Rueben Earle Walker v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: March 22, 2017
• Docket: 10-16-00275-CR
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-16-00275-CR No. 10-16-00276-CR

RUEBEN EARLE WALKER, Appellant v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

From the 54th District Court McLennan County, Texas Trial Court No. 2015-1661-C2 Trial Court No. 2015-1744-C2

MEMORANDUM OPINION

In two indictments and two judgments, Reuben Earle Walker was charged with

and convicted of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Controlled Substance. See TEX.

PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02 (West 2011); TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.115 (West

2010). In the same hearing, Walker plead guilty to both charges, without the benefit of a plea bargain, and, with Walker’s agreement, the State “summed up” the punishment

evidence for each offense before the trial court. After a presentence investigation was

completed, Walker was sentenced, again in one hearing, to 20 years in prison for each

offense. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Walker’s appellate attorney filed Anders briefs in these appeals. See Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967). Walker was provided a

copy of the record by counsel, advised of his right to review the record, and advised of

his right to submit a response on his own behalf. Walker submitted his own response.

The State was given an opportunity to respond to the Anders briefs and Walker’s

response. It has not done so.

Counsel asserts in the Anders briefs that counsel reviewed the reporter’s record

and clerk’s record, including the judgments and sentences, and reviewed the pleas of

guilty, the waivers signed by Walker, the mental competency of Walker, and the

sufficiency of the sentences imposed. After the review, counsel has concluded there is no

non-frivolous issue to raise in these appeals.

Counsel's briefs evidence a professional evaluation of the record for error, and we

conclude that counsel performed the duties required of appointed counsel. See Anders,

386 U.S. at 744; High v. State, 573 S.W.2d 807, 812 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); see also In re

Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).

Walker v. State Page 2 In response to the Anders briefs, Walker contends his counsel was ineffective and

his due process rights were violated because he was never evaluated for mental

competence. The record does not support Walker’s contentions.

In reviewing an Anders appeal, we must, "after a full examination of all the

proceedings, . . . decide whether the case is wholly frivolous." See Anders, 386 U.S. at 744;

accord Stafford v. State, 813 S.W.2d 503, 509-11 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). An appeal is

"wholly frivolous" or "without merit" when it "lacks any basis in law or fact." McCoy v.

Court of Appeals, 486 U.S. 429, 439 n. 10, 108 S. Ct. 1895, 100 L. Ed. 2d 440 (1988).

Arguments are frivolous when they "cannot conceivably persuade the court." Id. at 436.

An appeal is not wholly frivolous when it is based on "arguable grounds." Stafford, 813

S.W.2d at 511.

After reviewing counsel's briefs, Walker’s response, and the entire record in this

appeal, we determine the appeals to be wholly frivolous. See Bledsoe v. State, 178 S.W.3d

824, 826-27 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). We note, however, that costs were assessed in both

judgments of conviction. Where allegations and evidence of more than one offense are

presented in a single trial or plea proceeding, the trial court errs in assessing costs in each

conviction. Hurlburt v. State, Nos. 10-15-00400-CR, 10-15-00401-CR, 10-15-00402-CR, 10-

15-00403-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 12676, *8 (Tex. App.—Waco Nov. 30, 2016, no pet. h.)

(publish). Hurlburt had not been decided at the time briefing in this case was submitted.

Based on our precedent, abatement to the trial court for the appointment of new counsel

Walker v. State Page 3 is not required. See Ferguson v. State, 435 S.W.3d 291 (Tex. App.—Waco 2014, pet. dism.).

Because this error does not impact the determination of guilt or punishment and,

therefore, does not result in a reversal of either judgment, we may modify one of the

judgments to correct the erroneous assessment of costs. Id. Accordingly, the Judgment

of Conviction by Court—Waiver of Jury Trial in trial court case number 2015-1661-C2 is

modified to delete the assessed court costs. We affirm the trial court’s Judgment of

Conviction by Court—Waiver of Jury Trial in trial court case number 2015-1661-C2 as

modified and affirm the trial court’s Judgment of Conviction by Court—Waiver of Jury

Trial in trial court case number 2015-1744-C2.

Should Walker wish to seek further review of these cases by the Texas Court of

Criminal Appeals, he must either retain an attorney to file a petition for discretionary

review or must file a pro se petition for discretionary review. No substitute counsel will

be appointed. Any petition for discretionary review must be filed within thirty days from

the date of this opinion or the last timely motion for rehearing or timely motion for en

banc reconsideration has been overruled by this Court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2. Any

petition and all copies of the petition for discretionary review must be filed with the Clerk

of the Court of Criminal Appeals. See TEX. R. APP. P. 68.3. (Tex. Crim. App. 1997, amended

eff. Sept. 1, 2011). Any petition for discretionary review should comply with the

requirements of Rule 68.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P.

68.4. See also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 409 n.22 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).

Walker v. State Page 4 Counsel's motions to withdraw from representation of Walker are granted, and

counsel is discharged from representing Walker. Notwithstanding counsel’s discharge,

counsel must send Walker a copy of our decision, notify him of his right to file a pro se

petition for discretionary review, and send this Court a letter certifying counsel's

compliance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 48.4. TEX. R. APP. P. 48.4; see also In

re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d at 409 n.22.

TOM GRAY Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Affirmed and affirmed as modified Opinion delivered and filed March 22, 2017 Do not publish [CRPM]

Walker v. State Page 5