In The Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
No. 06-12-00110-CR
JOSEPH MICHAEL WEEKS, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 217th District Court Angelina County, Texas Trial Court No. CR-30250
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ. Memorandum Opinion by Justice Moseley MEMORANDUM OPINION Joseph Michael Weeks appeals the revocation of his community supervision and
eighteen-year sentence. 1 In the underlying case, the State had accused the then nineteen-year-old
Weeks of sexual activities with two girls, each of whom was less than seventeen years of age.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, 2 Weeks waived his right to indictment by a grand jury and entered
a plea of guilty to one second degree felony count of injury to a child and two third degree felony
counts of injury to a child. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.04 (West Supp. 2012). Weeks was
duly admonished (both orally and in writing). The written admonishments include the following
handwritten admonishment: “sex offender terms & conditions as specified in the Community
Supervision order.” An order dated July 14, 2011, was entered in accord with the plea
agreement wherein Weeks was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for ten
years.
The community supervision order prohibited Weeks from ingesting alcohol, viewing
pornography, using the internet to access obscene material, and extremely limiting him from
having any contact with any child who was seventeen years of age or younger and prohibiting
him from spending the night at any place that such children reside (except for Weeks’ sixteen-
year-old step-sister). Five days later, July 19, 2011, the trial court signed an order requiring
Weeks to participate in “the Specialized Caseload for Sex Offenders” and “submit to the Abel
Assessment, polygraph examinations and/or any other evaluative examinations or assessments as
1 Originally appealed to the Tyler Court of Appeals, this case was transferred to this Court by the Texas Supreme Court pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West 2005). We are unaware of any conflict between precedent of the Tyler Court of Appeals and that of this Court on any relevant issue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3. 2 We note the terms of this plea bargain are not contained in the record. At the beginning of the revocation hearing, the trial court stated, “There was a plea bargain for ten years deferred adjudication and with specific conditions.” 2 directed by the supervision officer.” The following day, July 20, 2011, the trial court signed an
order deleting the exception pertaining to Weeks having contact with his sixteen-year-old step-
sister.
On December 15, 2011, the State filed a motion wherein it sought to have Weeks’
community supervision revoked and his guilt adjudicated. The State alleged that Weeks had
violated the terms of his community supervision by (1) using and possessing alcohol
approximately twenty-five times between October 10, 2011, and November 6, 2011, (2) failing
to attend counseling on December 12, 2011, (3) associating with felony probationers, (4) viewing
pornography “between 3–7 times per week,” (5) accessing the internet without first having
obtained clearance to do so, (6) having contact with his step-sister, and (7) failing to pay various
fees. Weeks entered a plea of “true” to all of the State’s allegations, following which, on April
18, 2012, the trial court found Weeks guilty of all three counts of injury to a child and sentenced
Weeks to eighteen years’ imprisonment for each count. Weeks timely filed a motion for new
trial in which he complained for the first time about the July 20, 2011, amendment to the terms
of his community supervision.
On appeal, Weeks raises five issues. Weeks asserts that (1) the trial court erred in
denying his motion for new trial, (2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel, (3) the trial
court erred in having the terms of his community supervision conditions include various ones
(including prohibiting him from having contact with his step-sister) usually reserved for those in
sex offender status, alleging that the trial court erred in using the violation of those conditions to
revoke his community supervision on those conditions, and (4) the eighteen-year sentence
imposed by the trial court constitutes Constitutionally-proscribed cruel and unusual punishment.
3 (1) Weeks Failed to Preserve Error on His Motion for New Trial Issue
Weeks’ first issue contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial.
We agree with the State’s contention that Weeks has failed to preserve any alleged error in
regard to this claim because Weeks failed to present the motion to the trial court or otherwise
draw the trial court’s attention to the motion within the time prescribed. Rule 21.6 of the Texas
Rules of Appellate Procedure provides:
The defendant must present the motion for new trial to the trial court within 10 days of filing it, unless the trial court in its discretion permits it to be presented and heard within 75 days from the date when the court imposes or suspends sentence in open court.
TEX. R. APP. P. 21.6. Although the record does reflect that Weeks did file his motion for new
trial in a timely manner, there is nothing in the record to show that he did anything to draw the
trial court’s attention to his desire to obtain a ruling on that motion. Because the record does not
show that Weeks presented this motion to the trial court, error has not been preserved for
appellate review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 21.6, 33.1; see also Means v. State, 347 S.W.3d 873, 874
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, no pet.); Laboriel-Guity v. State, 336 S.W.3d 754, 756 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet. ref’d).
We overrule Weeks’ first issue.
(2) Claims of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Weeks contends, in his second issue, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance
of counsel in quite a number of respects, to-wit: (1) by failing to confer with him, (2) by failing
to transmit Weeks’ plea bargain offers made by the State, (3) by failing to properly investigate
the case against Weeks, (4) by permitting Weeks to plead “true” to some of the allegations,
4 (5) by not bringing a challenge to the validity of the sex-offender requirements and other
amended conditions of community supervision, (6) by failing to object to the introduction of
statements made by Weeks during a polygraph examination, (7) by failing to object to statements
made by Weeks which he alleged were subject to the physician-patient privilege, and (8) by not
objecting to evidence that Weeks viewed pornography on the basis that the evidence was more
prejudicial than probative. 3
The standard of testing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel is set out in Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To prevail on this claim, an appellant must prove by a
preponderance of the evidence (1) that his counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness and (2) that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Id. at
688; Rosales v. State, 4 S.W.3d 228, 231 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). “An ineffective-assistance
claim may be brought for the first time on appeal.” Cannon v. State, 252 S.W.3d 342, 347 n.6
(Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
To meet this burden, the appellant must prove that the attorney’s representation fell
below the standard of prevailing professional norms and that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for the attorney’s deficiency, the result of the trial would have been different. Ex parte
Martinez, 195 S.W.3d 713, 730 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Tong v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707, 712
3 We note that the State argues that this point of error is multifarious. This Court has repeatedly cautioned litigants against combining multiple issues into a single point of error, thereby risking our overruling the composite point of error as multifarious. See, e.g., Dickey v. State, 189 S.W.3d 339, 341 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, no pet.); Newby v. State, 169 S.W.3d 413, 414 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005, pet. ref’d); Harris v. State, 133 S.W.3d 760, 764 n.3 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. ref’d); Parra v. State, 935 S.W.2d 862, 875 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1996, pet. ref’d). In this case, although Weeks’ discussion of this point is lengthy, all of the discussion centers upon a single issue: the alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. We note that ineffective assistance claims can be based on the cumulative effect of multiple errors. See Chamberlain v. State, 998 S.W.2d 230, 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). Further, an issue is not multifarious because it is lengthy or complicated. Although unnecessary length or complexity can sometimes make an issue annoying, it does not necessarily make it multifarious. Weeks’ second issue is not multifarious. 5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The burden is on the claimant to show that counsel’s lack of effective
representation so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial
cannot be relied on as having produced a just result. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686. The
ineffectiveness of counsel is a matter that must be firmly founded in the record, and the record
must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness. Smith v. State, 51 S.W.3d 806, 813
(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2001, no pet.). Trial counsel’s effectiveness is assessed from the
perspective at trial, “without the distorting effects of hindsight.” Goodspeed v. State, 187
S.W.3d 390, 392 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
“If counsel’s reasons for his conduct do not appear in the record and there is at least the
possibility that the conduct could have been legitimate trial strategy, we will defer to counsel’s
decisions and deny relief on an ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal.” Ortiz v. State, 93
S.W.3d 79, 88–89 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has instructed,
“[T]he presumption that trial counsel’s performance was reasonably based in sound trial strategy,
coupled with the absence of any supporting evidence in the record of unreasonableness, compels
a reviewing court to consider ways in which trial counsel’s actions were within the bounds of
professional norms.” Mata v. State, 226 S.W.3d 425, 431 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Thus, we
must include an analysis of the ways in which specific acts or omissions on the part of trial
counsel might conceivably be deemed to be within the bounds of professional norms in our
opinion. Bryant v. State, 282 S.W.3d 156, 168 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2009, pet. ref’d).
6 A. The Record Does Not Support a Finding of Deficient Performance for Failing to Confer with Weeks, for Not Relaying any Plea Bargain Offers, or for Not Investigating the Case
Weeks first argues his counsel’s performance was deficient because he failed to
sufficiently communicate with Weeks, failed to investigate the facts of the case, and failed to
inform Weeks about any plea bargain offers which had been made. The only support for these
allegations in the record is Weeks’ affidavit attached to his motion for new trial.
We initially note that post-judgment motions are not self-proving, and “any allegations
made in support of them by way of affidavit or otherwise must be offered into evidence at a
hearing.” Rouse v. State, 300 S.W.3d 754, 762 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Although the affidavit
can be introduced as evidence at the hearing, the State must be afforded “an opportunity to
respond to these allegations before a conviction is reversed on their basis.” Id. Further, “[t]he
trial court is free to disbelieve an affidavit, especially one unsupported by live testimony.” Riley
v. State, 378 S.W.3d 453, 457 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). Other than Weeks’ affidavit (which
stood alone, unsupported by live testimony), there is no evidence that Weeks’ trial counsel failed
to investigate the case, failed to sufficiently communicate with his client, or failed to inform
Weeks of plea bargain offers.
Even if Weeks’ affidavit is accepted as completely true, the record before us neither
demonstrates that there were actually any plea bargain offers made by the State that existed
which remained uncommunicated nor that the allegations of failure to communicate or any
alleged failure to investigate resulted in any harm to Weeks. Counsel cannot be ineffective for
failing to inform Weeks about nonexistent plea bargain offers. The record contains no support
for the conclusion that any lack of communication between lawyer and client prejudiced Weeks.
7 Weeks alleges in the affidavit that he “would have had many witnesses to talk about my family,
education, schools attended, family life . . . .” 4 As we have repeatedly stated before, an asserted
claim of ineffective assistance based on trial counsel’s failure to call a witness cannot succeed
absent a showing that the particular witness alleged was (a) available to testify and (b) that the
witness’ testimony would have benefitted the defense. See Ex parte Ramirez, 280 S.W.3d 848,
853 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (per curiam); Barnett v. State, 344 S.W.3d 6, 14 (Tex. App.—
Texarkana 2011, pet. ref’d). A general allegation that witnesses existed is insufficient. The
record does not support Weeks’ claim of deficient performance.
B. Impact of Weighing Actions of Trial Counsel by Considering Existence of Strategy
Weeks argues his counsel was ineffective by permitting him to plead “true” and argues
that “[a] lack of advocacy results in a breakdown in the adversarial system.” The State responds
that the decision to plead “true” may have been reasonable strategy designed to mitigate
punishment. In the absence of direct evidence of counsel’s reasons for the challenged conduct,
we will assume a strategic motivation if any reasonable strategy can be imagined. Garcia v.
State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). We note the trial court has discretion to
continue or modify the terms and conditions of community supervision in lieu of revocation. See
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, §§ 11(a), 22(a) (West Supp. 2012).
As discussed below, Weeks argues that the sex-offender community supervision
conditions and the amendments to the terms of his community supervision that occurred without
notice and a hearing are invalid and cannot support revocation. Weeks cites Ex parte Evans, 338
4 We note the record reflects that Weeks was able to maintain steady employment and graduated from high school with “a GPA over 4.0.” 8 S.W.3d 545 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011), in support of this argument. Evans held that the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institutions Division violated due process by
imposing sex-offender conditions, including registration, on inmates released on parole who
were not serving sentences for sex crimes. Id. at 551. The extent Evans is applicable to the facts
of this case is not clear. It is not necessary, however, for us to determine whether due process is
violated when sex-offender community supervision conditions, not including registration, are
imposed by a trial court on a defendant who has not been convicted of a sex crime. As an
unsettled issue of law, trial counsel’s decision not to challenge these conditions could have been
a strategic choice. Weeks has failed to demonstrate deficient performance for not objecting to
the conditions of community supervision. Along the same vein, Weeks has not shown that his
trial counsel’s decision to plead “true” was prompted by anything other than strategic
consideration.
Weeks makes several generic complaints about trial counsel’s failure to object to
prejudicial evidence. Specifically, Weeks contends that the evidence he viewed pornography
and consumed alcohol was introduced without objection by Weeks’ counsel, notwithstanding
their highly prejudicial nature. Out of an abundance of caution, we will treat these complaints as
arguing that counsel was ineffective for failing to object, under Rule 403, that the probative
value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. See TEX. R. EVID. 403.
Weeks’ trial counsel may have concluded the chance of the trial court concluding that unfair
prejudice outweighed the probative value was small and the better strategy was not to object.
The determination regarding Weeks’ fate was being made by a judge, not by a jury; one should
remember many good attorneys consider that a judge is less likely to be swayed by matters
9 involving mostly prejudicial matters than a jury would be. When the record does not contain
direct evidence of an attorney’s thought processes and conclusions, appellate courts must
“assume that counsel had a strategy if any reasonably sound strategic motivation can be
imagined.” Lopez v. State, 343 S.W.3d 137, 143 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). Because the failure to
object could have been based on trial strategy, we must presume counsel’s performance was
adequate.
When, as in this case, there is no proper evidentiary record developed at a post-conviction
hearing, it is extremely difficult to show trial counsel’s performance was deficient. Thompson v.
State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813–14 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
The right to effective assistance of counsel does not mean counsel’s performance must be
errorless. See Ingham v. State, 679 S.W.2d 503, 509 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). The record does
not support a conclusion that Weeks’ trial counsel’s performance was outside the bounds of
professional norms. Weeks has failed to establish his trial counsel rendered deficient
performance—and has certainly not established the result of the trial would have been different.
C. Because the Admissions Made by Weeks During the Polygraph Examination Were Admissible, the Record Supports no Finding of Deficient Performance in Failing to Challenge Their Introduction
Weeks argues that the results of polygraph examinations are not admissible unless the
results are part of an expert’s opinion. The State correctly argues in response that although the
results of a polygraph test (i.e., the conclusions drawn from such a test) are inadmissible, any
admissions made by the person being tested during such an examination are generally
admissible. See Harty v. State, 229 S.W.3d 849, 851 n.2 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007, pet.
10 ref’d). “The failure to object to admissible evidence is not ineffective assistance.” Burruss v.
State, 20 S.W.3d 179, 188 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000, pet. ref’d).
D. The Record Does Not Support a Finding of Deficient Performance Because the Physician-Patient Privilege Did Not Apply
Weeks argues his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object to the
admission of statements he made to various mental health professionals and to the reports those
mental health professionals made to the trial court. Weeks argues these statements and reports
should have been privileged under the physician-patient privilege. See TEX. R. EVID. 509. As
noted by the State, the physician-patient privilege has a very limited scope in criminal
proceedings, applying only to “a communication to any person involved in the treatment or
examination of alcohol or drug abuse by a person being treated voluntarily or being examined for
admission to treatment for alcohol or drug abuse . . . .” TEX. R. EVID. 509.
Weeks argues that because the statements concerned alcohol abuse, they were subject to
privilege even though they were given to his sex counselor during court-ordered treatment. The
record does not support this position. Neither of the statements was given by Weeks during the
“voluntary” treatment required by Rule 509 because Weeks was undergoing court-ordered
counseling, not voluntary counseling. See id. Further, the primary purpose of the counseling
was not centered on treatment for abuse of alcohol by Weeks but, rather, to address Weeks’
sexual problems. See Tatum v. State, 919 S.W.2d 910, 913 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1996, no
pet.) (alcohol or drug abuse statements made during counseling as sex offender not privileged).
The statements and reports about which Weeks complains are not privileged under the
physician-patient privilege, and Weeks’ trial counsel’s failure to object on the ground of an
11 incorrect legal theory did not constitute ineffective assistance. We find no merit in Weeks’ claim
of ineffective assistance of counsel.
(3) Any Claim of Error Concerning an Invalid Community Supervision Condition Has Not Been Preserved
In his third issue, Weeks complains of the imposition of sex-offender community
supervision conditions (prohibiting Weeks from having contact with his own step-sister and
otherwise amending the conditions of community supervision) by the trial court without notice
or a hearing. Weeks argues that the trial court “treated Weeks as if he were a sex offender which
allows specific conditions under Article 42.12 § 9A and 13B.” Under these conditions as
imposed, Weeks was required to submit to polygraph examinations and the admissions made
during one of these examinations were used to revoke Weeks’ community supervision. Citing
Evans, 338 S.W.3d 545, Weeks argues his due process rights were violated because the trial
court was obligated to give him notice and a hearing when it (1) amended the conditions to place
Weeks on the Specialized Caseload for Sex Offenders and (2) amended the conditions to prohibit
Weeks from having contact with his step-sister. 5
We first note that these complaints were not presented to the trial court except in a
motion for new trial––a motion which we previously noted had been filed, but for which there is
no evidence that it was presented to or called to the attention of the trial court. Although a
motion for new trial can preserve error for appellate review if presented to the trial court for a
5 We note the record contains a third amendment signed on September 22, 2011, which orders Weeks to serve ten days’ imprisonment with work release. Weeks does not complain about a lack of notice and hearing for the September 22, 2011, amendment.
12 ruling, 6 Weeks merely filed his motion without ever presenting it to the trial court for a ruling.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 21.6, 33.1. Thus, we must determine whether error has been preserved for
appellate review before addressing the merits of Weeks’ complaints.
The State cites Speth v. State, 6 S.W.3d 530 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999), in support of its
argument that error is not preserved. In Speth, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that a
defendant cannot complain about a condition of community supervision for the first time on
appeal. Id. at 535. A trial court has broad discretion in determining the conditions of the
supervision and “may impose any reasonable condition that is designed to protect or restore the
community, protect or restore the victim, or punish, rehabilitate, or reform the defendant.” TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 11 (West Supp. 2012). The Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals reasoned:
An award of community supervision is not a right, but a contractual privilege, and conditions thereof are terms of the contract entered into between the trial court and the defendant. Therefore, conditions not objected to are affirmatively accepted as terms of the contract. Thus, by entering into the contractual relationship without objection, a defendant affirmatively waives any rights encroached upon by the terms of the contract. A defendant who benefits from the contractual privilege of probation, the granting of which does not involve a systemic right or prohibition, must complain at trial to conditions he finds objectionable. A trial objection allows the trial court the opportunity to either risk abusing his discretion by imposing the condition over objection or reconsider the desirability of the contract without the objectionable condition.
Speth, 6 S.W.3d at 534–35 (footnotes omitted).
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, though, has recently clarified Speth and
recognized that procedural default does not occur if the right is a systemic or absolute right and
neither estoppel by contract nor estoppel by judgment applies. Gutierrez v. State, 380 S.W.3d
6 Gillenwaters v. State, 205 S.W.3d 534, 537 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). 13 167, 177 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). In Gutierrez, the trial court ordered voluntary deportation as a
condition of community supervision. Id. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that
voluntary deportation was a condition that “the criminal justice system simply finds intolerable.”
Id. at 176. We do not believe that the conditions at issue in this case rise to the same level of
intolerance.
In Marin v. State, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that “our system may be
thought to contain rules of three distinct kinds: (1) absolute requirements and prohibitions;
(2) rights of litigants which must be implemented by the system unless expressly waived; and
(3) rights of litigants which are to be implemented upon request.” Marin v. State, 851 S.W.2d
275, 279 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993), modified on other grounds by Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262,
264 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (Except for structural errors, “no error . . . is categorically immune
to a harmless error analysis.”). “All but the most fundamental rights are thought to be forfeited if
not insisted upon by the party to whom they belong[,]” including “[m]any constitutional rights.” 7
Absolute requirements and prohibitions include jurisdictional issues and the Separation of
7 Marin, 851 S.W.2d at 279; see State v. Moore, 225 S.W.3d 556, 569–70 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (State forfeited prohibition against late-filed amendments to motions for new trial by failing to object); Fuller v. State, 253 S.W.3d 220, 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) (admissibility of evidence, even if constitutional rights are implicated, is forfeitable right).
14 Powers Section of the Texas Constitution.8 Examples of rights that are waivable-only include
the rights to the assistance of counsel and to trial by jury. 9
None of Weeks’ complaints are jurisdictional in nature or ones which infringe on the
separation of powers doctrine. In Gutierrez, the offensive condition of probation (deportation)
was preempted by federal law under the Supremacy Clause and violated “an explicit and
unqualified state constitutional prohibition” against banishment as punishment for a crime.
Gutierrez, 380 S.W.3d at 176–77; see TEX. CONST. art. I, § 20. The court harmonized
Hernandez v. State, 613 S.W.2d 287, 289 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op. 1980) (op. on reh’g), with
Speth, 6 S.W.3d at 534, by concluding conditions of probation (i.e., community supervision) “so
antithetical to the aims of the justice system as a whole as to be intolerable” are “not subject to
agreement by the parties.” Gutierrez, 380 S.W.3d at 176. Although noting conditions of
community supervision are generally regarded as contracts, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
recognized that there are absolute rights that are not subject to procedural default even as
conditions of community supervision. Id.
We do not believe the alleged violations about which Weeks complains are intolerable to
the justice system. It is uncontested that Weeks committed sexual assault of a child. Although
Weeks received a lenient plea agreement which permitted him to enter a plea to a crime that was
8 Saldano v. State, 70 S.W.3d 873, 888 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002), modified sub silencio by Karenev v. State, 281 S.W.3d 428, 434 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009) (“a defendant may not raise for the first time on appeal a facial challenge to the constitutionality of a statute”); see Gutierrez v. State, 380 S.W.3d 167, 177 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (“a condition of community supervision that effectively operates to deport a probationer violates an absolute prohibition and is therefore not subject to ordinary principles of waiver or procedural default.”); Menefee v. State, No. 12-07- 00001-CR, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 6665 (Tex. App.—Tyler Aug. 18, 2010, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (concluding Article 1.15 is absolute right). 9 Saldano, 70 S.W.3d at 888; cf. Phillips v. State, 362 S.W.3d 606 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (ex post facto violation not forfeitable right). 15 not classified as a sex crime, our justice system can tolerate a contract, under such circumstances,
which requires conditions normally applicable only to sex offenders. We note the written
admonishments signed by Weeks included the following handwritten admonishment: “sex
offender terms & conditions as specified in the Community Supervision order.” We do not
believe that a prohibition against having contact with his underage step-sister is an intolerable
condition which is not subject to procedural default. Finally, Weeks complains that due process
was violated when the trial court added additional conditions, without notice and hearing,
approximately a week after placing him on community supervision. Although the constitutional
right to due process is an important right, it is a right that can be procedurally defaulted. Hull v.
State, 67 S.W.3d 215, 216–18 & n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (recognizing procedural default of
argument that “‘zero tolerance’ probation is a violation of due process”). We conclude that none
of Weeks’ complaints concern nonwaivable absolute rights.
Even if the conditions about which Weeks complained are systemic absolute rights, we
conclude that the doctrine of estoppel by judgment bars Weeks’ complaints. In Gutierrez, the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reaffirmed that the estoppel recognized in Rhodes v. State, 240
S.W.3d 882, 891 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007), can “trump even Marin’s category of non-
forfeitable/non-waivable absolute requirements or prohibitions.” Gutierrez, 380 S.W.3d at 177;
see Saldano, 70 S.W.3d at 888 & n.69 (concluding estoppel can override absolute rights). The
doctrine of estoppel by judgment provides, “One who accepts the benefits of a judgment, decree,
or judicial order is estopped to deny the validity or propriety thereof, or of any part thereof, on
any grounds; nor can he reject its burdensome consequences.” Rhodes, 240 S.W.3d at 891
(quoting 31 C.J.S. Estoppel & Waiver § 130). Unlike Gutierrez, there is no evidence that Weeks
16 acted under financial duress. The record, rather, supports a conclusion that Weeks voluntarily
accepted the benefits of the trial court’s judgment and lodged no complaint until after his
community supervision had been revoked. Even if the rights which he complains were violated
are absolute, the estoppel by judgment doctrine would prevent Weeks from raising these issues. 10
The limited exception recognized in Gutierrez does not apply here; therefore, Weeks’
failure to timely object in the trial court resulted in a procedural default. Any error has not been
preserved for appellate review.
(4) The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Revoking
In his fourth issue, Weeks argues that the trial court abused its discretion in revoking his
community supervision. Weeks concedes that he pled “true” to all the State’s allegations, but
Weeks argues that most of the violations were those involving invalid sex-offender conditions.
Weeks argues that the consumption of alcohol violations were only discovered because of the
invalid sex-offender conditions. 11 In his final argument, Weeks argues that the remaining
conditions were too minor to support revocation alone, particularly when one considers the
above-mentioned due process violations. We review the trial court’s decision on revocation for
an abuse of discretion. Rickels v. State, 202 S.W.3d 759, 763 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
As argued by the State, a trial court does not abuse its discretion to revoke a defendant’s
community supervision if the State presents sufficient evidence that the defendant violated at
10 We note that the doctrine of estoppel by contract might apply. Since the terms of the plea agreement entered into when Weeks pled guilty to the offenses are not contained in the appellate record, we leave this issue for another day. 11 We note Lisa Paige, a supervision officer for Angelina County Adult Probation, testified she observed, during a field visit, Weeks at the residence of two felony probationers. Empty alcohol containers were present, but Weeks passed an “ETG test.” During a subsequent polygraph examination, Weeks admitted to twenty-five counts of alcohol use and admitted to drinking the night he was discovered by Paige at the home of two felony probationers.
17 least one term of the community supervision agreement 12 as alleged in the State’s motion to
revoke. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 21 (West Supp. 2012); Moore v. State, 605
S.W.2d 924, 926 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1980); In re T.R.S., 115 S.W.3d 318, 321 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.). As discussed above, any complaint concerning the conditions
of community supervision has not been preserved for appellate review. Weeks entered a plea of
“true” to all of the State’s allegations regarding violations. With a few limited exceptions not
applicable here, 13 a plea of “true” is sufficient, standing alone, to support the revocation of
community supervision. See, e.g., Moses v. State, 590 S.W.2d 469, 470 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979);
Cole v. State, 578 S.W.2d 127, 128 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979); Duncan v. State, 321 S.W.3d 53, 58
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d). In addition, while he was testifying at the
revocation hearing, Weeks admitted the truth of most of the State’s allegations and discussed the
circumstances of the violations.
We determine that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in revoking Weeks’
community supervision.
12 If the State’s sole allegation is the failure to pay fees, we note that imprisonment is not permitted unless the State establishes an ability to pay the fees. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, § 21(c) (West Supp. 2012); cf. Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660, 672–73 (1983) (recognizing imprisonment due to poverty can be equal protection violation and requiring trial court to inquire into ability to pay). This case, though, contains many violations in addition to a failure to pay fees. Further, the record contains sufficient evidence for the trial court to conclude Weeks had the ability to pay his community supervision fees. Although Weeks argues an inability to pay in his brief, the record does not support that allegation. Weeks, while testifying that money was a “problem,” provided the subsequent clarification at the revocation hearing: “The only reason why I didn’t keep up my probation fees is, quite honestly, because I just lost track of time. I forgot -- I really did not know that I was getting behind. I really just did not know that I was getting that far behind on probation fees.” 13 See Rusk v. State, No. 06-12-00099-CR (Tex. App.—Texarkana Feb. 12, 2013, no pet. h.) (noting failure to prove inability to pay is exception to Cole line of cases). 18 (5) Although the Trial Court Erred in Exceeding the Statutory Range on Counts II and III, the Eighteen-Year Sentence for Count I Was Not Cruel and Unusual Punishment
In his remaining issue, Weeks argues that his sentence of eighteen years’ confinement
constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The State responds that Weeks failed to preserve
error, that the sentence for Count I was within the statutory range, and that the sentence for
Count I is not grossly disproportionate. The State, however, concedes that the sentences for
Counts II and III exceed the statutory maximum and, thus, are illegal sentences.
A sentence that is outside the maximum or minimum range of punishment is
unauthorized by law and, therefore, illegal. Mizell v. State, 119 S.W.3d 804, 806 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2003). The trial court’s judgment erroneously characterizes all three offenses as second
degree felonies. As noted by the State, Counts II and III (which allege intentionally or
knowingly causing bodily injury) were third degree felonies and not second degree felonies. See
TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.04. The punishment range for a third degree felony is “not more
than 10 years or less than 2 years.” See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.34 (West 2011). Thus,
Weeks’ eighteen-year sentences for Counts II and III lie outside the maximum punishment range
for the crimes of which he was convicted and are illegal sentences. Although Weeks has not
complained at trial or on appeal about Counts II and III being illegal sentences, the Texas Court
of Criminal Appeals has held that a court with jurisdiction over a criminal case has inherent
authority to notice and correct an illegal sentence. See Mizell, 119 S.W.3d at 807. An “illegal
sentence” cannot be waived and can be challenged at any time. Ex parte Pena, 71 S.W.3d 336,
339 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (per curiam); see Pfeiffer v. State, 363 S.W.3d 594, 599 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2012). We modify the trial court’s judgments to reflect that Counts II and III are third
19 degree felonies, vacate the illegal sentences for Count II and Count III, and remand Counts II and
III to the trial court for further proceedings. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2, 43.3.
We now turn to the issue of whether the eighteen-year sentence for Count I14 violates the
Eighth Amendment. Texas courts have traditionally followed the general rule that so long as the
punishment assessed is within the range prescribed by the Legislature in a valid statute, the
punishment is not excessive, cruel, or unusual. See, e.g., Jordan v. State, 495 S.W.2d 949, 952
(Tex. Crim. App. 1973). The punishment range for a second degree felony is “not more than 20
years or less than 2 years.” See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.33 (West 2011). Weeks’ sentence
for Count I is within the statutory range.
However, that does not end the inquiry. A prohibition against grossly disproportionate
punishment survives under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution apart from
any consideration of whether the punishment assessed is within the range established by the
Texas Legislature. U.S. CONST. amend. VIII; see Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 290 (1983),
modified by Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957 (1991) (Scalia, J., plurality op.) (Eighth
Amendment does not require strict proportionality between crime and sentence, only forbids
sentences grossly disproportionate to crime); Contreras v. State, 369 S.W.3d 689, 690 (Tex.
App.—Tyler 2012, no pet.). The prohibition against grossly disproportionate sentences, though,
is “applicable only in the ‘exceedingly rare’ and ‘extreme’ case.” Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S.
63, 73 (2003) (quoting Harmelin, 501 U.S. at 1001 (Kennedy, J., concurring)).
The three-part test announced in Solem as modified in light of Harmelin requires the
appellate court to make an initial threshold comparison of the gravity of the offense with the
14 Count I alleges Weeks recklessly caused serious bodily injury and is a second degree felony. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.04. 20 severity of the sentence and then, only if that initial comparison created an inference that the
sentence was grossly disproportionate to the offense, consider (1) sentences for similar crimes in
the same jurisdiction and (2) sentences for the same crime in other jurisdictions. Contreras, 369
S.W.3d at 690; Mullins v. State, 208 S.W.3d 469, 470–71 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, no pet.).
Although Weeks argued in his motion for new trial that the sentence given him is cruel
and unusual, Weeks failed to present his motion for a new trial to the trial court and has not
preserved error for appellate review. 15 TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1; see, e.g., Jackson v. State, 69
S.W.3d 657, 659 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2002, no pet.); Nicholas v. State, 56 S.W.3d 760, 768
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d). Even if error had been preserved, Weeks
fails to meet the threshold determination, that the gravity of the offense is grossly
disproportionate to the severity of the sentence, and has wholly failed to introduce evidence of
sentences for similar crimes. We overrule Weeks’ complaint that the eighteen-year sentence for
Count I constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Conclusion
The record does not support a conclusion that Weeks received ineffective assistance of
counsel. Weeks has failed to preserve for appellate review any error in denying his motion for
new trial, any error concerning his conditions of community supervision, and any violation of the
Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. We affirm the trial
court’s judgment and sentence of eighteen years’ imprisonment for Count I.
15 We note that a motion for new trial, if presented to the trial court, is an appropriate way to preserve this type of claim for review. See Williamson v. State, 175 S.W.3d 522, 523–24 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005, no pet.); Delacruz v. State, 167 S.W.3d 904 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2005, no pet.). 21 We note the trial court did err in finding that Counts II and III were second degree
felonies. We modify the judgment to provide that Counts II and III were third degree felony
counts of injury to a child. Because the trial court’s sentences for the two counts of third degree
felony injury to a child were illegal sentences, we set aside the trial court’s sentences on Counts
II and III and remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion.
Bailey C. Moseley Justice
Date Submitted: January 10, 2013 Date Decided: February 14, 2013
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