Donald Eugene Mims v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 26, 2014
• Docket: 10-13-00153-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-13-00153-CR

DONALD EUGENE MIMS, Appellant v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

From the 85th District Court Brazos County, Texas Trial Court No. 10-03653-CRF-85

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Donald Mims was convicted of theft, a state jail felony and sentenced to 22

months in a state jail facility and a $2,500 fine. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03(a), (e)(4)

(West Supp. 2013). Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing

expert testimony regarding the replacement value of the property, the trial court’s

judgment is affirmed.

Mims was accused of stealing tires and rims from Robert Sauseda’s Chevy

Tahoe. The State alleged in the indictment that the value of the tires and rims was $1,500 or more, but less than $20,000. In his sole issue, Mims contends the trial court

abused its discretion in allowing a state’s witness to testify about the replacement value

of the tires and rims rather than their fair market value.

We review a trial court's decision to admit or exclude evidence under an abuse of

discretion standard. Martinez v. State, 327 S.W.3d 727, 736 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). The

trial court abuses its discretion only when the decision lies outside the zone of

reasonable disagreement. Id.

“Value,” as defined by the Penal Code, is “the fair market value of the property

or service at the time and place of the offense.” TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.08(a)(1)

(West 2011). “Fair market value” has been held to mean the amount the property

would sell for in cash, giving a reasonable time for selling it. Keeton v. State, 803 S.W.2d

304, 305 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). But, if the fair market value of the property cannot be

ascertained, then “value” is the cost of replacing the property within a reasonable time

after the theft. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.08(a)(2) (West 2011).

The State argues that the market value of the rims could not be ascertained; thus,

the State was permitted to present testimony of the replacement cost which, combined

with the tires, was approximately $2,700. Ascertainment of market value presupposes

an existing, established market. Infante v. State, 404 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet.). The State’s expert testified that he could not identify

the specific brand of the rims because the caps were missing. Thus, he looked at similar

rims and offered an opinion as to the replacement value of those types of rims which

Mims v. State Page 2 was $1,663.96. The replacement value of the rims alone fell within the range of value

alleged by the State in its indictment. Because the rims could not be identified, there

was no market for the rims. Thus, market value could not be ascertained. The trial

court did not abuse its discretion in allowing testimony regarding the replacement

value of the rims.

The tires, on the other hand, were identifiable and fair market value could be

ascertained. Alternatively, even if the testimony of the replacement value should not

have been admitted, Mims was not harmed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b). The expert

testified that a fair market value for a combination of both the tires and the rims was

between $1,800 and $2,000.1

Mims’s sole issue is overruled. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Affirmed Opinion delivered and filed June 26, 2014 Do not publish [CR25]

1Furthermore, Sauseda, the victim, testified he had paid $2,000 for the rims and tires only a short period of time before they were taken.

Mims v. State Page 3