Donald Stevenson v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided July 17, 2014·No. 05-12-01668-CR·Published

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

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

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 that the punishment range if the enhancement paragraphs were proved true would be 25 to 99 years or life imprisonment. It asked appellant, “Do you understand that?” Appellant replied, “Not really, I don’t.” The court asked appellant, “You don’t understand the punishment range?” Appellant said, “I don’t understand none of this.” The court inquired as follows:

THE COURT: You don’t understand any of it? Well let’s start at the very beginning. Do you understand what you're charged with?

THE DEFENDANT: I understand what they arrested me for.

THE COURT: Do you understand what you’re charged with?

THE DEFENDANT: Not really.

THE COURT: Because I don’t know what they arrested you for. They may have arrested you for a traffic ticket. All right, well, you’re charged with aggravated kidnapping and you’re charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. You understand what you’re charged with in each of those cases?

THE DEFENDANT: Not really, I don’t.

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