Ex Parte Kopecky

821 S.W.2d 957, 1992 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1, 1992 WL 1126
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 8, 1992
Docket71125
StatusPublished
Cited by125 cases

This text of 821 S.W.2d 957 (Ex Parte Kopecky) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ex Parte Kopecky, 821 S.W.2d 957, 1992 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1, 1992 WL 1126 (Tex. 1992).

Opinion

OPINION

CLINTON, Judge.

This is a post-conviction application for writ of habeas corpus brought pursuant to Article 11.07, V.A.C.C.P.

On February 15, 1990, applicant pled guilty to and was convicted of, inter alia, the offenses of aggravated possession of phenylacetone, a Penalty Group 2 substance, V.T.C.A. Health and Safety Code, § 481.116(d)(1), and possession of phenylac-etone without tax payment certificate, V.T.C.A. Tax Code, § 159.201. Sentence was assessed at twelve and ten years, respectively, to run concurrently. Applicant was also assessed a fine of $69,400.00 in the possession without payment of tax conviction. See § 159.201(b), supra. Applicant now assails his conviction and sentence for failure to pay the tax, alleging he has been twice punished for the same offense, in violation of the Fifth Amendment double jeopardy clause. We filed and set this cause to decide whether applicant may constitutionally be punished for both offenses consistent with Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 103 S.Ct. 673, 74 L.Ed.2d 535 (1983). 1

The Fifth Amendment double jeopardy clause protects against multiple prosecutions for the “same offense” following acquittal or conviction. It also protects against multiple punishments for the “same offense.” See, e.g., Ex parte Herron, 790 S.W.2d 623, at 624 (Tex.Cr.App.1990). The constitutional meaning of “same offense” “may vary” depending upon which of these protections is at issue. See Whalen v. United States, 445 U.S. 684, at 700, 100 S.Ct. 1432, at 1442, 63 L.Ed.2d 715, at 729 (1980) (Rehnquist, J., dissenting). At any rate, applicant here pled guilty to both offenses in a single proceeding. We therefore are not concerned with issues of multiple prosecution for the “same offense.”

Missouri v. Hunter, supra, Reid that insofar as it applies to multiple punishments in a single prosecution, the Fifth *959 Amendment double jeopardy clause does not impose a limitation upon the legislative prerogative to “prescribe the scope of punishment.” 459 U.S. at 368, 103 S.Ct. at 679, 74 L.Ed.2d at 544. The Missouri Supreme Court had concluded that imposition of cumulative sentences under two statutory provisions that it construed to define the “same offense” under the test of Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932), was jeopardy barred, notwithstanding express legislative authorization of multiple punishment. The United States Supreme Court reversed. The Court held that in the multiple punishment context, the Blockburger test is no more than a rule of statutory construction, useful in discerning the legislative intent as to scope of punishment where that intent is not otherwise manifested. The Blockburger test does not operate, however, to trump “clearly expressed legislative intent.” 459 U.S. at 368, 103 S.Ct. at 679, 74 L.Ed.2d at 544. Because the Missouri Legislature “made its intent crystal clear” that multiple punishment be imposed where prosecution is had under both statutes, id., and because “[w]ith respect to cumulative sentences imposed in a single trial, the Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than prevent the sentencing court from prescribing greater punishment than the legislature intended,” 459 U.S. at 366, 103 S.Ct. at 678, 74 L.Ed.2d at 542, the Court held that the cumulative sentences at issue in Hunter did not violate the Fifth Amendment. The touchstone is legislative intent. See United States v. Woodward, 469 U.S. 105, 105 S.Ct. 611, 83 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985); Ex parte Herron, supra.

The question before us, then, is whether the Legislature intended that an accused in applicant’s position be punished for both aggravated possession of phenylacetone and separately for possession of phenylace-tone without payment of the required tax. We hold that the Legislature did in fact so intend. Accordingly, we will deny relief.

Chapter 159 of the Tax Code, entitled “Controlled Substances Tax,” was added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1152, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. In general, Chapter 159 provides for a tax upon “taxable substances,” § 159.101, and the issuance by the comptroller of a certificate, to be affixed to the “taxable substance,” which constitutes prima facie evidence that the tax has been paid, §§ 159.003 & 159.102. Subchapter A of Chapter 159 defines “taxable substance” to include, inter alia, a “controlled substance” as that term is defined in the Controlled Substances Act. The Controlled Substances Act in turn defines a “controlled substance” as a “substance ... listed in Schedules I through V or Penalty Groups 1 through 4.” V.T.C.A. Health and Safety Code § 481.002(4). Because phenylacetone is listed in Penalty Group 2, V.T.C.A. Health and Safety Code, § 481.103(a)(2), it is indeed a “controlled substance” within the meaning of Chapter 159 of the Tax Code. Subchapter C of Chapter 159 contains a penal provision outlawing possession of a “taxable substance” for which the requisite tax has not been paid. Thus, in relevant part § 159.201 reads:

“(a) A dealer commits an offense if the dealer possesses a taxable substance on which the tax imposed by this chapter has not been paid.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree. In addition to the fine provided by law for a felony of the third degree, a person convicted of an offense under this section shall be fined an amount equal to the amount of tax due and unpaid on the taxable substance that is the subject of the offense.” 2

Applicant pled guilty to possession of “not more than 347 grams” of phenylacetone for which the tax was not paid. Under § 159.-101, the tax for all taxable substances except those “consisting of or containing marihuana” are taxable at the rate of $200 for each gram. Hence the $69,400 fine levied pursuant to § 159.201(b).

*960 Applicant was separately indicted for, but pled guilty at the same time to possession of phenylacetone, a Penalty Group 2 substance under the Controlled Substances Act, § 481.103(a)(2), supra, in an amount over 28 grams, an aggravated offense. V.T.C.A. Health and Safety Code, § 481.-116(c). Aggravated possession of. a Penalty Group 2 substance, under § 481.116(c), constitutes a separate and distinct offense from that of possession of a Penalty Group 2 substance in an amount less than 28 grams, under § 481.116(a). Cf. State v. Engelking & Sloan, 817 S.W.2d 64 (Tex.Cr.App.1991) (simple possession of a Penalty Group 1 substance under current V.T.C.A. Health and Safety Code, § 481.115(a), is an offense separate from aggravated possession of a Penalty Group 1 substance under § 481.115(c)). See also Wilson v.

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Bluebook (online)
821 S.W.2d 957, 1992 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1, 1992 WL 1126, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ex-parte-kopecky-texcrimapp-1992.