agree to waive a jury trial regardless of whether the defendant is represented by an attorney at the time of making the waiver, but before a defendant charged with a felony who has no attorney can agree to waive
the jury, the court must appoint an attorney to represent him.
Id.
The record before us reflects that the defendant‘s waiver of a trial by a jury occurred before the defendant entered his plea. According to the Helms rule, a voluntary plea of guilty or nolo contendere entered with or without an agreed recommendation of punishment by the State waives all nonjurisdictional errors which may have occurred before entry of the plea. Young v. State, 8 S.W.3d 656, 666-67 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Helms v. State, 484 S.W.2d 925 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972). In Young, the Court of Criminal Appeals modified Helms to the extent that a defendant‘s right to challenge errors occurring prior to the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere will be considered waived or forfeited “only when the judgment of guilt was rendered independent of, and is not supported by, the error.” Young, 8 S.W.3d at 666-67. The Helms rule does not apply to errors “occurring at or after entry of [the] plea.” Daw v. State, 17 S.W.3d 330, 331 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000); Jack v. State, 871 S.W.2d 741, 744 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). It is important to note that all of the cases relied upon by McCain, with the exception of one, were decided prior to the Helms rule. The only case cited by McCain in support of this issue that was decided after Helms was Ex parte Ross, in which the defendant unsuccessfully argued to have extended to misdemeanor defendants the right of counsel prior to the court‘s accepting a waiver of trial by jury. Ross, 522 S.W.2d at 223. The Helms rule was not discussed in that case.
Notwithstanding his waiver of trial by jury in conformity with
ISSUE TWO—VALID WAIVER OF RIGHT TO COUNSEL
In issue two, McCain asserts that he did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his right to counsel if he was not admonished of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. McCain treats this as a single issue. It is not. The knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of the right to counsel is one issue. Whether a defendant is entitled to admonishments against self-representation is another issue. Finally, whether the admonishments against self-representation were adequate is a third issue. We will first determine whether the trial court was required to give him any admonishments regarding self-representation.
McCain relies upon Faretta in which the Supreme Court held that the defendant must be admonished of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 835, 95 S. Ct. 2525, 2541, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562 (1975). In Johnson, the Court of Criminal Appeals distinguished Faretta, holding that the trial court is not required to admonish the defendant about the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation when the defendant does not contest his
We acknowledge the tension between the concepts of a defendant who without the benefit of counsel decides not to contest his guilt and has not been cautioned of the dangers of self-representation, and a defendant properly admonished who may decide to have counsel appointed and then chooses to contest his guilt. However, we will not resolve this tension. Johnson is controlling in this instance. Thus, because McCain did not contest his guilt, the trial court was not required to admonish him as to the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation.
However, just because he is not entitled to the admonishments of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation does not resolve the question of whether his waiver of the right to counsel was proper. Thus, we must now determine whether it appears from the record that McCain knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to counsel. Johnson, 614 S.W.2d at 120. As stated in Johnson:
It is recognized that a person who appears in court without counsel to confess his guilt is equally without counsel as one who appears in court to contest it. However, “self-representation,” as enunciated in Faretta, applies only to the latter and not to the former. In the former, the issue is not whether the trial court admonished the accused of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, but rather whether there was a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of counsel.
Johnson, 614 S.W.2d at 119-20. To decide whether a defendant‘s waiver is knowing and intelligent, the court must make an inquiry, evidenced by the record, which shows that the defendant has sufficient intelligence to demonstrate a capacity to waive his right to counsel and the ability to appreciate the practical disadvantage he will confront in representing himself. Geeslin v. State, 600 S.W.2d 309, 313 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980).
In this case, the records reflects that the trial judge inquired into all that is required and more.1 He inquired into McCain‘s prior experience with the criminal justice system, an area that he could appropriately consider in determining whether the waiver of counsel was knowingly and intelligently made. Ex parte Ross, 522 S.W.2d 214, 222 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1018, 96 S. Ct. 454, 46 L. Ed. 2d 390 (1975). Additionally, the trial court conducted an inquiry as to McCain‘s age and educational background, and did in fact discuss the respective advantages and disadvantages of having an attorney present on the one hand and representing himself on the other. This was all appropriate for the trial court to consider in determining whether McCain was capable of making a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel.
Conclusion
Having resolved both issues against McCain, we affirm the order of the trial court.
Steven Jerald McCAIN, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 10-99-348-CR.
Court of Appeals of Texas, Waco.
July 12, 2000.
Justice VANCE dissenting.
VANCE, Justice, dissenting.
The availability of the writ of habeas corpus has traditionally been restricted to instances where the trial court‘s judgment is void, and cannot be invoked for mere irregularities in the proceedings. Ex parte Sadberry, 864 S.W.2d 541, 542 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993); see, e.g., Ex parte Banks, 769 S.W.2d 539, 540 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989) (habeas corpus available only to review jurisdictional defects or denials of fundamental or constitutional rights). Generally, claims that are based merely on a state statute will not be considered, and a Texas constitutional claim may be considered only if the claim is not susceptible to a harmless error analysis. Ex parte Dutchover, 779 S.W.2d 76, 77-78 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). Finally, the writ should not be used to litigate matters which should have been raised on appeal. Ex parte Sanchez, 918 S.W.2d 526, 527 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).
As mentioned above, the fact that a conviction is “void” may be raised in a habeas corpus proceeding. Heath v. State, 817 S.W.2d 335, 336 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). The Court of Criminal Appeals has stated, “[T]he provisions of Article 1.13, and its predecessor Article 10a, are mandatory; before a defendant who has no attorney can agree to waive a jury trial in a non-capital felony, the court must appoint an attorney to represent him or the resulting conviction will be void.” Ex parte Ross, 522 S.W.2d 214, 223 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975) (emphasis added).
Consequently, I would hold that McCain‘s attack on his conviction is cognizable in habeas corpus because it is void. As a result, I would grant McCain‘s requested relief. Because the majority does not, I dissent.