Wilcox v. State

477 S.W.2d 900, 1972 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1753
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 15, 1972
Docket45070
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 477 S.W.2d 900 (Wilcox v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilcox v. State, 477 S.W.2d 900, 1972 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1753 (Tex. 1972).

Opinion

OPINION

ONION, Presiding Judge.

This is an appeal from an order revoking probation.

On December 12, 1966, the appellant waived trial by jury and entered a plea of guilty before the court to the offense of rape, the State not having sought the death penalty. The punishment was assessed at 5 years, but the imposition of the sentence was suspended and the appellant was placed on probation. Among the conditions of probation were the requirements that appellant “(a) commit no offense against the laws of this or any other State or the United States; (b) avoid injurious or vicious habits (including use of narcotics or habit forming drugs and alcoholic beverages); (c) avoid persons or *901 places of disreputable or harmful character

On April 15, 1968, the State filed a motion to revoke alleging that appellant had committed the offense of aggravated assault and had associated with a person of disreputable character. On June 7, 1968, the State’s motion was overruled and the appellant was again admonished by the court regarding his conditions of probation.

On July 27, 1970 and again on December 10, 1970, other motions to revoke probation were filed. Subsequently on March 8, 1971, a “First Amended Motion to Revoke Probation” was filed. It alleged appellant had violated conditions (a), (b) and (c) of his probation in that on or about July 3, 1970, he “was arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of heroin and narcotic paraphernalia along with Coleman Larry Wilcox and Ronald Dale Danford, both of whom have police records.” And that during the week prior to July 3, 1970, appellant was seen with his brother at the same service station where their arrest occurred on July 3, and that on this earlier occasion that narcotic paraphernalia was found in the restroom when vacated by the appellant and Coleman Larry Wilcox.

There was no objection to these pleadings or a request for further clarification. 1 It was upon this motion that the revocation hearing was conducted on April 2, 1971. Following the hearing, the court found simply that appellant had “violated the terms of his probation.” There was no request for further findings or clarification. While highly desirable, the failure of the court to make such findings is not error absent any request therefor. Marshall v. State, 466 S.W.2d 582 (Tex.Cr.App.1971); Hulsey v. State, 447 S.W.2d 165, at 167 (Tex.Cr.App.1969); Tate v. State, 365 S.W.2d 789 (Tex.Cr.App.1963).

It is appellant’s contention that the court abused its discretion in revoking probation.

Gerald Debinder, manager of the Premier Service Station, 13406 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas, testified that “a day or two prior to July 3, 1970” he saw the appellant and his brother, Coleman Larry Wilcox, come to his station, go to the restroom and stay 5 to 15 minutes, and that when they left the restroom appellant’s brother walked directly into a nearby billboard. Going to the restroom, Debinder discovered a piece of paper with some powder on it and a spoon containing a burned residue. He related that he had cleaned the restroom only 30 minutes before and that such items were not there then and that in the interim only the appellant and his brother had used the restroom.

The items in question were turned over to Officer Fife.

Jimmy Key, an employee at the station, corroborated Debinder’s testimony and further testified that around 8 p. m. on July 3, 1970, the appellant, his brother and another youth came to the station. He related that appellant stayed outside the restroom while the other two entered. He had a wrecker driver call the police. When the officers *902 arrived, the appellant walked to the restroom door and slapped twice on it and walked back to the car in which the threesome had arrived. Key testified that at no time did the appellant or his companions ask to purchase gasoline or any services, or request to use tools, etc., or state that their car “was broken down.”

Texas Highway Patrolman Fife testified he answered a call to the station around 8 p. m. on the date in question, and observed the appellant walk to the restroom door and then back to his car.

Fife related the restroom door was locked and he entered with a key and found the appellant’s brother and Ronald Danford. Both were under the influence of narcotics with Danford being “in a stupor.” Fife did not notice anything unusual about the appellant. In the restroom were a burning cigarette lighter, a hypodermic syringe, a white piece of paper with a brownish powder on it. These items were forwarded to the Department of Public Safety Laboratory. No evidence as to a chemical analysis was offered nor did the officer express his opinion, based on his experience, as to what the items were or contained.

It was shown that at the time appellant’s brother, Coleman Larry Wilcox, was on probation as was the appellant for rape growing out of the same transaction. Danford was shown to have been on bond for possession of marihuana, but at the time had no criminal convictions.

Appellant, testifying in his own behalf, stated his brother had called him saying his car had broken down and that he had gone to pick him up and found Danford with his brother whom he had seen two or three times before and that he didn’t know Danford had any police record. He related Danford requested him to drive to the service station to obtain jumper cables and so Danford could use the restroom. He denied he was near the restroom when the officers arrived, or had acted as a lookout, claiming he was inside the station getting a drink of water when the officers drove up.

He related he had never been involved with narcotics, and denied he had been in the station two days before and used the restroom, although he had on past occasions purchased gasoline there.

He admitted that at the time he lived at home with his brother, his mother, sister and other members of the family. On cross examination, the following is reflected:

“Q. All right, do you know whether or not your brother was using heroin?
“A. Well, I don’t know that he was, but he pled guilty to the charge and he told me he had been. But I didn’t know it at the time.”

The prosecuting attorney, Victor Dris-coll, was called as a defense witness. He related that he was present when appellant’s brother had entered a plea of guilty. The record then reflects:

“Q. That when Larry Wilcox was sentenced the only stipulation of evidence was then what you had in your report?
“A. That he did possess a narcotic on that date at that place.”

The fact that the appellant’s brother had called him on the date in question was corroborated by appellant’s sister. His mother was also a witness in his behalf.

The failure of the trial court to make findings as to the basis of the revocation leaves this court at a disadvantage in deciding the question before us.

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Bluebook (online)
477 S.W.2d 900, 1972 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1753, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilcox-v-state-texcrimapp-1972.