Case Information
*0 FILED COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 11/8/2017 DEANA WILLIAMSON, CLERK *1 PD-0734-17 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 11/8/2017 10:42 AM Accepted 11/8/2017 2:22 PM DEANA WILLIAMSON NO. PD-0734-17 CLERK IN THE
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS
AUSTIN, TEXAS EX PARTE RUSSELL BOYD RAE, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE
NO. 06-17-00063-CR
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT TEXARKANA
____________________________________________________
Appealed from the 276 th Judicial District Court Marion County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. F14-689-A STATE’S BRIEF
ANGELA SMOAK Marion County Attorney Ricky Shelton Assistant County Attorney Marion County, Texas 102 West Austin, Room 201 Jefferson, TX 75657 (903) 665-2611 (903) 665-3348 (fax) SBOT 24098418 ricky.shelton@co.marion.tx.us *2 IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL In compliance with Rule 68.4, TEX R. APP. PROC., following are the identities
of the trial court judge, all parties to the judgment appealed from, and the
names and addresses of all trial and appellate counsel:
Parties
Russell Boyd Rae, Appellant
The State of Texas, Appellee
Trial Court Judge
Hon. Robert Rolston
Presiding Judge, 276 th District Court
Marion County, Texas
Trial and Appellate Counsel
William K. Gleason, Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 888
Jefferson, TX 75657
Counsel for Appellant at trial
James R. (“Rick”) Hagan, Attorney At Law
P.O. Box 3347
Longview, TX 75606
Counsel for Appellant in Probation Revocation and Habeas at Trial Court
Angela Smoak
County and District Attorney of Marion County
102 West Austin, Room 201
Jefferson, TX 75657
Trial Counsel for the State of Texas, Appellee
i *3 IDENTITY OF JUDGE, PARTIES, AND COUNSEL (CONT’D) Hough-Lewis(“Lew”) Dunn, Attorney at Law
P.O. BOX 2226
Longview, TX 75606
Counsel for Appellant on Appeal
Ricky Shelton
Assistant County and District Attorney, Marion County
102 West Austin, Room 201
Jefferson, TX 75657
Counsel for State on Appeal
Stacey M. Soule
State Prosecuting Attorney
P.O. Box 13046
Austin, TX 78711-3046
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL………..………………………… i
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………….. iii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES……………………………………………………… iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE……………………………………………………. 1
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT…………………………... 1
STATEMENT OF FACTS…………………………………………………………. 3
REPLY TO APPELLANT’S SOLE ISSUE …………............................. 6
1) The Appellant has failed to challenge every reason or alternative holding made by the Court of Appeals.
2) The Court of Appeals ruled, in order to jurisdictionally enhance a DWI to a felony, there is no requirement that the prior convictions be final.
3) Furthermore, even if required to be a final conviction, the Court of Appeals did not err in finding the prior conviction for Operating a Watercraft While Intoxicated to be a final conviction .
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT……………………………………………….. 7
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITY…………………………………………………. 8
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………… 14
PRAYER………………………………………………………………………………… 16
CERIFICATE OF SERVICE……………………………………………………….... 16
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE………………………………………………… 17
iii *5 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES Ex Parte Russell Boyd Rae, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 5325
(Tex. App. – Texarkana, June 13, 2017)…………………………. 5, 7, 13 Gonzales v. State, 864 S.W.2d 522,523-24 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)………………… 8
Gibson v. State 995 S.W.2d 693,694 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)……………………. 8, 12
Coit v. State, 808 S.W.2d 473, 475 (Tex. Crim. App.1991)…….................... 10
Boykin v. State, 818 S.W.2d 782, 785 (Tex. Crim. App.1991)………………………. 10
Ex Parte Murchison, 560 S.W.2d 654, 656 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)………………….... 11, 12
Rizo v. State, 963 S.W.2d 137, 139 (Tex. App. –Eastland 1997, no pet.)…. 13
Ex parte Russell Boyd Rae, (per curiam decision, December 3, 2003)…………………………. 14
STATUTES: Tex. Code of Crim. Proc. Art. 11.072………………………………… 4 TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. art. 6701l -1(h) (1991)……………………. 8, 13 TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b)………………………………………………. 7-14 TEX. Penal Code 12.42…………………………………………………….. 12 TEX. Penal Code §49.04…………………………………………………… 9 §31.097 previously of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code……. 11,13 TEX. Penal Code §31.03 ………………………………………………….. 11 TEX. Penal Code §21.01 ………………………………………………….. 11 iv
STATEMENT OF THE CASE On August 3, 2016, Appellant pleaded guilty to a third degree felony DWI. The appellant also affirmatively pleaded true to the enhancement
paragraph contained in the indictment. Appellant was sentenced to ten (10)
years in TDC Institutional Division, probated for ten years.
On November 10, 2016, the State filed a Motion to Revoke Appellant’s probated sentenced. Appellant filed an Application for Writ of Habeas
Corpus, which was denied after hearing. That Writ Application contested the
use of a prior conviction to jurisdictionally enhance the DWI to a felony. An
Appeal was made to the Sixth Court of Appeals in Texarkana, which affirmed
the trial court in a Memorandum Opinion on or about June 13, 2017. A
Petition for Discretionary Review was then filed on July 12, 2017. This Court
granted discretionary review on September 13, 2017.
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT This Court has stated that the case will be submitted on briefs without oral argument.
NO. PD-0734-17
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS
AUSTIN, TEXAS EX PARTE RUSSELL BOYD RAE, APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE STATE’S BRIEF
TO HE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
COMES NOW THE STATE OF TEXAS, and files this, a Brief in reply to Appellant’s petition for discretionary review of his conviction in the trial court
for felony DWI, subsequently affirmed by the Sixth Court of Appeals, and
would show:
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Guilty Plea
Appellant was indicted for a third degree felony DWI, with two prior intoxication offenses alleged.(CR 6) On August 3, 2016, at the hearing for
his guilty plea, Appellant appeared with counsel and was admonished by the
trial court.(1 RR 4-7). Appellant entered a plea of guilty to the charge of DWI
and furthermore, pleaded “true” to the enhancement paragraphs.(1 RR 7-8)
The trial court accepted the pleas as voluntarily made, and the State offered
a signed stipulation of evidence to the trial court.(1 RR 9) The State
recommended a sentence of ten years probated for ten years, a fine of
$3500.00 and other conditions of probation, including 10 days in county
jail.(1 RR 9) Appellant agreed with the recommendation, and thereafter, the
trial court followed the agreement of the parties and entered judgment
accordingly. (1 RR 10; CR8)
State’s Petition to Revoke Probated Judgment
On or about November 10, 2016, the State filed “State’s Petition to Revoke Probated Judgment.”(CR 11) A capias was issued, and Appellant
was arrested and jailed. Thereafter, on December 27, 2016, Appellant filed
“Defendant’s Motion to Quash Application for Revocation of Probation” with
several exhibits attached.(CR 13)
Hearing on Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Motion to Quash
On December 27, 2016, Appellant filed his Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus, pursuant to Art. 11.072, TEX. CODE CRIM PROC.(CR 30) In
response, the State filed “State’s Response to Applicant’s Application for Writ
of Habeas Corpus and Motion to Quash.”(CR 50)
At the hearing on February 23, 2017, Counsel for Appellant offered his arguments and authorities concerning why the second conviction used for
enhancement (boating while intoxicated, Cause No. 6513 from Marion
County in 1993) was not a proper case to use for enhancement; counsel
requested the trial court to declare the judgment in the case at bar void
because of that infirmity.(2 RR 3,5) The State countered by arguing that
there is a distinction to be made between using a prior DWI for purposes of
jurisdictional enhancement as opposed to using it for purposes of
punishment, urging the trial court to review the State’s arguments contained
in State’s “Response”.(2 RR 6, CR 50) During the hearing both parties
agreed that the exhibits to their respective pleading be admitted into
evidence as exhibits, and the trial court approved.(2 RR 6,7)
Thereafter, the trial court entered an “Order Denying Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus with Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.(CR 74)
Appeal
The Court of Appeals upheld the denial of habeas relief in Ex Parte Russell Boyd Rae, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 5325 (Tex. App. – Texarkana, June
13, 2017).
REPLY TO APPELLANT’S SOLE ISSUE (from Appellant’s brief)
APPELLANT’S SOLE ISSUE PRESENTED DID THE COURT OF APPEALS ERR IN FINDING THAT THE PRIOR CONVICTION FOR OPERATING A WATERCRAFT WHILE INTOXICATED WAS A FINAL CONVICTION?
STATE’S REPLY 1) The Appellant has failed to challenge every reason or alternative holding made by the Court of Appeals.
2) The Court of Appeals ruled, in order to jurisdictionally enhance a DWI to a felony, there is no requirement that the prior convictions be final.
3) Furthermore, even if required to be a final conviction, the Court of Appeals did not err in finding the prior conviction for Operating a Watercraft While Intoxicated to be a final conviction.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT Part I.
The Appellant has failed to challenge every reason or alternative holding made by the Court of Appeals. The sole ground for review submitted
by the Appellant to this Court is whether “the Court of Appeals erred in
finding that the prior conviction for operating a watercraft while intoxicated
was a final conviction.” The Court of Appeals, citing previous case law, held
for the jurisdictional enhancement of a DWI under TEX. Penal Code
§49.09(b), there is no requirement the alleged prior convictions be “final”
convictions. Based on his sole ground for review, the Appellant has failed to
adequately and/or properly challenge the holding in Ex Parte Russell Boyd
Rae, 2017. Id.
Part II.
The plain language of TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b) does not require that the prior convictions used to enhance a current charge under TEX. Penal
Code §49.04 be “final” convictions, only that they be prior “convictions”.
Part III.
In response to Appellant’s sole ground for review, even assuming a “final” conviction is required, under the applicable law at the time, TEX. REV.
CIV. STAT. art. 6701l -1(h) (1991), that obligation is met.
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES Part I.
The Appellant has failed to challenge every reason or alternative holding made by the Court of Appeals. Gonzales v. State, 864 S.W.2d
522,523-24 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993)
The sole ground for review submitted by the Appellant to this Court is whether “the Court of Appeals erred in finding that the prior conviction for
Operating a Watercraft While Intoxicated a final conviction.” However, the
Court of Appeals held that, “the plain language of Section 49.09 merely
required the State to prove that Rae was ‘twice previously convicted for
offenses related to operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while
intoxicated,’ and nothing more.” Ex Parte Russell Royd Rae, 2017 Tex. App.
LEXIS 5325 (Tex. App. – Texarkana, June 13, 2017) (citing Gibson v. State,
995 S.W.2d 693,694 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). Appellant has failed to
challenge or request review on the primary issue and holding by the Court
of Appeals. Therefore, the Appellant’s sole ground for review of whether or
not his prior conviction for Operating a Watercraft While Intoxicated was a
final conviction does not merit review by this court.
Part II.
The plain language of TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b) does not require that the prior convictions used to enhance a current charge under TEX. Penal
Code §49.04 be “final convictions”, only that they be prior “convictions”.
At the trial level, Appellant was charged and convicted for DWI under the TEX. Penal Code §49.04, and enhanced jurisdictionally under the Tex.
Penal Code §49.09.
TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b)(2) clearly states that: “any offense under… §49.04… is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person has been convicted
[emphasis added]: two times of any other offense relating to the operating
of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating an air craft while intoxicated,
operating a watercraft while intoxicated, or operating or assembling an
amusement ride while intoxicated.”
“Where the statute is clear and unambiguous, the Legislature must be understood to mean what it has expressed, and it is not for the courts to
add or subtract from such a statute.” Coit v. State, 808 S.W.2d 473, 475
(Tex. Crim. App.1991) In that same year, the Court held that when
attempting to discern the collective legislative intent or purpose, the Court
should necessarily focus its attention on the literal text of the statute in
question and attempt to discern the fair, objective meaning of that text at
the time of its enactment. Boykin v. State, 818 S.W.2d 782, 785
(Tex.Crim.App.1991)
The plain language of TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b) is clear and unambiguous. Had the legislature intended to require the State to prove
“final” convictions in order to enhance a defendant jurisdictionally then
obviously they could have included that exact language in the statute. One
must assume that the legislature, in construing §49.09, intentionally left out
the requirement that convictions must be final in order to use them within
the statute; therefore, requiring the State to only prove that an individual
has been previously “convicted”, not “finally” convicted. To add the
requirement of a “final” conviction would be in direct contradiction to the law
stated in Coit. Id.
Other jurisdictional enhancement statutes follow the same guidelines as TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b). Specifically, TEX. Penal Code §31.03, allows
prior “convictions” to be used for purposes of jurisdictionally enhancing theft
charges. Also, TEX. Penal Code §21.01, dictates that convictions, not “final”
convictions, can be used to jurisdictionally enhance assaultive offenses.
Furthermore, when construing and enacting TEX. Penal Code §49.09, and in defining “Offense of operating a watercraft while intoxicated” in
§49.09 (c)(3)(C) the legislature specifically included the old statute §31.097
of the Parks and Wildlife Code, the statute under which Appellant had been
previously convicted. The legislative intent to include that as a previous
conviction capable of being used to enhance a current offense under Section
49.04 of the TEX. Penal Code is apparent.
In citing Ex Parte Murchison, Appellant contends that the prior boating while intoxicated case, Cause no. 6513, cannot be used to enhance his
current offense to a third degree felony because Appellant successfully
served out his probation for that conviction without ever being revoked. Ex
Parte Murchison, 560 S.W.2d 654, 656 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978). In
Murchison, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that absent an order revoking
probation, a conviction is not “final” and may not be used for enhancement
purposes. Id. Appellant contends that based on that holding, the operation
of a moving vessel while intoxicated or “boating while intoxicated”- when
probated and not revoked- does NOT operate as an enhancing offense.
However, the rule established in Murchison pertaining to the use, for enhancement, of probated prior convictions does not apply here. Id. The
“enhancement” that the holding in Murchison refers to is an enhancement
for punishment under TEX. Pen. Code 12.42 not jurisdictional enhancement
under TEX. Penal Code §49.09. For example, the State may not use a non-
revoked probated conviction to enhance the minimum or maximum
punishment a defendant may receive for a particular charge during the
punishment phase of trial. The prior convictions alleged by the State in the
case at hand do not serve to enhance the punishment range on the DWI
charge but rather enhance the DWI jurisdictionally to a third degree felony
in District Court, therefore distinguishing itself from the rule established in
Murchison.
The case on point is Gibson v. State, 995 S.W.2d 693,694 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1993). In that opinion, this Court, with a full discussion of the law
surrounding the issue, ruled that a jurisdictional enhancement under TEX.
Penal Code §49.09 is different than a punishment enhancement under TEX.
Penal Code 12.42. Under TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b), there is no
requirement that the prior convictions be “final” convictions.
Part III
In response to Appellant’s sole ground for review, even assuming a “final” conviction is required, under the applicable law at the time, TEX. REV.
CIV. STAT. art. 6701l -1(h) (1991), that obligation is met.
Appellant contends because his prior conviction was an offense set forth in former Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, it was not a final conviction.
However, in footnote 4 the Court of Appeals addressed this contention in Ex
Parte Russell Boyd Rae, 2017.Id. Stating, “’TEX. REV CIV. STAT. art 6701l-
1(h) (1991),’ which was the applicable statute at the time of Rae’s 1993
conviction, stating, ‘For the purposes of this article, a conviction for an
offense that occurs on or After January 1, 1984, is a final conviction, whether
or not the sentence for the conviction is probated’.” Tex. App. LEXIS 5325
(Tex. App. – Texarkana, June 13, 2017). (Citing Rizo v. State, 963 S.W.2d
137, 139 (Tex. App. –Eastland 1997, no pet.).
In Appellant’s brief, he cites the “application of law or the principle of stare decisis” based on a 2003 holding by this court in regards to the same
conviction previously used to enhance a DWI in Gregg Co., in Cause No.
74,840, Ex parte Russell Boyd Rae (per curiam decision, December 3, 2003)
However, a simple review of that opinion will support the State’s contention
and reveal that any discussion regarding a requirement that a conviction be
“final” is mere dicta.
That case, Cause No. 74,840, was an appeal over ineffective assistance of counsel. There was zero discussion as to the law governing the
enhancement conviction, only an affirmation of the trial court’s finding that
it was ineffective for the Appellant’s trial counsel not to investigate the prior
conviction. An in depth analysis of the law governing jurisdictional
enhancements and TEX. Penal Code §49.09(b)(2) at that time would have
required a much greater discussion and a different holding with regard to
the use of the prior conviction for enhancement purposes.
CONCLUSION The Appellant has failed to adequately request review of the primary issue decided by the Court of Appeals in Rae, 2017. Id. As stated in the
opinion, the law does not require prior convictions used to enhance a DWI
jurisdictionally under TEX. Penal Code §49.09 to be “final”. The Appellant
has only requested this court to review whether the Court of Appeals erred
in finding that the prior conviction for operating a watercraft while
intoxicated was a final conviction, which was not the issue presented or ruled
upon by the appellate Court
Additionally, the plain language found in TEX. Penal Code §49.09 and the case law surrounding the statute clearly illustrates that the State is not
required to prove the prior convictions used to jurisdictionally enhance a DWI
under that statute be “final” convictions. The language is unambiguous on
this issue.
The opinion issued by this Court in 2003 that involved the use of the same prior conviction is not on point. The issue in that case was ineffective
assistance of counsel. Any discussion or finding in that opinion concerning
the prior conviction was dicta and is not dispositive in the case at bar.
Therefore, the principle of stare decisis does not require application as
alleged by Appellant.
PRAYER
Wherefore, upon the issues presented, the State prays that the
opinion of the Sixth Court of Appeals be in all things affirmed.
Respectfully submitted, s/Ricky Shelton________ Ricky Shelton Assistant County Attorney Marion County 102 West Austin, Room 201 Jefferson, TX 75657 (903) 665-2611 (903) 665-3348 Fax SBOT 24098418 ricky.shelton@co.marion.tx.us CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify, by affixing my signature below, I have delivered a true and correct copy of this brief by certified United States mail, first class postage
prepaid, and return receipt requested, on this the 8th day of November,
2017, to Stacy M. Soule, State Prosecuting Attorney, at P.O. Box 13046,
Austin, TX 78711-3046 and also sent by electronic means, and also a true
and correct copy was sent by first class mail to Hough-Lewis Dunn, P.O. Box
2226, Longview, TX 75606 and also sent by electronic means on the same
date.
s/Ricky Shelton_________ Ricky Shelton *22 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE I certify that State’s Brief filed on this the 8th day of November, 2017 complies with Tex. R. App. P. 9. This brief contains 3229 words.
s/Ricky Shelton_________ Ricky Shelton