State v. WoffordState v. Wofford
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Pursuant to appellees’ motions to dismiss the indictments, the trial court conducted a pretrial evidentiary hearing. The trial court dismissed each indictment. The State appeals. See Tex.Code Crim.Proc. Ann. ait. 44.01(a)(1) (West Supp.2000). The motions to dismiss were based on the claim that section 47.01(4)(B) of the Texas Penal Code 2 is unconstitutionally void for vagueness as applied to appellees’ situation — the possession, operation, and use, etc., of modified video machines known as “eight liners.” The void-for-vagueness argument in appellees’ motions to dismiss is based solely upon a claim of violation of due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, thus presenting only a federal constitutional issue. The trial court granted the pretrial motions to dismiss on this basis, expressly citing Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 92 S.Ct. 2294, 33 L.Ed.2d 222 (1972).
Section 47.01(4)(B), declared unconstitutional by the trial court’s orders, is an express
exclusion
from the statutory definition of a “gambling device.”
See
(4) “Gambling device” means any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance not excluded under Paragraph (B) that for a consideration affords the player an opportunity to obtain anything of value, the award of which is determined solely or partially by chance, even though accompanied by some skill, whether or not the prize is automatically paid by the contrivance. The term:
(A) includes, but is not limited to, gambling device versions of bingo, keno, blackjack, lottery, roulette, video poker, or similar electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical games, or facsimiles thereof, that operate by chance or partially so, that as a result of the play or operation of the game award credits or free games, and that record the number of free games or credits so awarded and the cancellation or removal of the free games or credits; and
(B) does not include any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance designed, made, and adapted solely for bona fide amusement purposes if the contrivance rewards the player exclusively with noncash merchandise prizes, toys, or novelties, or a representation of value redeemable for those items, that have a wholesale value available from a single play of the game or device of not more than 10 times the amount charged to play the game or device once or $5, whichever is less.
Issue
In its first issue, the State asks: “Is the exclusion to the definition of a gambling device unconstitutionally vague as applied to these defendants?” We hold that it is not and set aside the trial court’s orders dismissing the indictments. 4
The Twelve Indictments
In each of the twelve indictments, appel-lees were individually charged with engaging in organized criminal activity under section 71.02(a)(2) of the Texas Penal Code
5
by having committed certain Class A misdemeanor gambling offenses under either sections 47.03, 47.04, or 47.06 of the Penal Code.
See
Most of the indictments are multicount indictments, and most, but certainly not all, allege a gambling device, to wit: “an eight liner,” sometimes with a further description such as “All Fruit Bonus video eight-liner machines.” The indictments appear regular and valid on their faces. There was no exception to a defect of form or substance in the indictments.
See
Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. arts. 27.08, 27.09 (West 1989). Further, we find no motions to set aside [quash] the indictments.
See
The State Constitution delegates to the legislature law-making authority including the right to define crimes and fix penalties therefor.
See
However, the definitions contained in
Factual Background
The trial court afforded appellees a pretrial evidentiary hearing. The record reveals that appellees Susan and Carrol Wof-ford are the operators of Joe’s Grocery in San Angelo where the eight-liner machines were in use when seized by law enforcement personnel. Appellees Benny Charles Jenkins and Clark Anthony Wilson operate Valley Vending, Inc., which by agreement or lease, placed the eight-liner machines in Joe’s Grocery.
Ben Halamicek, an electronic technician employed by Valley Vending, testified that the company leased juke boxes, pool tables, video and other games to business establishments in and around San Angelo. Halamicek stated that after the 1995 amendment to
Halamicek testified that eight liners are electronic machines resembling a slot machines and are commonly called eight liners because they can pay out in eight separate ways — three across, three down, and two diagonally. These machines operate by displaying a three-by-three-grid of symbols or “icons” with a winning combination being any three matching symbols in a line. The machines accept paper currency of one to twenty dollars; some will accept quarters. Halamicek explained that the player who inserts a dollar bill in an eight liner is credited with one hundred points. An individual begins play by betting any number of points ranging from a minimum of eight points to a maximum of sixty-four points which are divided equally among the eight possible lines. A player then presses a button on the machine which activates an internal computer that randomly determines the final outcome. If one or more of the eight lines on the machine ends with three matching symbols — such as fruits, bells, or numbers, — a player wins points according to a payoff schedule. Some combinations yield a higher return than others. Upon completing a
Some time after the installation of eight liners by Valley Vending, questions arose about their legality. Jenkins and Halami-cek consulted with private lawyers, the local district attorney’s office, the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office, and others to determine how to bring Valley Vending’s eight liners into compliance with the law.
After these consultations, Halamicek modified Valley Vending’s eight liners at an approximate cost of $80,000. The machines were modified so that the amount of points credited to the ticket or coupon dispensing counter could never exceed ten times the amount “played” or a maximum of five dollars for a single play of the game as required to meet the exclusion from gambling devices set forth in
Sergeant David Jones of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) was not present at the evidentiary hearing. Jones’s search-warrant affidavit, marked appellees’ exhibit No. 7, was introduced into evidence. In the affidavit, Jones described in great detail a slot machine video gambling machine known as an “eight liner.” He described the game as one of chance because the machine’s computer randomly determines the configuration of the symbols to be displayed on each reel.
Jones’s affidavit also reflected his different visits to Joe’s Grocery and his playing of some of the fifteen machines during June 1998. Jones recognized that the eight liners had been modified and his description was similar in some respects to Halamicek’s testimony. On June 5, 1998, Jones won “ticket credits” or coupons in excess of $18.00 and took them to the grocery’s cashier who informed him that he could purchase any merchandise in the store (except beer and cigarettes) including lottery tickets or that the tickets could be redeemed for money to be placed back into the machine by the cashier. Jones bought 15 lottery tickets (Lotto), one “cash five” ticket for the June 6, 1998 drawing, and requested that the remaining two dollars be returned to the machine. The cashier placed Jones’s ticket credits in a box, took $2.00 from the store’s cash register and placed it in the machine so Jones could continue to play.
On June 9, 1998, according to the affidavit, Jones again visited the store and observed one machine with a new feature called “skill time” which allows the player to push a “stop” button and interrupt the thirty second shuffling cycle of the machine. Despite it name, Jones stated no skill was involved in this feature because the computer still randomly determined
At the conclusion of the pretrial hearing, the trial court granted the appellees’ motions and dismissed all twelve indictments.
Constitutional Standards
In determining a statute’s constitutionality, we begin with a presumption of the statute’s validity. Ex parte Anderson, 902 S.W.2d 695, 698 (Tex.App.—Austin 1995, pet. refd); Skillern v. State, 890 S.W.2d 849, 860 (Tex.App.—Austin 1994, pet. refd). We presume that the legislature did not act unreasonably or arbitrarily in enacting the statute and that it had due regard for constitutional requirements. Ex parte Granviel, 561 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Tex.Crim.App.1978). It is the challenger’s burden to show that the statute is unconstitutional. Id.; Anderson, 902 S.W.2d at 698. Every reasonable in-tendment and presumption is made in favor of the constitutionality and validity of the statute. Skillem, 890 S.W.2d at 860. The statute must be upheld if a reasonable construction can be ascertained which will render the statute constitutional and carry out the legislative intent. Ely v. State, 582 S.W.2d 416, 419 (Tex.Crim.App.1979). Constitutional issues will not be decided upon a broader basis than the record requires. State v. Garcia, 823 S.W.2d 793, 799 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1992, pet. ref‘d).
An attack on a statute as being “overbroad” is normally reserved for complaints concerning violations of the First Amendment to the United State Constitution. Bynum v. State, 767 S.W.2d at 769, 772 (Tex.Crim.App.1989); Garcia, 823 S.W.2d at 797. The United States Supreme Court has not recognized an “over-breadth” doctrine outside the limited context of the First Amendment. United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 745, 107 S.Ct. 2095, 95 L.Ed.2d 697 (1987). There are no complaints in the instant case about the violation of any First Amendment rights. Thus, the “overbreadth” doctrine is inapplicable here. Moreover, a facial challenge to a statute on the basis of vagueness will be upheld only if the statute is impermissibly vague in all its applications. Briggs v. State, 740 S.W.2d 803, 806 (Tex.Crim.App.1987). A facial challenge is the most difficult because the challenger must establish that no set of circumstances exists under which the statute would be valid. Briggs v. State, 789 S.W.2d 918, 923 (Tex.Crim.App.1990); Anderson, 902 S.W.2d at 699. We conclude a facial challenge is not involved here as the trial court’s order upheld the allegations that the statute was void for vagueness “as applied” to appellees.
When challenging the constitutionality of a statute, a defendant must show that in its operation, the statute is unconstitutional as applied to him in his situation; that it may be unconstitutional as to others is not sufficient. Bynum, 767 S.W.2d at 774; State v. Fry, 867 S.W.2d 398, 401 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, no pet.). When no First Amendment rights are involved, the reviewing court should not consider hypothetical situations, but should scrutinize the statute only to determine whether it is impermissibly vague as applied to the challenging party’s specific conduct or situation. Bynum, 767 S.W.2d at 774; Briggs, 740 S.W.2d at 806.
Two-Pronged Inquiry
We employ a two-pronged inquiry in examining a criminal statute for vagueness. The first inquiry is whether an ordinary, law-abiding person receives sufficient information from the statute that his conduct risks violating the criminal law.
Fry,
867 S.W.2d at 401. Such person must be given a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited.
Grayned,
408 U.S. at 108, 92 S.Ct. 2294. A statute that fails to give notice poses a “trap for the innocent,”
The second inquiry is whether the statute in question provides sufficient notice to law enforcement personnel to prevent arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. Bynum, 767 S.W.2d at 773; Anderson, 902 S.W.2d at 699. A statute must be sufficiently definite to avoid the possibility of arbitrary and erratic arrests and convictions. Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville, 405 U.S. 156, 162, 92 S.Ct. 839, 31 L.Ed.2d 110 (1972). Either the lack of notice or the lack of guidelines for law enforcement provides an independent ground for finding a statute void for vagueness. Adley v. State, 718 S.W.2d 682, 685 (Tex.Crim.App.1985).
The trial court found
Discussion
A determination that a statute is confusing or difficult to understand is insufficient to render it unconstitutional. Dahl v. State, 707 S.W.2d 694, 700 (Tex.App.—Austin 1986, pet. ref‘d). A statute is not vague merely because it is impre cise. Tex. Dept. of Public Safety v. Chavez, 981 S.W.2d 449, 452 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1998, no pet.). Moreover, a legislative enactment is not automatically void for vagueness simply because it is difficult to determine whether certain marginal acts fall within its language. Rooms With A View, Inc. v. Private Nat’l Mortgage Ass’n, Inc., 7 S.W.3d 840, 845 (Tex.App.—Austin 1999, pet. denied). “Condemned to the use of words, we can never expect mathematical certainty from our language.” Grayned, 408 U.S. at 110, 92 S.Ct. 2294.
Appellees in their motions to dismiss asserted that certain statutory
There is no constitutional requirement that a statute define all words or terms used.
Rooms with a View,
7 S.W.3d at 845. A statute is not unconstitutionally vague for that reason.
Engelking v. State,
750 S.W.2d 213, 215 (Tex.Crim.App.1988). Undefined words in a statute are ordinarily given their plain meaning unless the statute shows that they were used in some other sense.
Daniels v. State,
754 S.W.2d 214, 219 (Tex.Crim.App.1988);
Anderson,
902 S.W.2d at 699. Undefined statutory language under attack as vague can be measured by common understanding and practices or construed in the sense generally understood.
Ely,
582 S.W.2d at 419. Undefined words are to be read in context and construed according to the rules of grammar and common usage.
See
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 311.011(a) (West 1999);
At the hearing, Halamicek testified that the statutory phrases set forth in appellees’ motions to dismiss were a source of “confusion” when he met to consult with “legal officials,” without revealing the nature of the confusion or who was confused. The common definition of three words (“amusement,” “bona fide,” and “play”) as found in Webster’s Dictionary were introduced. Appellees never established that the words or terms of the statute were “fraught with ambiguity” as alleged. Further, appellees never established the “lack of notice” required by the first inquiry into whether a statute is void for vagueness. Fry, 867 S.W.2d at 401. Appellees’ modification of the eight liners and their considered decision not to eliminate the replay feature of the machines speak loudly to the contrary of the notion that appellees were denied a reasonable opportunity to know what was prohibited by law. Paragraph B is silent about allowing replay credit on devices that are not to be considered gambling devices. Appellees have not pointed out, nor did the trial court find, that absence of such reference in the definitional statute renders the statute unconstitutionally vague.
We conclude that
Having found that Paragraph B fairly apprises ordinary law-abiding citizens such as appellees of the exclusions from the statutory definition of a gambling device, we turn to the second inquiry. A penal statute encourages arbitrary enforcement when it fails to provide clear guidelines thereby giving law enforcement officials unbounded discretion to apply the law selectively.
May v. State,
765 S.W.2d 438, 440 (Tex.Crim.App.1989);
Goocher v. State,
633 S.W.2d 860, 865 (Tex.Crim.App.
Appellees offered into evidence the earlier testimony of a deputy attorney general before a Senate Economic Development Committee hearing held on March 9, 1999, on S.B. 970. This official stated there was “an epidemic of eight liners all over the State of Texas and there is genuinely nothing we can do about it.” He expressed the opinion that the law needed to be clarified as the present “law” was vague and confusing and was causing difficulty in prosecution. Reference was only to the “law.” There was no mention of Article 47.01 (4)(B) or the definition of a gambling device. Appellees also offered a newspaper quote from a Lubbock prosecutor about the outcome of a local case. Apparently in an attempt to show selective prosecution, Halamicek identified photographs that he said were taken after the return of the indictments of unmodified eight liners apparently in use in business establishments in Big Spring, Tye, Abilene, and Amarillo. The photographs themselves did not establish selective prosecution. Counsel for appellees commented without proof that there had been a number of criminal trials in Texas involving eight liners and that the defendants had been acquitted by the jury in each case. The trial court made no finding based on selective prosecution.
Statutes are presumed to be valid and must be construed if possible to uphold their validity.
Ely,
582 S.W.2d at 419. Appellees did not sustain their burden to show that
Other Reasons Undermining Ruling
There are additional reasons why the orders dismissing the twelve indictments cannot stand. If the orders declaring
[W]hen invalid portions of a law are severed, in order to save the law, it must be plain that the Legislature would havepassed the act with the invalid provisions eliminated, and in seeking the legislative intent the presumption is against any mutilation of the statute; courts will resort to elimination only where an unconstitutional provision interjected into a statute otherwise valid is so independent and separable that its removal will leave the constitutional features and purposes of the act substantially unaffected by the process.
Womack v. Carson, 123 Tex. 260, 70 S.W.2d 416, 417 (1934).
The test has been more recently stated in terms of whether the statutory provisions are “essentially and inseparably connected in substance.” Rose v. Doctors Hosp., 801 S.W.2d 841, 844 (Tex.1990). If they are, then the entire statute must be stricken. Ex parte Levinson, 160 Tex. Crim. 606, 274 S.W.2d 76, 77-78 (1955).
The test is further refined in cases where a proviso, exception, or restriction is stricken. In that particular situation, a court must determine whether the statute takes on a broader scope or defines a new offense. Hixon, 523 S.W.2d at 717 (Odom, J., concurring); Levinson, 274 S.W.2d at 77-78; Womack, 70 S.W.2d at 417. If so, the court must invalidate the entire statute. To do otherwise would permit the court to invade the law-making province of the legislature. Levinson, 274 S.W.2d at 78; City Nat’l Bank of Austin v. Falkner, 428 S.W.2d 429, 432 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1968, writ ref d n.r.e.).
The current version of
The stem definition in the 1995 amendment is similar to the 1994 Penal Code version but is limited by the phrase “not excluded under Paragraph B.”
Generally, an invalid or unconstitutional act cannot repeal a valid statute, and where the amendment is declared invalid, the original act remains in full force and effect even if the amendment has no savings clause.
Ex parte Crisp,
661 S.W.2d 944, 948 (Tex.Crim.App.1988) (citing
White v. State,
440 S.W.2d 660, 667 (Tex.Crim.App.1969)). Subsection (4) of
Even if all former statutory definitions of a “gambling device” are inapplicable, there is no constitutional requirement that a statute define all words or terms.
Rooms with a View,
7 S.W.3d at 845. Undefined terms may be given their plain meaning by common understanding and practices.
Ely,
582 S.W.2d at 419. Thus, declaring Paragraph B of
Additional Reason
As can be seen, the fact that a count in an indictment alleges a “gambling device” as an element of the offense does not justify the dismissal of the indictment because of the unconstitutionality of a part or all of a statutory definition. Moreover, some of the dismissed indictments, valid on their faces, contained counts alleging offenses that do not include an allegation of a “gambling device” as an element of the offense. Yet these counts were also dismissed when the trial court terminated all prosecution by dismissing in their entirety all the indictments when finding
The State’s first issue is sustained. We need not reach the second issue.
The orders dismissing the indictments in all causes are reversed, and the causes are remanded to the trial court.
Notes
.
See
. Paragraph B of
. The State raised a second issue which we do not reach. Moreover, it is doubtful that this issue is germane to the trial court’s rulings on the pretrial motions to dismiss.
.
See
(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination or as a member of a criminal street gang, he commits or conspires to commit one or more of the following:
(2) any gambling offense punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
The current code is cited for convenience. The instant offenses are alleged to have occurred on or about June 5 through June 22, 1998. The applicable statute is Act of May 10, 1997, 75th Leg., R.S., ch. 189, § 9, 1997 Tex. Gen. Laws 1045, 1048 since amended. The 1999 amendments did not change the basic law applicable. These amendments are not material to the instant prosecutions.
. In appellees’ motions to dismiss the indictments, we find reference only to section 47.06 as the gambling statute underlying the charged offenses of organized criminal activity-
. The State does not challenge the authority of the appellees to proceed as they have.
. The following set out in pertinent part is typical of all twelve dismissal orders:
The Court heard evidence and argument of counsel. The Court finds the Motion to Dismiss the indictment should be granted. The law in question isSection 47.01(4)(b) of the Texas Penal Code. That provision attempts to describe contrivances which are not “gambling devices.” In this attempt it woefully fails. Based on the evidence presented in this case there is no issue but that a player is entitled to redeem, after a single play, no more than what the law allows. At issue is whether nonredeemable credits awarded which allow continuation of play violate this exception, therefore constituting the contrivance a “gambling device” in violation of the laws. In this regard the Court finds that 47.01 (4)(b) provides an ordinary law-abiding citizen insufficient and ambiguous information by which to attempt to comply with the law. The uncontradicted evidence in this case shows that defendant sought advice from prosecutors to ensure that they complied with the law and acted accordingly. Further, from the evidence presented, it is clear that law enforcement is in a quandary in attempting to enforce this law due to the ambiguous nature of the law. Law enforcement and prosecutors are entitled to clear guidelines when enforcing the law to avoid arbitrary enforcement and prosecution. This law does not provide that clear guideline.
Therefore, the Court finds thatSection 47.01(4)(b) is unconstitutional in that it is impermissibly vague offending the requirement of due process of law. Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 92 S.Ct. 2294, 33 L.Ed.2d 222 (1972).
. These terms included “gambling device/’ “bonafide amusement purposes,” “noncash merchandise prizes, toys or novelties or a representation of value redeemable for those items,” and “that have a wholesale value from a single play ... or not more than ten times the amount charged to play ... or $5, whichever is less.”
. To avoid any confusion in the statutes defining a “gambling device” which preceded the current statute, attention is called to Attorney General’s Opinion DM-280 (January 3, 1994) directed to Senator Ken Armbrister. This opinion explained the order in which the statutes preceded the 1995 amendment. Senate Bill 522 and Senate Bill 1067 were both enacted during the 73d legislative session in 1993. S.B. 1067 enacted the 1994 Penal Code on May 29, 1993 to become effective September 1, 1994. It contained the broad definition mentioned above. S.B. 522 contained the definitions of a “gambling device” almost identical with the 1995 amendment involved in the instant proceeding. See Act of May 31, 1993, 73d Leg., R.S., ch. 774, § 1, 1993 Tex. Gen. Laws 3027, 3028.
Attorney General’s Opinion DM-280 held that under the Code Construction Act, two amendments to the same statute enacted during the same legislative session without reference to each other should be harmonized if possible. If, however, they are irreconcilable, the latest amendment prevails. DM-280 at 2. The statutes as to the definitions of “gambling device” are irreconcilable and, under the suggested rule, it would appear that S.B. 522 would prevail as it was enacted on May 31, 1993 to become effective August 30, 1994. However, Attorney General‘s Opinion DM-280 points out that the Code Construction Act does not apply where the legislature has clearly expressed its intent as to the proper course to follow if two laws passed at the same session conflict. Id. at 2 (citing Attorney General’s Opinion DM-234 (1993)). The legislature did just that in section 13.02 of S.B. 1067. See Act of May 29, 73d Leg., R.S., ch. 900, § 13.02(a), (b). Thus, the Attorney General concluded that the definition of a “gambling device” set forth in S.B. 522 only applied to offenses committed on or after August 30, 1993 and before September 1, 1994. S.B. 1067 (the 1994 Texas Penal Code) and its definition of a “gambling device” became effective on September 1, 1994 and applied to all offense committed after that date. We agree with Attorney General’s Opinion DM-280.
The 1994 Penal Code definition was replaced by the 1995 amendment almost identical to the definition in S.B. 522.
. The 1994 Code’s definition is similar to that of its forerunner in former 47.01(B) of the 1974 Texas Penal Code. The definition of a “gambling device” in former