Ex Parte James Earl Rolling, Jr.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 29, 2012
• Docket: 10-11-00189-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-11-00189-CR

EX PARTE JAMES EARL ROLLING, JR.

From the 12th District Court Walker County, Texas Trial Court Nos. 24928, 24930, 25110

MEMORANDUM OPINION

James Earl Rolling, Jr. appeals the denial of his application for writ of habeas

corpus requesting a reduction in pre-trial bail. Because the trial court did not err in

denying the application for writ of habeas corpus on the merits, the trial court’s order is

affirmed.

Rolling was indicted on three felony offenses, two charges of harassment by a

person in a correctional facility and one charge of possession of a controlled substance,

and appearance bonds were set for each offense. On February 23, 2011, the trial court

signed an order increasing the bail in the controlled substance case, trial court case

number 25110, from $15,000 to $150,000. Rolling presented a single “Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus Seeking Bail Reduction” to the trial court for the three felony

offenses. After a hearing, the trial court signed an order denying the application. On

appeal, Rolling only complains about the increased amount of the bail set in the

controlled substance case.

In one issue, Rolling contends the trial court abused its discretion in revoking a

“valid bond,” i.e. increasing his bail from $15,000 to $150,000, and thus, Rolling

contends, he is restrained in his liberty. The burden of proof in a writ of habeas corpus

is on the applicant. Ex parte Thomas, 906 S.W.2d 22, 24 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). Further,

in reviewing a trial court's ruling on a habeas claim, we must review the record

evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling and must uphold that

ruling absent an abuse of discretion. Kniatt v. State, 206 S.W.3d 657, 664 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2006); Ex parte Graves, 271 S.W.3d 801, 803 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, pet ref’d).

Citing article 17.09 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Rolling argues that

once a defendant has given bail for his appearance in answer to a criminal charge, he is

not to be required to give another bond for the same criminal action. TEX. CODE CRIM.

PROC. ANN. art. 17.09, Sec. 2 (West Supp. 2011). Rolling is correct. However, that same

article also provides that whenever the judge or magistrate in whose court the criminal

action is pending finds that the bond is defective, excessive, or insufficient in amount,

or that the sureties, if any, are not acceptable, or for any other good and sufficient cause,

the judge or magistrate may order the defendant to be rearrested, and require him to

Ex parte Rolling Page 2 give another bond in an amount the judge or magistrate deems proper. Id. Sec. 3. No

precise standard exists for determining “good and sufficient cause” under this article.

Miller v. State, 855 S.W.2d 92, 93-94 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, pet. ref’d).

On the record, the trial court gave the following reasons for his increase in

Rolling’s amount of bail.

… I determined that the bond was too low in the interest of public safety. It came to my attention that he’d been arrested again. It was previously discussed up here the number of outstanding cases that Mr. Rolling has at the time when we were dealing with the attorneys and substituting counsel and things of that nature…but it appeared as if Mr. Rolling had three or four felony cases that were pending in the county court at law. And it appeared to be as if every time he was released on bail, before the sun arose the next day he was arrested…. And it was my belief that Mr. Rolling was a danger to the community and a danger to himself and that the bond that was set on him was insufficient.

The trial court then gave Rolling a hearing on reducing the bail amount.

Rolling’s mother testified that Rolling was 34 years old and had been in trouble

beginning when he was 15 years old. She also stated that Rolling had been out in the

free world for a total of three years since then. She acknowledged that Rolling had an

alcohol problem and eventually acknowledged that she had called the police when she

caught Rolling smoking a cigarette dipped in PCP. She admitted she had heard that

Rolling had been arrested many times for PCP, but that this was the first time she had

seen him using it.

Ex parte Rolling Page 3 Justin Lehman, a Huntsville police officer, testified that he had dealt with Rolling

on numerous occasions, several of which Rolling was under the influence of alcohol or

under the influence of PCP. Lehman testified that when Rolling is under the influence

of those substances, Rolling is a danger to society. He also stated that Rolling is violent

when under the influence of PCP.

After the hearing, the trial court stated on the record,

… his true track record shows that he’s not going to stop drinking or using PCP…. I mean, I’ve had him in this courtroom on several occasions and the next thing I hear, he’s locked up again. I mean, what’s going to stop him from getting out of here and hitting the street smoking dope, and/or getting drunk? *** …Too many times I’ve seen him in this court…. But the problem is, he won’t stop. If I put him out on the street, he’s going to be back in jail again and he’s going to make another little $5,000 or $1,000 bond and then before the sun rises, he’s going to be back in jail.

When the trial court asked counsel how many cases Rolling had in the county

court at law, counsel replied that he was appointed on 14 filed and three unfiled

misdemeanor charges. Counsel also stated that Rolling had three filed and one unfiled

felony charges. The Court wondered, “How many opportunities do I give James? And

what—what do I say to myself and everybody else if I were to let him out of jail today

on those $15,000 bonds and then tomorrow I pick up the newspaper and James has

gone nuts like people do when they are smoking PCP and kill some police officer

around here. Then he’s going to be looking at capital murder.” The trial court then

held it would not alter the $150,000 bail amount. Ex parte Rolling Page 4 After reviewing this record in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling,

we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion by increasing Rolling’s bail pursuant

to article 17.09, section 3 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and thus, did not

abuse its discretion in denying Rolling’s writ application.1 See Ex parte Moore, No. 08-08-

00259-CR, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 7014 (Tex. App.—El Paso, Aug. 25, 2010, no pet.)

(mem. op.); Griggs v. State, No. 01-09-00115-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 1936 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.], Mar. 18, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.); Miller v. State, 855 S.W.2d 92

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, pet. ref’d). Rolling does not argue on appeal

that the amount of the bail set was excessive, only that the trial court erred in the act of

“revoking” it. Thus, we express no opinion on the amount of the bail.

Rolling’s sole issue is overruled and the trial court’s order is affirmed.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Affirmed Opinion delivered and filed February 29, 2012 Do not publish [CR25]

1 To the extent that Rolling also suggests that the trial court erred in not having a hearing when it initially increased Rolling’s pre-trial bail, Rolling cites to no authority in support of this suggestion and as such is improperly briefed and presents nothing for review.

Ex parte Rolling Page 5