Donald Stevenson v. State

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 17, 2014
Docket05-12-01668-CR
StatusPublished

This text of Donald Stevenson v. State (Donald Stevenson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Donald Stevenson v. State, (Tex. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed July 17, 2014.

S Court of Appeals In The

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-12-01668-CR No. 05-12-01669-CR

DONALD STEVENSON, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 265th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause Nos. F12-54028-R and F12-54029-R

OPINION Before Justices Lang, Myers, and Brown Opinion by Justice Myers Appellant Donald Stevenson pleaded no contest to aggravated kidnapping 1 and unlawful

possession of a firearm by a felon, 2 and was sentenced to concurrent terms of thirty years’

imprisonment. In five issues, appellant argues that the trial court failed to inquire into his

competency to stand trial, that he was denied due process, that his no-contest pleas were not

freely and voluntarily made, that he received ineffective assistance of counsel, that the trial court

erred by finding he was required to register as a sex offender, and that there is no evidence to

support the assessment of costs in 05–12–01668–CR. We affirm.

1 05–12–01668–CR (trial court cause number F12–54028–R) 2 05–12–01669–CR (trial court cause number F12–54029–R) BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Appellant was indicted for the first-degree felony offense of aggravated kidnapping in

cause number 05–12–01668–CR, and for the third-degree felony offense of unlawful possession

of a firearm by a felon in cause 05–12–01669–CR. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 20.04(a)(4),

(c), 46.04(a), (e). Each offense was enhanced by two prior felony convictions that increased the

punishment range to 25 to 99 years or life imprisonment. See id. § 12.42(d). Appellant initially

pleaded not guilty to both offenses. At a pretrial hearing held on October 16, 2012, he entered

open pleas of no contest to the indictments and pleaded true to the enhancement paragraphs. The

punishment phase began on October 17, 2012, and was continued until November 30, 2012, for

completion of a presentence investigation. On November 30, 2012, after hearing evidence from

both sides, the trial court found appellant guilty in both cases and assessed punishment at 30

years’ imprisonment in each case to run concurrently. The trial court also found that the sex

offender registration requirements of chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

applied to the aggravated kidnapping conviction. The written judgment in each case assessed

court costs of $244.

DISCUSSION

Appellant’s Competency

In his first two issues, appellant argues the trial court erred by not “sua sponte conducting

an inquiry into appellant’s competency to continue with his plea of no contest,” and that he was

“denied due process when he was convicted in each case . . . because he was mentally

incompetent or denied the right to an inquiry of mental incompetency.”

The prosecution and conviction of a defendant while he is legally incompetent violates

due process. Morris v. State, 301 S.W.3d 281, 299 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). A person is

incompetent to stand trial if he does not have sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer

–2– with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or a rational as well as factual understanding

of the proceedings against him. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.003(a). A judge

must inquire into a defendant’s mental competence if the issue is sufficiently raised. See

McDaniel v. State, 98 S.W.3d 704, 709 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). The initial inquiry is informal

and is required when evidence suggesting incompetency comes to the trial court’s attention. See

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.004(b), (c); Jackson v. State, 391 S.W.3d 139, 141 (Tex.

App.––Texarkana 2012, no pet.).

The statutory scheme set forth in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure codifies the

constitutional standard for competency to stand trial and describes the circumstances that require,

and the procedures for making, a determination of whether a defendant is competent to stand

trial. Turner v. State, 422 S.W.3d 676, 689 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). If evidence suggesting a

defendant is incompetent comes to the trial court’s attention, “the court on its own motion shall

suggest the defendant may be incompetent” and “shall determine by informal inquiry whether

there is some evidence from any source that would support a finding that the defendant may be

incompetent to stand trial.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.004(b), (c). The threshold

requirement for an informal inquiry is a suggestion of incompetency, and it “may consist solely

of a representation from any credible source that the defendant may be incompetent.” See id. art.

46B.004(c–1). “A further evidentiary showing is not required to initiate the inquiry, and the

court is not required to have a bona fide doubt about the competency of the defendant.” Id.

“Evidence suggesting the need for an informal inquiry may be based on observations made in

relation to one or more of the factors described by Article 46B.024 or on any other indication

that the defendant is incompetent within the meaning of Article 46B.003.” Id. Those factors

include whether the defendant can: “(a) rationally understand the charges against him and the

potential consequences of the pending criminal proceedings; (b) disclose to counsel pertinent

–3– facts, events, and states of mind; (c) engage in a reasoned choice of legal strategies and options;

(d) understand the adversarial nature of criminal proceedings; (e) exhibit appropriate courtroom

behavior; and (f) testify.” Id. art. 46B.024(1). “If after an informal inquiry the court determines

that evidence exists to support a finding of incompetency, the court shall order an examination

under [Chapter 46] Subchapter B to determine whether the defendant is incompetent to stand

trial in a criminal case.” Id. art. 46B.005(a); Turner, 422 S.W.3d at 692.

We review a trial court’s decision regarding an informal competency inquiry for an abuse

of discretion. Montoya v. State, 291 S.W.3d 420, 426 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009), superseded by

statute on other grounds as stated in Turner, 422 S.W.3d at 692 n.31; Jackson, 391 S.W.3d at

141; see also Luna v. State, 268 S.W.3d 594, 600 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). An informal inquiry

may be satisfied when the trial court poses simple, short questions to the defendant and/or

defense counsel regarding the defendant’s competency. Luna, 268 S.W.3d at 598–600; Jackson,

391 S.W.3d at 142; Gray v. State, 257 S.W.3d 825, 829 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008, pet.

ref’d); Coyt–Sowells v. State, No. 14–11–00986–CR, 2013 WL 1499579, at *1 (Tex. App.––

Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 11, 2013, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).

“[E]xhaustive inquisitions are not required.” Coyt–Sowells, 2013 WL 1499579, at *1 (citing

Luna, 268 S.W.3d at 599–600; Gray, 257 S.W.3d at 829).

The record shows that a pretrial hearing in the above cases was held on October 16, 2012,

shortly before the scheduled start of jury selection. During that hearing, the trial court

admonished appellant regarding the State’s plea offer of 25 years’ imprisonment, pointing out

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Blackledge v. Allison
431 U.S. 63 (Supreme Court, 1977)
Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Kniatt v. State
206 S.W.3d 657 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2006)
Luna v. State
268 S.W.3d 594 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2008)
Grays v. State
888 S.W.2d 876 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1994)
Hernandez v. State
726 S.W.2d 53 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1986)
Gray v. State
257 S.W.3d 825 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2008)
Rylander v. State
101 S.W.3d 107 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2003)
Morris v. State
301 S.W.3d 281 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2009)
Montoya v. State
291 S.W.3d 420 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2009)
Martinez v. State
981 S.W.2d 195 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1998)
Busby v. State
253 S.W.3d 661 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2008)
Prudholm v. State
333 S.W.3d 590 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2011)
Mitchell v. State
68 S.W.3d 640 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2002)
Thompson v. State
9 S.W.3d 808 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1999)
Jackson v. State
877 S.W.2d 768 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1994)
Kirk v. State
949 S.W.2d 769 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1997)
Lopez v. State
343 S.W.3d 137 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2011)
Turner, Albert James
422 S.W.3d 676 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2013)
Johnson, Manley Dewayne
423 S.W.3d 385 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2014)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Donald Stevenson v. State, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/donald-stevenson-v-state-texapp-2014.