Golden v. State

288 S.W.3d 516, 2009 WL 618700
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 19, 2009
Docket01-08-00575-CR, 01-08-00576-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 288 S.W.3d 516 (Golden 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
Golden v. State, 288 S.W.3d 516, 2009 WL 618700 (Tex. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinions

OPINION

JANE BLAND, Justice.

In this bond reduction appeal, William David Golden, appellant, asks that we reverse the trial court’s judgments setting his bail at $200,000 in each of the two underlying drug possession cases.1 Golden urges that we order him released from custody. As grounds for appellate relief, Golden asserts the following: (1) the State did not show probable cause for his detention and (2) the trial court abused its discretion in setting excessive bonds. We reverse the judgments and render judgment that bail is set at $75,000 in trial court habeas cause number 1171883 and $50,000 in trial court habeas cause number 1171884.

Factual Background

Baytown police arrested Golden, on May 6, 2008, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. During a search, police discovered that Golden carried alleged controlled substances, and the State prepared proposed indictments the next day. In the first, cause number 1165978, the State proposes charging Golden with possession of cocaine weighing more than one gram and less than four grams by aggregate weight. In the second, case number 1165979, the State proposes charging Golden with possession of heroin weighing more than four grams and less than 400 grams. In both proposed indictments, the State alleges that these offenses are enhanced by Golden’s alleged earlier convictions of felony possession of a controlled substance in February 1986 and felony delivery of a controlled substance in January 1994.

Police advised Golden of the charges against him and that no bond was set in either case. Golden, representing himself, applied to the trial court for habeas corpus relief, requesting that the trial court set reasonable bail. On June 20, 2008, the trial court granted the writs and ordered that a hearing be held on June 80, 2008. At the beginning of the hearing, fifty-five days after arrest, the trial court noted that the return of the writs had not been made. The prosecutor acknowledged that the State had gone to the grand jury just that morning and both causes received a true bill.

[518]*518Golden called two witnesses and also testified on his own behalf. His wife, Janet Golden, testified that she and Golden live in Katy, Texas; that Golden owns a flooring business, which she is struggling to run in his absence; that a bonding company with which she consulted could make a five thousand dollar bond; that the bonding company felt that a five thousand dollar bond would be reasonable for the offense; and that she felt that Golden would make his parole visits and appearances before the court. Rick Harper testified that at times over the past few years he had given Golden flooring work to do on which Golden does a good job; that, if needed, he would assist Golden with employment and community support; that Golden has, and, if released, would, as he had in the past, work with Harper in doing substance abuse and alcohol abuse counseling. Harper also testified that he thinks Golden will make his court appearances. Golden testified about the circumstances of the police stop. The State introduced no evidence at the hearing.

Golden stated that the State had not shown probable cause for his detention and moved the trial court to dismiss the charges against him. The trial court denied the motion and set bond in each case at $200,000. Subsequently, the State supplemented the record with the two indictments, approved by the grand jury, and filed with the District Clerk on June 30, 2008.

Probable Cause for Detention

In his first ground for relief, Golden asserts that the trial court erred in not granting him liberty because the State presented no evidence at the hearing and thus failed to show probable cause for his detention. The State, however, supplemented the record with the returned indictments in both cases. The return of an indictment establishes probable cause as a matter of law. Ex parte Plumb, 595 S.W.2d 544, 545 (Tex.Crim.App.1980). We overrule the first ground for relief.

Propriety of Bail

In his second ground for relief, Golden asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in setting excessive bail of $200,000 for each drug possession charge. We review a trial court’s decision as to the appropriate amount of bail under an abuse of discretion standard. See Ex parte Rubac, 611 S.W.2d 848, 850 (Tex.Crim.App.1981); Ex parte Ruiz, 129 S.W.3d 751, 753 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.). In the exercise of its discretion, a trial court must consider the following statutory factors in setting bail:

1. The bail shall be sufficiently high to give reasonable assurance that a criminal defendant will appear at trial and comply with other court orders and conditions of the bond.
2. The power to require bail is not to be used as an instrument of oppression.
3. The nature of the offense and the circumstances of its commission.
4. The ability to make bail is to be regarded, and proof may be taken on this point.
5. The future safety of a victim of the alleged offense and the community.

See Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 17.15 (Vernon 2005); Ludwig v. State, 812 S.W.2d 323, 324 (Tex.Crim.App.1991) (noting that the court is “to be governed in the exercise of [its] discretion by the Constitution and by the article 17.15 factors”). The burden of proof is upon a defendant who claims bail is excessive. Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849; Ex parte Martinez-Velasco, 666 S.W.2d 613, 614 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, no pet.).

[519]*519The primary purpose for setting bond is to secure the presence of the defendant at his trial. Ex parte Vasquez, 558 S.W.2d 477, 479 (Tex.Crim.App.1977); Ex parte Bonilla, 742 S.W.2d 743, 744 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1987, no pet.). The amount of bail should be set sufficiently high to give reasonable assurance that the accused will comply with the undertaking, but should not be set so high as to be an instrument of oppression. Ex parte Bufkin, 553 S.W.2d 116, 118 (Tex.Crim.App.1977); Ex parte Willman, 695 S.W.2d 752, 753 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, no pet.). Courts should consider the defendant’s work record, family ties, length of residency, past criminal record, conformity with previous bond conditions, and other outstanding bonds. See Rubac, 611 S.W.2d at 849; see also Martinez-Velasco, 666 S.W.2d at 614-15.

Discussion

Golden introduced evidence of family ties and residency, namely that he is a businessman, residing in Katy, Texas with his wife, and before that time in Houston, Texas. Before his arrest, he attended drug and alcohol abuse counseling in the community.

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Bluebook (online)
288 S.W.3d 516, 2009 WL 618700, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/golden-v-state-texapp-2009.