Daniel Lee Knod v. State

Opinion

ACCEPTED

12-15-00154-CR

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS

TYLER, TEXAS

10/5/2015 3:18:42 PM

Pam Estes

CLERK

RECEIVED IN

12th COURT OF APPEALS

TYLER, TEXAS

10/5/2015 3:18:42 PM

SMITH COUNTY COURTHOUSE 100 N. BROADWAY 4th Floor D. Matt Bingham PAM ESTES TELEPHONE: TELECOPIER:

(903) 590-1720

Clerk (903) 590-1719

TYLER, TEXAS 75702 Criminal District Attorney Michael J. West, Appellate Chief

April A. Sikes, First Assistant Smith County Aaron S. Rediker, Appellate Prosecutor

Jennifer Barfield, Office Manager

5 October 2015

10/5/2015

Ms. Cathy S. Lusk, Clerk Twelfth Court of Appeals 1517 West Front Street, Suite 354 Tyler, Texas 75702

Re: 12-15-00154-CR, Daniel Lee Knod v. The State of Texas;

State’s Supplemental Letter Brief

To the Honorable Court of Appeals:

In an amended brief filed on 22 September 2015, appellant alleges that his sentence for the offense of state jail felony theft was improperly enhanced with a prior theft conviction (Appellant’s Am. Br. 17-20). As appellant’s argument appears to be valid, the Court should overrule his first issue for the reasons argued in the State’s Brief and affirm the judgment as to the finding of guilt, but sustain his second issue and reverse only as to punishment.

Appellant was charged by indictment with the state jail felony offense of theft, where the property stolen was valued at less than $1,500, and appellant had been convicted twice before of theft (Clerk’s R. at 2). See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 31.03(e)(4)(D) (West

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2014). “Under this subsection, a defendant's history of theft convictions, regardless of their number or degree, cannot elevate a subsequent theft of property worth less than $ 1500 beyond the status of a state jail felony.” Brown v. State, 14 S.W.3d 832, 832-833 (Tex. App.–Austin 2000, pet. ref’d). Nevertheless, the State filed a Brooks notice prior to trial, alleging a third prior conviction for theft and one conviction for retaliation (Clerk’s R. at 19-21). See Brooks v. State, 957 S.W.2d 30, 32-34 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). After a jury trial on the issue of guilt/innocence, the trial court heard evidence on punishment, made findings of “true” to the prior conviction allegations contained in the State’s Brooks notice, and sentenced appellant to confinement for eighteen years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Institutional Division without a fine, within the punishment range for a second degree felony (VIII Rep.’s R. at 120; Clerk’s R. at 72-73). See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 12.33, 12.425(b) (West 2014). As appellant was convicted of state jail felony theft under section 31.03(e)(4)(D), his punishment could not be enhanced with another theft conviction, and the sentence of confinement for eighteen years was void. Freeman v. State, 970 S.W.2d 55, 59-60 (Tex. App.–Tyler 1998, no pet.). See also Rawlings v. State, 602 S.W.2d 268, 270 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) (applying similar prior statutes); Ex parte Firo, 815 S.W.2d 568, 569 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (same).

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the State of Texas prays that the Court of Appeals affirm the judgment of the 7th District Court of Smith County, Texas, as to the finding of guilt and remand the cause for reassessment of punishment. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 44.29(b) (West 2014); Freeman, 970 S.W.2d at 60.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Aaron S. Rediker Aaron S. Rediker Asst. Criminal District Attorney SBOT #: 24046692

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100 North Broadway, 4th Floor Tyler, Texas 75702 phone: (903) 590-1720 fax: (903) 590-1719 arediker@smith-county.com

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(3), the undersigned attorney certifies that the word count for this document is 426 words as calculated by Corel WordPerfect X6.

/s/ Aaron S. Rediker Aaron S. Rediker

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned hereby certifies that on this 5th day of October 2015, the following have been completed:

(1) The State’s Supplemental Letter Brief in the above-captioned causes was electronically filed.

(2) A copy of the foregoing letter was sent by email to Austin R. Jackson, counsel for appellant, at JLawAppeals@gmail.com.

/s/ Aaron S. Rediker Aaron S. Rediker

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