Housewright v. State

573 S.W.2d 233, 1978 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1377
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 15, 1978
Docket55651
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 573 S.W.2d 233 (Housewright v. State) 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
Housewright v. State, 573 S.W.2d 233, 1978 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1377 (Tex. 1978).

Opinions

[234]*234OPINION

ONION, Presiding Judge.

This is an appeal from a conviction for knowingly and intentionally possessing a usable quantity of marihuana in an amount of less than two ounces. Punishment was assessed at 30 days in jail.

In our prior opinion of September 14, 1977, we concluded that the sentence in the instant case had been prematurely pronounced and dismissed the appeal. Upon reconsideration, that opinion is now ordered withdrawn; and, for the reasons to be stated below, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Article 42.03, Sec. 1, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., governs the time for pronouncing sentence. It provides that “sentence shall be pronounced in the presence of the defendant except when his presence is not required by Article 42.02 at any time after the expiration of the time allowed for making the motion for a new trial or the motion in arrest of judgment.” Article 40.05, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., governs the time for filing a motion for new trial, and Article 41.02, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., governs the time for making a motion in arrest of judgment. Numerous decisions of this Court have held that a sentence, as defined by Article 42.02, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., should not be pronounced until after the expiration of the time for making a motion for new trial or motion in arrest of judgment, unless such time is waived by the defendant. Many of these cases are cited in Ex parte Shields, 550 S.W.2d 670 (Tex.Cr.App.1976). In Shields, on State’s motion for rehearing, we discussed the question of whether an untimely pronounced sentence could be collaterally attacked. There we stated:

“After due consideration, we hold that a sentence untimely pronounced results in an irregularity in the proceedings and renders the sentence voidable as opposed to void. Such irregularly pronounced sentence is not to be equated with the failure to pronounce sentence with regard to the jurisdiction of this court. Prior decisions so indicating were in error. If an attack is made upon such voidable sentence on direct appeal or the matter is called to the attention of this court in any manner while the appeal is pending, the appeal will be dismissed. If no appeal is taken or if the matter of untimely pronounced sentence is not called to the appellate court’s attention in any manner on appeal, such voidable only sentence will not be subject to collateral attack by habeas corpus proceedings or otherwise.”

The only thing in the record before us to suggest that sentence may have been untimely pronounced in the instant case is [235]*235that it was pronounced on December 16, 1976, which was the same day appellant was convicted and judgment was entered. The only indication of a waiver of the time allowed for filing a motion for new trial or motion in arrest of judgment is an instrument that was filed at the time of appellant’s guilty plea, but before the finding of guilt, assessment of punishment, and entry of judgment. If this were the only purported waiver of the time allowed to file such motions, it would be premature and ineffective. McConathy v. State, 545 S.W.2d 781 (Tex.Cr.App.1976). Neither the court’s docket sheet nor the sentence reflects that appellant waived the time in which to file a motion for new trial or make a motion in arrest of judgment. While it would be the better and recommended practice for them to so reflect, we know of no authority which requires the docket sheet or the sentence to reflect a waiver of the time to file such motions.

Both Articles 42.02 and 42.03, supra, which deal with the imposition of sentence, are procedural in nature. See also Article 42.04, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., which provides that sentence shall be pronounced before an appeal is taken, except in certain specified cases not here applicable. In Green v. State, 510 S.W.2d 919 (Tex.Cr.App.1974), it was contended that the trial court erred in permitting the jury to separate after being charged without the consent of the defendant, in violation of Article 35.23, Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P. That contention, however, was found to be utterly without foundation in the record. There we stated:

. . We have repeatedly held that, where the record is silent, there is a presumption that procedural rules were complied with. See, e. g., Davis v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 507 S.W.2d 740 (presumed that proper number of jurors impaneled); Bishop v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 507 S.W.2d 745 (indictment presumed filed after commission of alleged offenses); Lewis v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 501 S.W.2d 88 (procedural requirements on convictions in enhancement counts presumed); Haas v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 498 S.W.2d 206 (exercise of discretion in allowing witness who violated rule to testify presumed properly exercised); Arnold v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 486 S.W.2d 345 (venue proven and jury properly impaneled and sworn are presumed); Ex parte Rocha, Tex.Cr.App., 482 S.W.2d 169 (regularity of judgment presumed on habeas corpus); Morgan v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 470 S.W.2d 877 (notice prior to introduction of bill in the Legislature presumed); Lipscomb v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 467 S.W.2d 417 (compliance with Article 36.27, V.A.C.C.P., presumed). Where procedural requirements do not affirmatively appear in the record to have been violated, a presumption of regularity must prevail.” [Footnote omitted.]

See also McCloud v. State, 527 S.W.2d 885 (Tex.Cr.App.1975), where it is stated:

“. . . It is a cardinal rule of appellate procedure in this State that we must indulge every presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings and documents in the lower court.” See also Clopton v. State, 563 S.W.2d 930 (Tex.Cr.App.1978).

The instant appeal appears to have been taken for the purposes of delay only. The record before us consists only of the trial court clerk’s transcript. There is no transcription of the court reporter’s notes or formal bills of exception. No brief was filed in the trial court in appellant’s behalf in accordance with Article 40.09(9), Vernon’s Ann.C.C.P., and none has been filed here. There is no showing of indigency. Consequently, on the record before us we are unable to determine whether sentence was pronounced in an untimely fashion or whether sentence was pronounced after a waiver by appellant of the time for filing a motion for new trial or making a motion in arrest of judgment.

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Related

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683 S.W.2d 446 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1985)
Breazeale v. State
655 S.W.2d 230 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1983)
Ex Parte Reed
610 S.W.2d 495 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1981)
Coleman v. State
577 S.W.2d 486 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1979)
Housewright v. State
573 S.W.2d 233 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1978)
Parr v. State
575 S.W.2d 522 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
573 S.W.2d 233, 1978 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1377, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/housewright-v-state-texcrimapp-1978.