James Anthony Gutierrez v. the State of Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: October 16, 2024
• Docket: 05-23-00118-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

Modified and Affirmed and Opinion Filed October 16, 2024

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-23-00118-CR

JAMES ANTHONY GUTIERREZ, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 366th Judicial District Court Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 366-81270-2021

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Molberg, Breedlove, and Kennedy Opinion by Justice Breedlove Appellant was convicted of aggravated assault after a jury trial and sentenced

by the trial court to life imprisonment. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02(a)(1). In

one issue, appellant argues that he was improperly charged costs of court. The State

agrees with appellant that the trial court’s judgment regarding costs of court were

incorrect but disagrees with appellant’s proposed modification. We conclude the

State is correct and that the judgment should be modified to reflect the proper court

costs. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified. BACKGROUND1

On May 18, 2022, a jury found appellant guilty of aggravated assault with a

deadly weapon. After a separate trial on punishment on the same day, the jury

sentenced appellant to life imprisonment. The written judgment reflects that

defendant pled “not guilty” to the offense and “true” to the enhancement paragraphs,

that the jury found appellant guilty, found both enhancements to be true, and

assessed a life sentence. The judgment also reflects a zero-dollar fine, and court costs

of $365.58.

The trial court signed a certification of appellant’s right to appeal, but an

appeal was not filed before the deadline. Appellate counsel filed an application for

writ of habeas corpus seeking an out of time appeal, which was joined by the State

and supported by the trial court. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 11.07. The

Court of Criminal Appeals granted relief, and mandate issued on February 8, 2023.

Appellant timely filed his notice of appeal to this Court on the same day. See TEX.

R. APP. P. 26.2(a).

DISCUSSION

In his sole issue, appellant argues that he was improperly charged costs of

court in this case and that the judgment should be modified to subtract $10.58 in

reimbursement fees because appellant asserts that the record does not reflect any

1 The facts of this case are well-known to the parties; therefore we include only those facts which are relevant to this appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1. –2– subpoenas or returns on subpoenas. The State agrees that the costs were improper

but disagrees with appellant’s calculation, instead arguing that on $5.00 of the

reimbursement fees should be subtracted. The Bill of Costs included with the

judgment includes the following:

Fee Description Amount Assessed

Court Costs Clerk Fee $40.00 Court Technology Fund $4.00 Courthouse Security $10.00 Jury Trial $1.00 Records Management Fee – District Clerk $25.00 Specialty Court County Fee $25.00 Warrants $50.00

Reimbursement Fees Approving Bond by Sheriff $10.00 Mileage Cons #3 $0.58 Subpoena Service Cons #1 $5.00 Subpoena Service Cons #3 $5.00 Ticket or Arrest without Warrant $5.00

Fines Reimbursement Fees $0.00

State Fees Consolidated Court Costs – Felony (1.1.20) $185.00

Total $365.58

Appellate courts may modify a trial court's judgment and affirm it as modified.

See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(b); Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27–28 (Tex. Crim. App.

1993). This Court “has the power to correct and reform the judgment of the court

–3– below to make the record speak the truth when it has the necessary data and

information to do so.” Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex. App.—Dallas

1991, writ ref’d). Appellate courts may reform trial court judgments where “the

evidence necessary to correct the judgment appears in the record.” Id.

Here, the record reflects that the State filed numerous applications for the

issuance of subpoenas, and that the docket sheet indicates that all of the applications

were “Issued.” However, the record only shows that one subpoena was served, a

subpoena for Medical City Plano served on June 29, 2021. The record also contains

evidence that a constable from Precinct 3 served a subpoena on Medical City Plano.

This evidence supports the $5.00 “Subpoena Service Cons #3” fee and the $0.58

“Mileage Cons #3” fee. We overrule appellant’s issue as to those fees. However,

there is no evidence in the record to support the service of a second subpoena;

therefore, we agree with both appellant and State that the “Subpoena Service Cons

#1” fee should be removed. We sustain appellant’s issue as to that fee and modify

the judgment to reflect $360.58 in total court costs.

CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.

230118f.u05 Do Not Publish TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b) /Maricela Breedlove/ MARICELA BREEDLOVE JUSTICE

–4– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT

JAMES ANTHONY GUTIERREZ, On Appeal from the 366th Judicial Appellant District Court, Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 366-81270- No. 05-23-00118-CR V. 2021. Opinion delivered by Justice THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Breedlove. Justices Molberg and Kennedy participating.

Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is MODIFIED as follows:

Replace "$365.58" under "Court Costs" with "$360.58".

As REFORMED, the judgment is AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 16th day of October, 2024.

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