Jerry Strange v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 5, 2016·No. 05-15-01327-CR·Published

Opinion

MODIFY and AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed October 5, 2016.

Court of Appeals

S In The

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-15-01326-CR

No. 05-15-01327-CR

JERRY STRANGE, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 3 Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause Nos. F15-54804-J & F15-71177-J

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Chief Justice Wright, Justice Fillmore, and Justice Brown Opinion by Justice Fillmore Without a plea agreement as to punishment, Jerry Strange pleaded guilty to attempted

theft of property with a value less than $200,000 and theft of property with a value of less than $200,000, both offenses involving an automated teller machine (ATM). 1 He also pleaded true to the enhancement paragraph in each indictment. The trial court found Strange guilty of both offenses and that the enhancement paragraphs were true and assessed punishment of twenty years’ imprisonment on each offense and a fine of $1000 on the theft case. In his first point of error, Strange argues his guilty pleas were involuntary because he did not understand the nature of the charges or the range of punishment applicable to each offense. In three remaining points

1 See Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., ch. 900, § 1.01, 1993 Tex. Gen. Laws 3586, 3636–38, amended by Act of May 9, 2011, 82d Leg., R.S., ch. 120, § 1, 2011 Tex. Gen. Laws 608, 609, amended by Act of May 31, 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., ch. 1251, § 10, 2015 Tex. Gen. Laws 4209, 4214 (codified at TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03(a), (e)(6)(B)) .

of error, Strange requests we modify the judgment in the attempted theft case to accurately reflect the trial court proceedings. We modify the trial court’s judgments in both cases and, as modified, affirm the judgments.

Background

Strange was charged with theft of property with a value of less than $200,000 involving an ATM, a second degree felony, see Act of May 9, 2011, 82d Leg., R.S., ch 120, § 1, 2011 Tex. Gen. Laws 608, 609 (codified at TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03(a), (e)(6)(B)), and with attempted theft of property with a value of less than $200,000 involving an ATM, a third degree felony. See id.; TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 15.01(d) (West 2011). 2 The indictment for each offense also contained two enhancement paragraphs based on Strange’s prior felony convictions for tampering with a governmental record and burglary of a habitation that, if proved, increased the possible punishment range for each offense to imprisonment for life, or for any term between twenty-five and ninety-nine years. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.42(d) (West Supp. 2015).

At the admonishment hearing on September 23, 2015, the trial court informed Strange that he was charged with two offenses and then stated, incorrectly, that “both [were] theft of property less than 200 ATM” and were second degree felonies. The trial court correctly admonished Strange that if the State proved the alleged enhancement paragraphs in each case, “the range of punishment becomes 25 to 99 years or life.” Strange indicated he understood the range of punishment.

The trial court admonished Strange that his options were to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges and, if he chose to plead guilty, Strange could accept the State’s recommendation as to punishment. The prosecutor stated he was recommending twenty-five years’ imprisonment.

2 Effective September 1, 2015, the Legislature amended the penal code to increase the value of property constituting an element of second degree felony theft involving an ATM from less than $200,000 to less than $300,000. See Act of May 31, 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., ch. 1251, § 21, 2015 Tex. Gen. Laws 4208, 4217.

Strange indicated he understood the State was offering the minimum punishment available if the State proved he committed the offenses and the allegations contained in the enhancement paragraphs.

The trial court explained to Strange that he was not required to accept the State’s recommendation and could enter an open plea of guilty and request that the court assess punishment. The trial court informed Strange that, under this option, it could consider the “full range of punishment, that being 25 to life,” but could also place him on probation, if appropriate. The trial court admonished Strange that his third option was to plead guilty and request that a jury assess punishment. However, the jury could not give Strange probation and would be required to assess punishment “between 25 and life.” The trial court informed Strange that his final option was to plead not guilty and proceed to trial.

Strange indicated he understood these options and stated he “was trying to see” if he could get probation because his mother was ill. The trial court asked if Strange wanted to “go open to me and see if you can get probation,” and Strange responded affirmatively. The trial court clarified that Strange was “taking a chance” because, after hearing the evidence, the trial court could decide to place him on probation or assess punishment of up to life imprisonment. Strange indicated he understood and wanted to pursue that option. The trial court recessed the hearing to allow Strange to speak with his attorney.

On September 30, 2015, the State filed a motion in each case to strike the second enhancement paragraph. The trial court held a plea hearing that same day. The trial court stated that Strange was there on two charges, and the first charge was “Theft of Property less than 200,000 ATM,” and it understood there was an agreement that Strange would plead guilty to attempted theft in that case. The trial court then admonished Strange that the offense would normally be a state jail felony but, because of the enhancement paragraph, it was a third degree

felony. At this point, the prosecutor clarified for the trial court that the offense had been indicted as attempted theft, not theft. The trial court noted “the problem is with the form; it says F2 at the top.” The prosecutor stated the language of the indictment was for an attempt, and it was a “felony 3 with a paragraph.” The trial court then explained to Strange that attempted theft of an ATM machine was a third degree felony, but “the paragraph makes it a second-degree felony.” Strange indicated he understood.

The trial court stated it was confused and asked the prosecutor whether the offense as pleaded was a third degree or second degree felony. The prosecutor responded it was a third degree felony with one enhancement paragraph. The trial court said, “So it’s a second-degree.” The prosecutor responded, “That’s correct.” The trial court said, “That’s where the confusion comes in” and again asked if the offense of attempted theft of an ATM was a second degree felony. Strange’s counsel said, “Third-degree.” The trial court responded, “And then with the paragraph, it becomes a second-degree.” The trial court asked Strange if he understood, and he responded, “Yes, ma’am.”

The trial court then turned to the second case, the “theft of an ATM,” and stated “it’s a first-degree with a paragraph.” Both the prosecutor and defense counsel responded that the offense was a second degree felony with an enhancement paragraph. The trial court responded, “Which makes it a first.” The prosecutor stated, “[I]n total, he will be pleading guilty in a punishment range of one first-degree and one second-degree.” The trial court responded, “See, that’s where the confusion is, because you-all have a second-degree and a third-degree when it’s really a first-degree and a second-degree that he’s pleading to.”

The trial court admonished Strange:

So on the F15-54804, you’re pleading guilty to a second-degree felony with a paragraph. The paragraph makes it a second-degree felony.

The range of punishment is two to ten years in the penitentiary and a fine of up to $10,000.

Do you understand that?

Strange responded that he understood. The trial court continued:

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