State Of Louisiana v. Traci Ann Sauce Burke

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: February 28, 2025
• Docket: 2024KA0326
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA

We] if 114 ILD-WEI 2 ME"

FIRST CIRCUIT

2024 KA 0326

VERSUS

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Judgment Rendered:

Appealed from the 16" Judicial District Court

In and for the Parish of St. Mary State of Louisiana Docket No. 2020- 206935

The Honorable Lewis H. Pitman, Jr., Judge Presiding

M. Bofill Duhe Counsel for the Appellee, District Attorney State of Louisiana Walter J. Sennette, Jr. Assistant District Attorney Franklin, Louisiana

Richard A. Spears Counsel for the Defendant/Appellant, New Iberia, Louisiana Traci Ann Sauce Burke

BEFORE: WOLFE, MILLER, AND GREENE, JJ. MILLER, J.

The defendant, Traci Ann Sauce Burke, was charged by an amended bill of

information with extortion, a violation of La. R.S. 14: 66.' She initially pled not

guilty, but later withdrew her not guilty plea and pled no contest. The defendant

was sentenced to five years imprisonment at hard labor, with all but twenty months

suspended, and three years of supervised probation with conditions, including the

payment of a monthly supervision fee of $60. 00 and court costs of $250. 00. The

trial court denied the defendant' s motion to reconsider sentence. She now appeals,

challenging the sentence. For the following reasons, we affirm the defendant' s

conviction and sentence.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

As the defendant in this case pled no contest, forgoing a trial, the facts have

not been developed. According to testimony presented at the sentencing hearing,

the defendant procured the victim, Joseph Tabb, an attorney and member of her

church, for pastoral counseling with regard to her marriage, separation, and child

custody issues. One morning, the defendant called. Tabb and told him she was not

in her right state of mind to care for her child and asked him to come get the child.

Tabb picked up the child and turned the child over to the defendant' s husband, who

obtained an order of custody. After an estimated four months of being threatened

by the defendant, Tabb reported the defendant' s behavior to the police. The State

presented the following factual basis for the conviction at the Bo kir 2 hearing: " If

The bill of information also contains a charge of telephone harassment ( count two), a violation La. R. S. 14: 285. However, when the defendant pled no contest to the above offense, she maintained her not guilty plea to telephone harassment. Only count one, extortion, is before this court on appeal. According to the minutes, the defendant had not yet been tried on the offense of telephone harassment when the appeal in this case was lodged.

2I Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 243, 89 S. Ct. 1709, 1712, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 ( 1969), the United States Supreme Court emphasized three federal constitutional rights that are waived by a guilty plea: the privilege against self-incrimination, the right to a trial by jury, and the right to confront one' s accusers. Because a plea of guilty waives these three fundamental rights of an accused, due process requires that the plea be a voluntary and intelligent waiver of these rights in the State would go to trial we would prove on or about October/November of 2019

in the Parish of St. Mary the defendant threatened [ Tabb] that if she did not obtain

custody of her minor son from her soon to be ex-husband at the time that she

would expose [ Tabb' s] sexual activities namely through a video."

SENTENCING

In her sole assignment of error, the defendant contends the trial court

improperly considered, as an aggravating factor in imposing the sentence, the fact

that she filed a complaint against Tabb with the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary

Board. The defendant asks this court to vacate the sentence on that basis, though

she does not contend the imposed sentence is excessive or otherwise

unconstitutional.

Pursuant to La. R.S. 14: 66( B), whoever commits the crime of extortion shall

be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than one nor more than fifteen years. The

trial court sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment at hard labor, with

all but twenty months suspended, and three years of supervised probation. The

trial court has great discretion in imposing a sentence within the statutory limits.

Such a sentence will not be set aside as excessive in the absence of a manifest

abuse of discretion. State v. Adams, 2023- 0795 ( La. App. 1St Cir. 3/ 22/ 24), 387

So. 3d 668, 675.

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure article 894. 1 sets forth the factors for

the trial court to consider when imposing sentence. Intertwined with an appellate

court' s power to review individual sentences is the duty of the trial court under La.

C. Cr.P. art. 894. 1( C) to state for the record the reasons for sentence. State v.

Tompkins, 429 So. 2d 1385, 1388 ( La. 1983) ( on rehearing). The trial court should

review the defendant' s personal history, her prior criminal record, his family

order to be valid. A plea of no contest is equivalent to an admission of guilt and is treated as a

guilty plea. State v. Oliver, 2020- 0190 ( La. App. 1St Cir. 2/ 24/ 21), 321 So. 3d 1033, 1037, n. 5.

3 dependents, the seriousness of the offense, the likelihood that she will commit

another crime, and her potential for rehabilitation through correctional services

other than confinement. State v. Baker, 2023- 0815 ( La. App. 1St Cir. 4/ 19/ 24), 389

So. 3d 839, 843. While the entire checklist of Article 894. 1 need not be recited,

the record must reflect the trial court adequately considered the criteria. State v.

Harris, 2022- 1190 ( La. App. 1St Cir. 6/ 2/ 23), 369 So. 3d 447, 451. The articulation

of the factual basis for a sentence is the goal of Article 894. 1, not rigid or

mechanical compliance with its provisions. State v. Young, 2020- 0049 ( La. App.

Pt Cir. 11/ 6/ 20), 315 So. 3d 904, 910, writ denied, 2020- 01402 ( La. 2/ 9/ 21), 310

So. 3d 177. Where the record clearly shows an adequate factual basis for the

sentence imposed, remand is unnecessary even where there has not been full

compliance with Article 894. 1. Young, 315 So. 3d at 910- 11.

On appellate review of a sentence, the relevant question is whether the trial

court abused its broad sentencing discretion, not whether another sentence might

have been more appropriate. Baker, 389 So. 3d at 843. When a trial court has

complied with Article 894. 1, the reviewing court will then focus its review upon

whether the trial court has abused its large discretion. Tompkins, 429 So. 2d at

RM

Both the United States and Louisiana Constitutions prohibit the imposition

of excessive or cruel punishment. U.S. Const. amend. VIII; La. Const. art. I, § 20.

Although a sentence falls within statutory limits, it may be excessive. State v.

Sepulvado, 367 So. 2d 762, 767 ( La. 1979). A sentence is considered

constitutionally excessive if it is grossly disproportionate to the seriousness of the

offense or is nothing more than a purposeless and needless infliction of pain and

suffering. A sentence is considered grossly disproportionate if, when the crime

and punishment are considered in light of the harm done to society, it shocks the

sense ofjustice.

11 Herein, at the sentencing hearing, the State presented victim impact

testimony by Tabb. During his testimony, Tabb stated the defendant threatened to

contact the Louisiana State Bar Association, adding that she eventually did so. At

that point, defense counsel objected, stating it was the defendant' s right to report a

complaint with the disciplinary board, that she should not be punished in that

regard, and that the testimony was not relevant. The trial court agreed, stating the

defendant had the right to file a complaint, and there was no need to go into the

facts of the complaint, " other than that it was filed." The trial court allowed Tabb

to explain the impact of the complaint. Tabb testified it caused him to hire a

lawyer, stress, and worry, but noted the situation was resolved and confirmed he

was still a member of the bar association and a practicing attorney. In later

imposing the sentence, the trial court, in pertinent part, stated, "[ t] he defendant

went so far as to even file a complaint with the disciplinary committee governing

the victim' s employment." The trial court did not explain how these actions by the

defendant were factored into the sentence and we will not assume the filing of the

complaint ultimately enhanced the sentence.

In addition to its consideration of the above factor, prior to imposing the

sentence the trial court noted it reviewed the sentencing guidelines under Article

894. 1. The trial court noted the defendant is in need of correctional treatment that

can be provided most effectively by commitment to an institution. The trial court

further noted a lesser sentence would deprecate the seriousness of the defendant' s

crime. See La. C. Cr.P. art. 894. 1( A)(2) and ( 3). The trial court considered that

Tabb testified that during the course of their interaction, the defendant was found

in violation of a protective order and eventually spent a few days in jail. However,

the defendant' s incarceration did not curtail the defendant' s activities and actions

towards Tabb and his family. Tabb also gave his opinion of what the sentence should be, stating he felt the defendant needed to spend seven years in jail, which

the trial court took into consideration.

In considering the factors relating to a suspension of the sentence and the

imposition of probation, the trial court noted the case involved deliberate cruelty to

the victim and significant permanent injury to the victim or his family. See La.

C. Cr.P. art. 894. 1( 13)( 1) and ( 9). Specifically, the trial court noted the defendant

wanted Tabb to lose standing in the community, his job, and his church

membership. The trial court further noted the offense involved multiple victims

for which separate sentences have not been imposed, as Tabb at the sentencing

hearing advised how it affected his wife during the time period that she was

expecting their child and that their children were in fear. See La. C. Cr.P. art.

894. 1 ( 13)( 11).

As mitigating factors in this case, the trial court noted the defendant did not

contemplate that her criminal conduct would cause or threaten serious harm. See

La. C. Cr.P. art. 894. 1 ( 13)( 23). Further, at the sentencing hearing, the defendant' s

mental health provider advised the defendant showed remorse after her attorney

explained that her actions consisted of criminal activity. The trial court further

noted the defendant has no history of prior delinquency or criminal activity. See

La. C. Cr.P. art. 894. 1 ( 13)( 28). The trial court then imposed the sentence.

We note the defendant has not stated how her substantial rights were

3 affected by the sentencing consideration at issue on appeal. Pursuant to La.

C. Cr.P. art. 921, a judgment or ruling shall not be reversed by an appellate court

because of any error, defect, irregularity, or variance which does not affect

substantial rights of the accused. The fact that the defendant filed a disciplinary

3The defendant simply quotes La. Sp. Ct. R. XIX § 12( A) and ( B) ( abrogated in part on other grounds, In re Warner, 2005- 1303 ( La. 4117109), 21 So. 3d 218), which provides, in part, that communications to the disciplinary board shall be absolutely privileged, no lawsuit

predicated thereon may be instituted against any complainant, and the court may grant immunity from criminal prosecution to a witness in a discipline proceeding. 3 complaint against Tabb was only one of several factors considered by the trial

court in imposing the sentence in this case. The trial court, in fact, confirmed the

defendant' s right to file such a complaint. The defendant does not even argue, nor

do we find, that the consideration of this factor resulted in the imposition of an

inappropriate sentence.

We find that the reasons articulated by the trial court are more than sufficient

to support the defendant' s sentence. The defendant does not argue, nor do we find

anything in the record to suggest that the sentence is grossly out of proportion to

the seriousness of the offense, nor does it shock this court' s sense of justice. Thus,

we find no abuse of the trial court' s discretion in imposing sentence. Accordingly,

her sole assignment of error lacks merit.

PATENT ERROR REVIEW

On appeal, this court routinely reviews the record for error patent. Pursuant

to La. C. Cr.P. art. 920( 2), in conducting a patent error review, this court shall

consider "[ a] n error that is discoverable by a mere inspection of the pleadings and

proceedings and without inspection of the evidence." State v. Anthony, 2023- 0117

La. App. I" Cir. 11/ 3/ 23), 378 So. 3d 766, 775, writ denied, 2024- 00027 ( La.

5/ 21/ 24), 385 So. 3d 242. After a careful review of the record, we have found one

patent error.

The record reflects that prior to ordering the defendant to pay a monthly

supervision fee of $60. 00 and prosecution cost of $250. 00 to the district attorney' s

office, the trial court did not conduct a hearing under La. C. Cr.P. art. 875. 1 ( C)( 1),

to determine whether the aggregate amount of the financial obligations would

cause substantial financial hardship to the defendant or her dependents, nor did it

waive judicial determination of such. Further, the defendant did not explicitly

waive her right to a hearing.

7 Not all errors discoverable on the face of the proceedings are reversible

errors. Whether a patent error, like other statutory error, requires reversal must be

evaluated in light of the potential impact on the fairness of the proceedings. State

v. Charles, 450 So. 2d 1287, 1291 ( La. 1984); State v. Evans, 2023- 1223 ( La. App.

1St Cir. 7/ 2/ 24), 395 So. 3d 886, 893.

We note the monthly supervision fee imposed in this case is mandated by

La. C. Cr.P. art. 895( A), when the trial court places a defendant on probation, to

defray the costs of probation supervision. Moreover, the remedy provided in La.

C. Cr.P. art. 875. 1( D)( 1)( b), a monthly payment plan to fulfill the financial

obligations, is already in place. The only other financial obligation placed upon

the defendant was a one- time fee of $250.00, for the costs of prosecuting the case.

We further note the defendant did not raise any issue or question regarding

the fact that a supervision fee was imposed as a condition of her probation, or the

fact that she was ordered to pay $ 250. 00 for prosecution costs. Further, the

defendant has not raised this issue on appeal. Additionally, the sentence was

tailored to accomplish her release from incarceration after serving twenty months,

well under fifty percent of her five-year sentence, and place her under supervised

probation. Thus, we find the defendant was not prejudiced by the lack of a

financial hardship hearing or waiver thereof in this case. Accordingly, any error in

the trial court' s failure to conduct a hearing or waive the judicial determination in

accordance with La. C. Cr.P. art. 875. 1( C)( 1) and ( 2) is harmless in this case and

does not require a remand for resentencing.

CONCLUSION

For the above and foregoing reasons, the defendant' s conviction and

sentence is affirmed.

CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED.

H.,