*1 451 prior defects in the nonjurisdictional State, proceedings. King v. (Clin (Tex.Crim.App.1985)
S.W.2d J.,
ton, concurring). cases, uniformly
In civil it has held been
that, cases, if an judgment even in default diligence exercises due
through no fault his own is unable to facts, trial
obtain statement new granted. Rogers Rogers, v.
should be (Tex.1978); Texas Crushed
S.W.2d 172 Baker, (Tex. Co. v.
Stone
Kelly, (Tex.Civ.App S.W.2d . —Cor 1978, writ). pus Christi appears rule to be instructive cases, guilty plea is
in criminal where admitting alleged
taken as all of the facts
in the indictment. Fairfield (Tex.Crim.App.1981).
S.W.2d cases, judgment
default the defendant is material
deemed have admitted all
allegations plaintiff’s petition, yet Rob cases, mandatory.
such reversal Roberts, (Tex.
erts n.r.e.). jus If
App. writ ref’d — Waco prevail, complete recording tice is to trial, guilty whether a result of a necessary
plea or a full-blown sanctity proceedings.
protect the of the trial court is RE-
VERSED and the cause REMANDED. MONCIER, Dewayne Appellant,
Daniel Texas, Appellee. STATE
No. 05-84-01189-CR. Texas, Appeals
Dallas, Texas. 14, 1986.
Jan.
premises adjoining and area. Co-defendant apprehended Kitchens was walking down a creek bank in an area close to the location alleged of the burglary. Dianna Mitchell was parked found in the van near the trail- hiding er house under some Appel- covers. lant was arrested in a trailer house where permission he had asked to use the tele- phone. question
The crucial is whether Dianna Mitchell accomplice was an witness as a Weaver, Richard McKinney, appel- matter of law. for Her uncorroborated testi- lant. mony only is the connecting appel- lant to the commission of the crime. Con- H. Ownby, Crim. Atty., Roger Dist. V. sequently, if, law, as a matter of she is an Dickey, Asst. Dist. Atty., McKinney, for witness, accomplice her uncorroborated tes- appellee. timony conviction, will support and acquitted. must be STEPHENS, Justice. TESTIMONY OF DIANNA MITCHELL Dewayne
Daniel appeals Moncier his con- years Dianna age viction Mitchell was 19 burglary of a habitation. the time of trial. At grounds (1) three the time of the al- of error he contends: leged living offense she was with her connecting moth- him to the offense stepfather er and apartment in- an was an witness as a matter of law, McKinney, Texas. and She testified that testimony that her uncorroborated 21, 1984, inadmissible, midnight around on March (2) Monci- was the submission to the er and apartment Kitchens drove to her jury during punishment stage a van. She went outside and Moncier timely over objection, of whether asked her if she wanted to make $500. or used exhibited how, asked and was told that all she during had to the commission of the offense vio- door, it, go up do was to to a knock on turn process lated due because the indictment around, get and back in the van. She was allegation contained no deadly weapon, of a given and, (3) Needing money, more details. that there was no sup- evidence to go along she decided to with Kitchens and port the submission of the apart- Moncier. She went into the back deadly weapon. use of a disagree We with ment, got shoes, out, got came back contention, each accordingly, and we affirm away. into the van three drove and the his conviction. while, morning At about 3:00 They a.m. on the then drove around for went 21, 1984, appellant, accompanied by March apartment to Moncier’s where he went in- Kitchens, Timothy co-defendant and Dian- side about fifteen minutes. When he Mitchell, occupant they longer, na awakened the of a came out drove around a while trailer park house situated in a trailer in then Both went to Kitchen’s house. Monci- Frisco, Texas, by beating got on the door and er and and went into Kitchens out demanding occupant garage. admittance. Kitchen’s house and then into the police. occupant bag put called the They brought testified out a white it person began tearing into the van. Mitchell could not see what outside Moncier, time, hinges, trying get bag. off into her was in at this had door green pouches with little person army trailer. As the broke into the trail- on an belt er, toy through put He small stuffed into one occupant fled rear door. it. arrived, pouches, saying it would make police When searched the you Timothy grenade. a rifle his hand and look like it contained with shotgun you, saw little shells come other side of both some blue Kitchens on the They pouch. standing then went to Rob- them their backs Timothy ert Kitchens Kitchens’ house trailer and one them me, went inside for 30 minutes. Moncier about both them ban- with—excuse faces, in the van. No discus- Mitchell waited going across their what danas *3 plans. had about their sion was at this time your mind? through with a white Kitchens exited house I doing A. am here? What [Mitchell] placed styrofoam it in the back of box and Q. frightened? you Were the van. Very. A. they going then said were to Kitchens Q. you you be where were Did want to They “country.” started the van and right then? Frisco, drove Texas. asked toward A. No. why driving up and they were down the Q. Why you didn’t leave? road, they trying to find and both said were late me A. It was too for to back out. Mitchell, According a lab. to this was the Well, Q. you by do mean that? what any explanation, their first time as to already A. I was there. given. they plans, was Moncier said were Q. you hap- think would have What do dykes.” going go to “hit two Dianna was left, pened you just if turned around and prosecutor if she recalled by asked away? walked exact that either of them said to her words they explained they to her what first Objection, calls for MR. CHAPMAN: to going were do. She answered: speculation. me, you DeWayne
A. told “I can tell THE Overruled. COURT: it’s late.” now that too Q. Springer) you What do think (By Ms. Q. said—He you happened if had walked would have you A. it’s too He “I can tell late.” away from that trailer then? said, you “I can tell now because it’s too A. I have no idea. said, you get late for out.” He Q. frightened any particu- you Were go dykes.” going “We're hit two I’m particular? lar sor- circumstance conversation, Shortly after this ry, myself. you Were repeating I’m van, got stopped the both men into the anything particular? frightened of box, back, styrofoam opened the took a them because I was A. I scared put- from down rifle it and started broken they what would have done. didn’t know together. This the first time ting it was ANN. art. TEX.PENAL CODE had seen a rifle. Mitchell 1974) provides that a 7.02(a)(l)(2) (Vernon rifle, assembling the three After criminally responsible for an of- person is park parked a trailer within drove to another, acting with if fense committed got All three few of a trailer house. feet or the commission promote assist intent approached trailer. van and solicits, offense, encourages, di- he of the stepped up on a that she Mitchell testified aids, the other rects, attempts to aid or step on the door. The and knocked wooden the offense. person to commit standing their backs to two men were door, trailer, recited, as well one on each side From the evidence the occu- seen could adduced at where evidence as the other following testimo- pants the trailer. The re of the statute would strict construction ny developed: that Dianna quire determination as matter of witness Springer] Okay. Q. Ms. [Prosecutor, consistently However, the cases step of those law.
youAs on the bottom stood any doubt door, trailer, where there held that steps in front of accomplice, even is an a witness one side of whether on DeWayne Moncier 454
though the
preponderates
because,
jects
greater punishment
favor
him to a
aof
conclusion that
an ac
under TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN. art.
law,
complice
42.12,
15(b) (Vernon
as a matter
proper
1979),
period
sec.
procedure is to
jury.
submit the matter to a
greater
of incarceration is
extended for
State,
Harris
(Tex.
454
length
eligible
time before he becomes
State,
Crim.App.1983);
Brown v.
Thus,
contends,
640
parole.
he
he is enti-
Car
(Tex.Crim.App.1982);
S.W.2d
tled
notice in
charging
instrument
State,
rillo v.
(Tex.
S.W.2d
State
intends to seek an affirma-
State,
Crim.App.1979); Amey
tive
that a
was used
(Tex.Crim.App.1979);
Co or exhibited in the
S.W.2d
commission
of-
State,
lunga
(Tex.
S.W.2d
fense.
Crim.App.1975);
Van Buskirk
opin-
We are not unmindful of the recent
(Tex.Crim.App.1973);
Appeals
ion of the Texas Court of Criminal
*4
State,
787,
v.
(Tex.
Crew
675 S.W.2d
788
State,
v.
(1985).
Polk
Appellant’s precise contention it never- punishment, enhance the finding appel- does not that a ground error is the defend- the time when theless extends used or exhibited lant He parole. eligible for offense sub- ant will become during the commission
455
8,
Greenholtz,
at
Judge
notice must
...
must
Green-
it.
statute
than
desire for
Nebraska
an abstract need or
the Texas
holtz. The
court
found
a unilateral
He must have more than
reasonably be tak-
must, instead,
statute could not
expectation
parole
of it. He
encourage
expectancy
it.
legitimate
en to
entitlement
claim of
parole.
We hold that the
These
Texas Adult
Law,
success;
Parole
“increased the
Mandatory Supervision
likelihood
with
(Vernon
[they] probably
Tex.Code Crim.Proc. art.
out them
42.12
would not have
1979),
Moore,
protectible
does not create
forth.”
sallied
participant a criminal endeavor. The mission of the offense within the sense clear, being the trial court was contemplated by the statute. Black’s Law obligated to that instruct she was an ac- Dictionary “to defines use” as “to make complice a as matter law. of, service, use to convert to one’s to avail instances, following of, reversal employ.” one’s self Ninth Webster’s required if trial court fails instruct Collegiate Dictionary New states jury accomplice an witness is “use” a employed put verb means “to (1) a as matter law is if the service, reversible: of, into action or avail oneself em- is, fact, accomplice an and there ploy.” Undoubtedly these re- definitions no testimony, evidence to corroborate flect understanding the common (2) or without testimony there is insuf term. support ficient evidence to a conviction or Here, operative formed no (3) it because is the sole corroboration No evidence indicates offense. testimony of another wit guns deployed were fired or as a State, ness. Gonzales v. threat. The offense have occurred (Tex.Crim.App.1969); 541-542 Morales way appellant in the same totally had been State, (Tex.App 663 S.W.2d . —Cor unarmed. it is Certainly, unnecessary that pus pet.). Christi weapon be fired for it to been testimony, Without Mitchell’s case State, May “used.” 660 S.W.2d collapses. appellant can state (Tex.App. pet. granted). — Austin only point to four his arrest some hours However, the author believes that com burglary general after the area plainant person some or other innocent bedraggled resulting condition. The situa- the scene of the crime must made aware prong tion meets second the Gon- presence placed weapon Mitchell,there zales test. Without is insuf- apprehension declared, can be support ficient evidence to a conviction statutory concept, within the acquittal. this court should order an weapon has been used. aggravated An robbery upheld has been conviction where can writer Neither this find evidence to gun bag, was concealed in a but black support used or though gun bag, even never left weapon. phase This exhibited a identify witness was able it as a pistol. upon proper the case turns definition Riddick v. 710-711. the term “used.” The relied federal cases (Tex.App. [14th Dist.] on involve the construction — Houston knowledge coupled pet.). This They federal criminal statute. are aggravating supplied threat circum they persuasive. controlling. Neither are stances. Id. at 711. appellant and testified that upheld aggravated This assault pistol Kitchens had a rifle and *8 with shot conviction where a man armed a gun the exited the van. Police a at found in employee a gun accosted restaurant rear of the mobile home. complainant’s gun the pointed freezer. He neither the at However, weap- complainant never saw a it, but on, complainant nor to use threatened was not was threatened one and kept “It complainant’s sight. it gun. within appellant unaware that possessed fact, appellant’s presence gun of was complainant not aware was complainant presence. she hand that installed fear appellant’s She testified bodily with only saw No and made feel threatened one man trailer. outside the deadly it was injury.” Again, weapon played visi and it because used. The go Legislature not role could have intended ble offense. Gaston (Tex.App. far. so — Dallas pet.). testi- further notes Mitchell’s author case, aggra mony tapped an indictment for Kitchens on the com- In another However, alleged robbery pistol. home with the plainant’s vated occupant and exhibited. suggestion had been used is no there confederate showed that the defendant’s be- tapping aware that the was was made employee gunpoint had held another gun. Neither is there ing done with a complain while the defendant robbed attempting testimony that actors were complainant knew that the con ant. possession complainant aware of his make was unaware that federate was armed but gun place complainant under nor holding her The court he was co-worker. The gun of its use. apprehension necessary refused find the elements tool, merely ham- being employed as a aggravation robbery because the guns, capacity mer. The in their as fire- complainant weapon’s know of the did not arms, played operative in the of- by the co-defendant and the defend use crime, Possession at time fense. complainant not a ant’s threat to alone, require- not meet standing does Taylor v. threat to use force. “no-parole” statute. ment as the (Tex.Crim. State, 637 S.W.2d 931-932 The affirmative should be deleted App.1982). judgment. from the not affirma- Possession of did committing aid tively fired, not
offense. The firearms were employed instruments of intim-
aimed or position
idation. The takes gun used wherever the
that a has been armed, an offense while
defendant commits the Legisla-
but if this was the intent of
ture,
People
it
stated.
could
so
INSURANCE
GULF
Chambers,
Cal.Rptr.
7 Cal.3d
COMPANY, Appellant,
(1972).
statutes are
tion of its use or intended
that in the manner of causing or serious capable death
use is “no-pa- If extend
bodily injury.” we the defendant to cases where
role” statute deadly weap- arguably possessed an
merely circuity: The
on, we reach a situation inwas defend- used because
article was *9 of the offense possession the time
ant’s
