Smallwood v. State

296 S.W.3d 729, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 5295, 2009 WL 3017443

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: July 7, 2009
• Docket: 14-08-00717-CR
• Status: Published

Opinions

MAJORITY OPINION

CHARLES W. SEYMORE, Justice.

Without a recommendation, appellant pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery. The court found appellant guilty and assessed punishment at ten years’ confinement. In two issues appellant contends (1) the trial court erred in not, sua sponte, conducting an informal inquiry into appellant’s competence and (2) appellant was denied his right to counsel at a critical stage of the proceedings, i.e., the time period to file a motion for new trial. For reasons outlined below, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

I. Background

The State charged appellant with aggravated robbery. On October 24, 2007, the trial court appointed John Reeves to represent appellant and “to continue to represent [appellant] until the case is concluded, including appeal, if any, or until released by written order of this court.”

On April 22, 2008, appellant pleaded guilty. At the plea hearing, the following interchanges occurred:

THE COURT: Are you competent and of sound mind?

[Appellant]: No, sir.

THE COURT: You’re not?

[Appellant]: (Moving head side to side).

THE COURT: So are you insane?

(Sotto voce discussion at defense table)

[Appellant]: Oh, no, sir.

THE COURT: Okay. Are you competent?

[Appellant]: No, sir.

THE COURT: You’re not. Do you know what “competent” means?

[Appellant]: No, sir.

[Defense Counsel]: He was special ed and he graduated, but he doesn’t understand the big words.

THE COURT: Okay. Are you crazy?

[Appellant]: No, sir.

THE COURT: You know what “insane” means? It means you’re crazy—

[Appellant]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: — or you got a mental disorder. Do you have anything like that?

[Appellant]: Yeah, I got a mental disorder, but I’m not like just crazy, crazy.

THE COURT: What’s your mental disorder, Mr. Smallwood?

[Appellant]: Slow-learning.

THE COURT: Okay. Aside from being just kind of slow-learning, do you understand why you’re here?

[Appellant]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Do you know what the charge is against you?

[Appellant]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Other than having special education in school, have you ever been told you needed any special treatment or medical care for your condition?

[Appellant]: No, sir.

THE COURT: All right. Do you understand what I’m saying to you, then?

[Appellant]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: At the time of this charge against you, on October 12th of 2007, Mr. Smallwood, on that occasion did you know what you were doing?

[Appellant]: Somewhat, yes, sir.

THE COURT: Okay. What’s the limitation when you say “somewhat”? What do you mean?

[Appellant]: Well, I have problems, like, being stressed out. I just — it’s so much I can take and everything. Just ... Once I get so stressed out and think, I just blank out.

THE COURT: Okay. Well, you weren’t under the influence of anything?

[Appellant]: No, sir.

THE COURT: Okay. Counsel, any concerns about his competency to go forward with this today?

[Defense Counsel]: No, Your Honor. We’ve had several discussions and we’ve also spoken with investigators in this case and we have agreed to testify truthfully, if called upon to do so, in regards to the codefendant.

After this interaction, defense counsel assured the court there was no basis for involuntariness or insanity at the time of the charge. The court then heard appellant’s plea of guilty, and appellant told the court that what was stated in the indictment constituted his conduct. Appellant also indicated he understood he was pleading without a recommendation. Although appellant did indicate he hoped he would receive probation, he stated he was pleading guilty “because I did what I did.” He further affirmed that no one was making him plead guilty and he was doing so of his own free will. Finally, appellant affirmed he understood the rights he was forfeiting by pleading guilty.

The court accepted appellant’s plea, but delayed a finding of guilt until an adjudication and sentencing hearing. On June 4, 2008, after taking judicial notice of the presentence investigation report and hearing defense witnesses the previous day, the court found appellant guilty, found a deadly weapon was used in the offense, and sentenced appellant to ten years’ confinement.¹

On June 26, 2008, appellant sent a letter to the court. He wrote that his attorney had “essentially terminated [their] relationship” after the sentencing. He also indicated he would like to file a motion for “shock probation or T.D.C. boot camp and probation,” but was being denied access to the law library.

On July 7, 2008, appointed counsel, John Reeves, filed a notice of appeal and a motion to withdraw. In the latter, Reeves stated he had spoken with appellant by telephone on July 3, 2008. Appellant told Reeves appellant wanted a different sentence, wanted to “make a new deal in exchange for his testimony against [the] co-defendant,” and asked about a retrial and appeal. Appellant also informed counsel he had talked to another attorney about his sentence and options. On July 10, 2008, the trial court granted the motion to withdraw and appointed new counsel for the appeal.

II. Discussion

A. Hearing on Appellant’s Competency

In issue one, appellant contends “the trial court erred in failing to make a suggestion of incompetency on its own motion and failing to conduct an informal hearing into competence.” We review a trial court’s decision not to conduct an informal competency inquiry under an abuse of discretion standard. Moore v. State, 999 S.W.2d 385, 393 (Tex.Crim.App.1999). Courts presume a defendant is competent to stand trial and shall find him competent to stand trial unless a preponderance of the evidence proves him to be incompetent. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46B.003(b) (Vernon 2006).

A defendant is incompetent to stand trial if he lacks (1) sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or (2) a rational, as well as factual, understanding of the proceedings against him. Id. art. 4613.003(a). Either party may suggest by motion, or the trial court may suggest on its own motion, that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial. Id. art. 46B.004(a). If evidence suggesting the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial comes to the attention of the trial court, the court on its own motion shall suggest that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial. Id. art. 46B .004(b). On such suggestion, the court shall determine by informal inquiry whether there is some evidence from any source to support a finding the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial. Id. art. 46B .004(c).

The trial court, however, is not required to conduct a competency inquiry unless the evidence suffices to create a bona fide doubt in the mind of the trial court about whether the defendant is legally competent. McDaniel v. State, 98 S.W.3d 704, 710 (Tex.Crim.App.2003). Evidence usually suffices to create a bona fide doubt about competency if the evidence shows “recent severe mental illness, at least moderate mental retardation, or truly bizarre acts by the defendant.” Id. Evidence capable of creating a bona fide doubt about a defendant’s competency may come from the trial court’s own observations, known facts, evidence presented, motions, affidavits, or any other claim or credible source. LaHood v. State, 171 S.W.3d 613, 618 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, pet. ref'd).

The only evidence that would have suggested incompetency to the court at the plea hearing was appellant’s response of “no” to the court’s question of whether appellant was competent. The naked assertion, “I am incompetent,” is not sufficient without supporting evidence to require an inquiry by the court. McDaniel, 98 S.W.3d at 711.

Nevertheless, as set forth in the background section above, after appellant told the court he was not competent, the trial court conducted an informal inquiry into appellant’s competence. Appellant stated he was “slow learning.” Appellant confirmed that, other than taking special education classes, he had never been told he needed special treatment or medical care for his condition.² Appellant stated that he understood the charge against him. Appellant’s counsel stated he had no concerns about appellant’s competency to go forward with the plea hearing. Except for lesser inquiry into communication between appellant and counsel, appellant’s case compares favorably to Gray v. State, in which the Texarkana court of appeals held the record of the plea hearing showed the trial court conducted an adequate informal inquiry into the learning-disabled defendant’s competency. See 257 S.W.3d 825, 828 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2008, pet. ref'd).³

Assuming, without deciding, the evidence before the trial court warranted an inquiry into appellant’s competency, we conclude the trial court’s inquiry supports the conclusion that appellant had the present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of understanding and had a rational, as well as factual, understanding of the proceedings against him.⁴ Accordingly, we overrule appellant’s first issue.

B. Assistance of Counsel at a Critical Stage

In issue two, appellant contends he was denied his right to counsel at a critical stage of the proceedings, specifically the period during which he could have filed a motion for new trial. A criminal defendant must file a motion for new trial no later than thirty days after the trial court “imposes or suspends sentence in open court.” Tex.R.App. P. 21.4(a). This thirty-day period is a critical stage of a criminal proceeding, during which a defendant has a constitutional right to counsel. Cooks v. State, 240 S.W.3d 906, 908 (Tex.Crim.App.2007).

To prevail on a claim of deprivation of counsel, a defendant must affirmatively show he was not represented by counsel during this period. See Oldham v. State, 977 S.W.2d 354, 363 (Tex.Crim.App.1998). There is a rebuttable presumption a defendant’s trial counsel continued to represent the defendant adequately during this critical stage. Cooks, 240 S.W.3d at 911. If a defendant rebuts the presumption with evidence he was deprived of adequate counsel during this stage, the deprivation of counsel is subject to a harm analysis. Id.

The rebuttable presumption of adequate representation arises, in part, because appointed counsel remains as the defendant’s counsel for all purposes until expressly permitted to withdraw, even if the appointment is for trial only. Nguyen v. State, 222 S.W.3d 537, 540 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. ref'd). As this court explained in Nguyen:

When a motion for new trial is not filed, courts apply a rebuttable presumption that the attorney discussed the merits of the motion for new trial with the appellant, and the appellant rejected it. The Court of Criminal Appeals indicated that appropriate rebuttal evidence would show that “trial counsel thought that his duties were completed with the end of trial, and had thereafter abandoned the appellant.” Under Oldham and its progeny, an appellant’s statement that he has not been represented since sentencing is not enough to rebut the presumption of effective assistance. Appellant must also show that counsel did not confer with him regarding the merits of filing of a motion for new trial.

Id. (citations omitted).

The record in the present case shows the following:

• on October 24, 2007, the trial court appointed John Reeves to represent appellant and “to continue to represent [appellant] until the case is concluded, including appeal, if any, or until released by written order of this court”;

• on June 4, 2008, the trial court sentenced appellant;

• on June 12, 2008, Reeves filed an attorney fee voucher, in which Reeves showed services rendered from October 14, 2007, until June 4, 2008, and checked the “Final Payment” box;

• on June 26, 2008, appellant wrote to the court, indicating he would like to file a motion for “shock probation or T.D.C. boot camp and probation” and asserting Reeves had “essentially terminated [their] relationship” after the sentencing;

• on July 3, 2008, Reeves spoke with appellant by telephone, at which time appellant told Reeves he wanted a different sentence, wanted to “make a new deal in exchange for his testimony against [the] co-defendant,” asked about a retrial and appeal, and informed Reeves he had talked to another attorney about his sentence and options;

• on July 7, 2008, thirty days after sentencing, Reeves, filed a notice of appeal and a motion to withdraw; and

• on July 10, 2008, the trial court granted Reeves’s motion to withdraw and appointed new counsel for the appeal.

Appellant relies primarily on his June 26, 2008 letter to rebut the presumption of trial counsel’s continued adequate representation. In addition, he points to Reeves’s fee voucher claiming payment for work ending June 4, 2008, and to the late timing of Reeves’s telephone conversation with appellant. Comparing this case with cases in which the court of criminal appeals has concluded a defendant did not rebut the presumption of adequate representation, we conclude appellant has not done so here. See Smith v. State, 17 S.W.3d 660, 662-63 (Tex.Crim.App.2000) (holding following facts insufficient to rebut presumption: appellant filed pro se notice of appeal and indigency; letter of assignment from trial court to appellate court stated attorney of record on appeal was “to be determined”; and appellant appeared without counsel when signing pauper’s oath and requesting new counsel); Oldham, 977 S.W.2d at 362-63 (holding following facts insufficient to rebut presumption: appellant filed pro se notice of appeal and indigency; and letter of assignment from trial court to appellate court stated attorney of record on appeal was “to be determined”).

Appellant, however, analogizes his case to Prudhomme v. State, 28 S.W.3d 114 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2000, order), disp. on merits, 47 S.W.3d 683 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2001, pet. ref'd). In Prudhomme, the Texarkana court concluded a defendant was deprived of his right to counsel in the thirty days in which he could file a motion for new trial and the denial was not harmless. Id. at 120. The Prudhomme court concluded the following facts rebutted the presumption of adequate representation during the thirty-day period: filing of a pro se motion for new trial, in which Prudhomme complained about ineffective assistance of his trial counsel; failure to request a hearing; lack of presentment; filing of a pro se notice of appeal; and filing of a pro se motion to substitute trial counsel for an unnamed appellate counsel. Id.

The First Court of Appeals has declined to follow Prudhomme. See Green v. State, 264 S.W.3d 68, 70 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, pet. ref'd) (“We ... disagree with the Prudhomme court’s holding that a pro se motion for new trial effectively rebuts the presumption that trial counsel continued to effectively represent appellant during the window for filing a motion for new trial.”). The court of criminal appeals has distinguished Prudhomme because of its apparent suggestion “that prejudice should be presumed when a defendant is without counsel during the entire 30-day period for filing motion.” Cooks, 240 S.W.3d at 911. We decline to follow Prudhomme here.⁵

In short, appellant has not rebutted the presumption of adequate representation during the thirty-day period in which to file a motion for new trial. Accordingly, we overrule his second issue.

III. CONCLUSION

Having overruled appellant’s two issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

1 . The Honorable Judge Paul E. White presided at the plea hearing; the Honorable Barry Biyan, al the adjudication/sentencing hearing.

2 . Appellant complains that the trial court did not inquire sufficiently about appellant’s "just blanking out.” When appellant made this comment, he had already indicated he had not been told he needed special treatment or medical care for his condition. After appellant made the statement, the court inquired whether appellant was "under the influence of anything” when he committed the offense. Appellant responded he was not.

3 . Sentencing is part of the trial, and a defendant must therefore also be mentally competent at sentencing. See Casey v. State, 924 S.W.2d 946, 948-49 (Tex.Crim.App.1996). To support his contention he was incompetent, appellant points to evidence from the sentencing hearing, specifically that he had never before committed an adult offense and had been influenced by a stronger personality to commit the present offense. Appellant, however, does not argue the sentencing court should have inquired further into the matter of appellant's competency to be sentenced. Instead, he contends the plea hearing colloquy did not constitute a sufficient informal inquiry into competence.

4 . Our holding should not be construed as approval of the trial court's entire colloquy with the defendant. Some of the trial court’s questions were not relevant or properly focused on the criteria prescribed under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 46B.003(a).

5 . We previously declined to follow Prudhomme in Hardge v. State, No. 14-00-01095-CR, 2001 WL 1340546, at *2 n. 5 (Tex.App.Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 1, 2001, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication). In contrast, the Tyler court of appeals, from which this case was transferred, followed Prudhomme in Hole v. State, No. 12-06-00207-CR, 2007 WL 1868997, at *5 (Tex.App.-Texarkana, June 29, 2007, pet. dism’d) (not designated for publication). As unpublished cases, neither are prec-edential. See Tex.R.App. P. 41.3 (regarding precedent in transferred cases), 47.7(a) (stating criminal case opinions not designated for publication have no precedential value).