Christopher Rashad Frazier v. State ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
14-15-00118-CR
FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
7/8/2015 1:13:36 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
NO. 14-15-00118-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS FILED IN
14th COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
7/8/2015 1:13:36 PM
CHRISTOPHER RASHAD FRAZIER CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Appellant Clerk
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS
Appellee
On Appeal from Cause Number 1410778
228th District Court of Harris County, Texas
Honorable Marc Carter, Presiding
BRIEF FOR APPELLANT
ALEXANDER BUNIN
Chief Public Defender
Harris County, Texas
CHERI DUNCAN
Assistant Public Defender
Texas Bar No. 06210500
1201 Franklin, 13th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: (713) 368-0016
Fax: (713) 368-9278
cheri.duncan@pdo.hctx.net
Counsel for Appellant
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
APPELLANT: Christopher Rashad Frazier
TDCJ# 01977867
Garza West Unit, TDCJ
4250 Highway 202
Beeville, TX 78102-8982
TRIAL PROSECUTOR: Paul Fortenberry
Assistant District Attorney
Harris County, Texas
1201 Franklin, Suite 600
Houston, TX 77002
DEFENSE COUNSEL AT TRIAL: Joseph Philip Scardino
Attorney at Law
1004 Congress, 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
PRESIDING JUDGE: Hon. Marc Carter
228th District Court
Harris County, TX
1201 Franklin 16th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
COUNSEL ON APPEAL FOR APPELLANT: Cheri Duncan
Assistant Public Defender
Harris County, TX
1201 Franklin, 13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ................................................................................ II
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..........................................................................................................III
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ..................................................................................................... V
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ................................................................................................... 1
ISSUE PRESENTED ................................................................................................................. 1
COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL BELIEVES THE APPEAL IN THIS CASE
IS FRIVOLOUS, SINCE THEREARE NO ARGUABLE GROUNDS FOR
APPEAL FROM THE TRIAL COURT’S ADJUDICATION OF GUILT AND
IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE.
STATEMENT OF FACTS.......................................................................................................... 1
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ............................................................................................ 2
ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................................ 2
1. SUFFICIENCY OF THE INDICTMENTS OR MISDEMEANOR INFORMATION....... 3
2. ANY ADVERSE PRETRIAL RULINGS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RULINGS
ON MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS, MOTIONS TO QUASH, AND MOTIONS FOR SPEEDY
TRIAL ..................................................................................................................... 3
3. COMPLIANCE WITH TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ART. 26.13 AND PADILLA...... 4
4. WHETHER THE ISSUE OF COMPETENCY WAS RAISED BEFORE SENTENCING SO
AS TO WARRANT AN INQUIRY BY THE COURT, AND WHETHER APPELLANT WAS
COMPETENT WHEN COURT ACCEPTED THE PLEA ............................................ 5
5. WHETHER APPELLANT’S PLEA WAS FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY MADE ........ 5
6. ANY ADVERSE RULINGS DURING THE SENTENCING HEARING ON OBJECTIONS
OR MOTIONS ......................................................................................................... 5
7. ANY FAILURE OF TRIAL COUNSEL TO OBJECT TO FUNDAMENTAL ERROR .... 6
iii
8. ANY ADVERSE RULINGS DURING PUNISHMENT PHASE ................................... 6
9. WHETHER THE SENTENCE WAS WITHIN THE APPLICABLE PUNISHMENT
RANGE ................................................................................................................... 6
10. WHETHER THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A GUILTY PLEA IN A
FELONY CASE........................................................................................................ 7
11. WHETHER DEFENDANT WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL8
12. OTHER MATTERS INVESTIGATED AND FOUND TO LACK MERIT .................... 9
PRAYER .................................................................................................................................. 9
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .................................................................................................. 10
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ......................................................................................... 10
iv
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967) ............................ 2
Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) ............................................................. 8
Ex parte Varelas, 45 S.W.3d 627 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) ...................................................... 8
In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008) ........................................................ 2
Lackey v. State, 2010 WL 307912 *2 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.]) (mem. op., not
designated for publication) .................................................................................................... 8
Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010) .................................................................................... 4
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984) .......................................................................... 8
Statutes
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ART. 1.051 ........................................................................................ 8
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ART. 26.13 ........................................................................................ 4
TEX. PENAL CODE § 12.32........................................................................................................ 6
TEX. PENAL CODE § 29.03(a) ................................................................................................... 3
TEX. PENAL CODE § 29.03(b)................................................................................................... 6
v
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Christopher Rashad Frazier was indicted for aggravated robbery after he
confessed to being a party to a robbery in the parking lot of the apartment complex
where he lived.
The trial court sentenced Mr. Frazier to twenty-five years in prison after a
presentence investigation, and entered judgment on January 12, 2015 (CR at 28). The
judgment erroneously reflected that Mr. Lopez waived his right to appeal. However,
the trial court entered a second Trial Court’s Certification of Defendant’s Right of
Appeal that correctly said this was not a plea-bargain case and Mr. Frazier had the right
to appeal (CR at 36).
ISSUE PRESENTED
Court-appointed counsel believes that the appeal in this case is
frivolous, since there are no arguable grounds for appeal from
the trial court’s adjudication of guilt and imposition of sentence.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The presentence report said that Mr. Frazier and his co-actor, Keith Dillingham
agreed to commit a robbery, and took air guns to use. During the offense, however, Mr.
Dillingham found a real gun in the glovebox of the complainant’s car. He took it as
they fled. When the complainant chased the two men, Mr. Dillingham fired the real gun
several times at the complainant. The complainant died as a result of his injuries (RR 2
at PSI page 3).
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SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Counsel has thoroughly reviewed the record and concluded that there are no
meritorious grounds for appeal from the judgment against Mr. Frazier. Therefore,
counsel seeks leave to withdraw from representing him. Counsel has filed, along with
this brief, a motion to withdraw.
ISSUE PRESENTED
Court-appointed counsel believes that the appeal in this case is
frivolous, since there are no arguable grounds for appeal from
the appellant’s adjudication of guilt.
ARGUMENT
An attorney has an ethical obligation to refuse to prosecute a frivolous appeal. In
re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). If an appointed attorney finds,
following a professional, conscientious evaluation of the record, that a case is wholly
frivolous, her obligation to her client is to seek leave to withdraw. Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967). Counsel’s obligation to the appellate
court is to assure it, through an Anders brief, that a complete review of the record has
been done and that the request to withdraw is well-founded. Id.
Counsel has evaluated the record in this case in light of this Court’s Anders
Guidelines.
2
1. Sufficiency of the indictment or misdemeanor information
An indictment needs to be sufficient to confer subject-matter jurisdiction on the
trial court. This one was. It charged Mr. Frazier with aggravated robbery with a deadly
weapon, a first-degree felony offense. The elements of this offense are:
1. A person
2. in the course of committing theft
3. with intent to obtain or maintain control of the property
3. intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
4. uses or exhibits a deadly weapon.
TEX. PENAL CODE § 29.03(a).
The indictment alleged: “(I)n Harris County, Texas, CHRISTOPHER RASHAD
FRAZIER … on or about August 6, 2012, did then and there unlawfully, while in the
course of committing theft of property owned by Alexander Segura, and with intent to
obtain and maintain control of the property, intentionally and knowingly cause bodily
injury to Alexander Segura, and the Defendant did then and there use and exhibit a
deadly weapon, namely a firearm.” (CR at 11). The indictment, then, described each
element of the alleged offense with sufficient specificity to invoke subject-matter
jurisdiction in the felony district court.
2. Any adverse pretrial rulings, including but not limited to rulings on
motions to suppress, motions to quash, and motions for speedy trial
Trial counsel did not file any pretrial motions, except a motion for community
supervision (CR at 10). Mr. Frazier signed a Waiver of Constitutional Rights, Agreement
to Stipulate, and Judicial Confession (CR at 15). He agreed to plead guilty without a
3
recommended sentence (CR at 16). Mr. Frazier was under arrest and warned of his
rights before making a statement to police. His statement appears to have been freely
and voluntarily given. No other evidence appears to have been illegally obtained, or
otherwise subject to suppression. The record does not appear to support a motion to
suppress.
There were no limitations or speedy trial issues. The offense occurred on August
6, 2012 (CR at 5). The case was indicted on December 6, 2013 (CR at 5). The Appellant
pleaded guilty on August 5, 2014 (CR at 16).
3. Compliance with TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ART. 26.13 and Padilla
The plea hearing is not on the record, but Mr. Frazier signed a written
admonishment form which included the following:
● An explanation that the range of punishment was “a term of life or
any term of not more than 99 years or less than 5 years…”
● Explanations that any recommendation of the prosecuting attorney
is not binding on the court; that if there is any plea bargain
agreement, the court will inform the defendant in open court
whether it will follow the agreement; that the court will permit the
defendant to withdraw his plea if it rejected any plea bargain
agreement;
● An explanation that if the court’s punishment does not exceed the
plea agreement, the court must give permission for an appeal,
except for matters raised by the defendant in written pretrial
motions;
● An explanation that if the defendant is not a citizen of the United
States, a plea of guilty for this offense may result in his deportation
4
or his exclusion from admission to this county [sic], or his denial of
naturalization under federal law.
(CR at 19). Nothing in the record suggests that the trial court did not properly admonish
him about his rights.
4. Whether the issue of competency was raised before sentencing so as to
warrant an inquiry by the court, and whether appellant was competent
when court accepted the plea
The record does not show any motions for competency evaluation, nor any sua
sponte court order for a competency evaluation. Mr. Frazier initialed the box on the
admonishment form that said he was mentally competent and understood the nature
of the charge against him and the trial court’s admonishments (CR at 19). His counsel
signed a statement on the plea form that he believed him competent to stand trial (CR
at 16). The trial judge affirmed that he ascertained that he appeared to be mentally
competent (CR at 16). Based on this record, and Mr. Frazier’s apparent competency at
the punishment hearing, during which he testified briefly, appellate counsel cannot
argue that there was any potential competency issue below.
5. Whether appellant’s plea was freely and voluntarily made
Mr. Frazier’s counsel said that he believed Mr. Frazier executed the plea of guilty
knowingly and voluntarily (C.R. at 16). The trial judge also signed a statement that he
ascertained that Mr. Frazier entered the plea knowingly and voluntarily after discussing
5
the case with his attorney (C.R. at 16). Nothing in the record suggests that the plea was
not made freely and voluntarily.
6. Any adverse rulings during the sentencing hearing on objections or
motions
Mr. Frazier filed a motion for community supervision (C.R. at 25). He had never
been convicted of a felony, nor placed on community supervision for a felony. At
sentencing, however, the court did not place Mr. Frazier on community supervision.
Instead, the judge imposed a 25-year prison sentence (1 RR at 9). This was within the
court’s discretion.
7. Any failure by trial counsel to object to fundamental error
Appellate counsel has combed the record for fundamental error, but has found
none. There was nothing for trial counsel to object to.
8. Whether sentence was within the applicable punishment range
Aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon is a first-degree felony. TEX. PENAL
CODE § 29.03(b). This made the punishment range 5-99 years or life and a fine not to
exceed $10,000.00. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 12.32. Therefore, the twenty-five-year
punishment Mr. Frazier received was within the applicable range of punishment.
Further, it was half as long as the 50-year sentence his co-defendant received after
pleading guilty (2 RR at 7). Additionally, the trial court received three victim impact
statements from family members of the complainant. All asked the court to impose the
maximum sentence (2 RR at 25).
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9. Whether the written judgment accurately reflects the sentence imposed
and whether any credit was properly applied
The written judgment accurately reflects a conviction for aggravated robbery
with a deadly weapon and describes the offense as a first-degree felony (CR at ). The
judgment reflects the twenty-five-year sentence the judge announced at the hearing. It
also reflects that Mr. Frazier was to be credited for time served from December 5, 2013
to January 12, 2015 (C.R. at 28).
Although the offense occurred on Aug 6, 2012, police did not arrest anyone until
October 25, 2012, when they arrested Mr. Dillingham after touch DNA taken from one
of the air soft pistols at the scene was matched to his DNA (2 RR at PSI page 6). On
October 18, 2013, Mr. Dillingham was set for trial. Instead, he agreed to give a full
confession and implicate Mr. Frazier (2 RR at PSI page 7). A court issued a warrant for
Mr. Frazier’s arrest. Then, on December 6, 2013, police learned that Mr. Frazier had
been arrested on an unrelated drug charge the previous day, and brought him in for
questioning on this offense (2 RR at PSI page 8).
Based on this record, it appears that the trial court properly applied credit for jail
time to Mr. Frazier’s judgment and sentence from the date of his arrest to the date of
sentencing.
10. Whether there is sufficient evidence to support a guilty plea in a felony
case
A guilty plea is some evidence, for purposes of determining whether there is a
complete lack of evidence to support a conviction. See Nix v. State, 65 S.W.3d 664, 668
7
(Tex. Crim. App. 2001). Mr. Frazier’s signed Waiver of Constitutional Rights,
Agreement to Stipulate, and Judicial Confession provided sufficient evidence to support
his guilty plea to the offense of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The
presentence investigation report, which was admitted as an exhibit at the punishment
hearing, included summaries of confessions by Mr. Frazier and his co-defendant, who
implicated him in the incident. Mr. Frazier did not object to the PSI in general, or to
any statements within it. It must be assumed, then, that the summaries were accurate.
11. Whether defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel
The standard of review for evaluating claims of ineffective assistance of counsel
is set forth in Strickland v. Washington, which dictates that a defendant is entitled to
“reasonably effective assistance.” 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). Allegations of
ineffectiveness of counsel must be firmly rooted in the record. See Bone v. State, 77
S.W.3d 828, 833 & n. 13 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). When the record is silent, a reviewing
court may not speculate to find trial counsel ineffective. See Ex parte Varelas, 45 S.W.3d
627, 632 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
Court-appointed counsel must represent the client in all adversary proceedings
that could possibly result in confinement. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ART. 1.051. Mr.
Frazier was represented by counsel when he entered his guilty plea, and at the
punishment hearing. There were no other adversary proceedings in this case. During
the hearing, counsel gave a brief closing argument and asked the court for leniency in
light of his client’s remorse, work history, and secondary role in the offense (1 RR at 8).
8
There is no evidence that counsel erroneously advised Mr. Frazier to plead guilty.
See Lackey v. State, 2010 WL 307912 *2-3 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.], Jan. 28,
2010, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication). Even if there had been
evidence about counsel’s advice to his client, the State’s evidence included a confession
from Mr. Frazier, in addition to Mr. Dillingham’s statement implicating Mr. Frazier (2
RR at PSI page 8). Given this, appellate counsel cannot argue that Mr. Frazier should
not have entered a plea of guilty. It does not appear from the record that trial counsel
was ineffective.
12. Other matters investigated and found to lack merit
After reviewing the record and conferring with Mr. Frazier, appellate counsel
could identify no other matters to investigate.
PRAYER
Counsel prays that she be allowed to withdraw from representing Mr. Frazier in
this case, and that Mr. Frazier be given the opportunity to file his own brief.
Respectfully submitted,
Alexander Bunin
Chief Public Defender
Harris County Texas
/s/ Cheri Duncan
______________________________
Cheri Duncan
Assistant Public Defender
Texas Bar No. 06210500
1201 Franklin, 13th floor
9
Houston Texas 77002
(713) 368-0016 telephone
(713) 437-4318 e-fax
cheri.duncan@pdo.hctx.net
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this brief was served electronically on the Harris County
District Attorney’s Office on July 8, 2015.
/s/ Cheri Duncan
______________________________
Cheri Duncan
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that this brief complies with Rule 9.2, TEX. R. APP. PROC. It was prepared on
a computer using 14-point Garamond type. It contains 1,958 words that are subject to
the limits imposed by Rule 9.2.
/s/ Cheri Duncan
_____________________________
Cheri Duncan
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