Quintanilla, Francisco Javi v. State ( 2003 )

Opinion issued April 24, 2003

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

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NO. 01-02-00722-CR

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FRANCISCO JAVI QUINTANILLA, Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

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On Appeal from the 351st District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 895444

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MEMORANDUM OPINION

          Appellant, Francisco Javi Quintanilla, pleaded guilty without an agreed recommendation from the State to the felony offense of delivery of cocaine in an amount greater than 400 grams. After conducting a sentencing hearing, the trial court found appellant guilty and assessed punishment at 25 years’ confinement in prison and a $60,000 fine. In his first issue, appellant contends that the trial court erred by not withdrawing appellant’s guilty plea sua sponte at the sentencing hearing. In his second issue, appellant contends that his trial counsel was ineffective. We affirm.

Waiver

            We first address whether appellant waived his right to appeal. When appellant pleaded guilty, he signed a document that stated, “I waive any right of appeal which I may have should the court accept the foregoing plea bargain agreement between myself and the prosecutor.” Appellant did not, however, reach a plea agreement with the State. Despite the lack of a plea agreement, the trial court made the following note in the judgment: “Appeal waived. No permission to appeal granted.” Thus, the State contends that appellant waived his right to appeal.

          We do not agree that appellant voluntarily, intelligently, and knowingly waived his right to appeal. His waiver was conditioned upon the trial court’s accepting a plea agreement, yet it is undisputed that no such agreement existed. Because the existence of a plea agreement was a precondition to waiver, and because there was no plea agreement, appellant never waived his right to appeal. See Alzarka v. State, 90 S.W.2d 321, 324 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (boiler-plate waiver in plea form held ineffective). We hold that appellant did not waive his right to appeal and address his points of error below. Sua Sponte Withdrawal of Guilty Plea

          In his first point of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred by not withdrawing his guilty plea sua sponte at the sentencing hearing after appellant testified that he was coerced into delivering the cocaine in issue. Appellant argues (1) that the trial court had not taken   his case under advisement when appellant “proclaimed his innocence through the tacit defense of duress” and (2) that the court did not provide appellant the opportunity to prove his defense.

          It is well-settled that a defendant may withdraw his guilty plea as a matter of right before the trial court takes the case under advisement or pronounces judgment. Jackson v. State, 590 S.W.2d 514, 515 ( Tex. Crim. App. 1979). However, when the defendant decides to withdraw his guilty plea after the trial court takes the case under advisement or pronounces judgment, withdrawal of the plea is within the sole discretion of the trial court. Id. There is no requirement that a trial court withdraw a guilty plea sua sponte after the defendant waives his right to a jury trial and enters a guilty plea before the court, even if evidence subsequently arises that might reasonably and fairly raise an issue of fact as to the guilt of the defendant. Thomas v. State, 599 S.W.2d 823, 824 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980). As the trier of fact, the trial court may find the defendant either not guilty or guilty as the facts require, without withdrawing the defendant’s plea. Id.

          In this case, the trial court accepted appellant’s guilty plea and found sufficient evidence to support his guilt. Thus, the trial court took the case under advisement. Thereafter, both in the presentence investigation report and at the sentencing hearing, appellant claimed that he committed the offense because his family’s safety was threatened by co-conspirators who pressured appellant into delivering the cocaine. But appellant never requested the trial court to withdraw his guilty plea and never objected to his punishment. After the trial court took appellant’s case under advisement, it was well within the court’s discretion to disbelieve appellant’s version of events and find appellant guilty of the offense. See Jackson, 590 S.W.2d at 515. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by not withdrawing appellant’s guilty plea sua sponte.

          We overrule appellant’s first issue.

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

          In his second issue, appellant contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. We evaluate ineffective assistance of counsel claims by the standard set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). See Hernandez v. State, 726 S.W.2d 53, 55 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); Gamble v. State, 916 S.W.2d 92, 93 ( Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no pet.). Appellant must show both that (1) counsel’s performance was so deficient that counsel was not functioning as acceptable counsel under the Sixth Amendment, and (2) but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceedings would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; Gamble, 916 S.W.2d at 93.

          It is the defendant’s burden to prove ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. A defendant must overcome the presumption that the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy under the circumstances. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; Gamble, 916 S.W.2d at 93. A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must be firmly supported in the record. McFarland v. State, 928 S.W.2d 482, 500 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). An appellate court will not find ineffectiveness based on speculation. Gamble, 916 S.W.2d at 93.

          Appellant asserts that he was denied effective counsel because his trial counsel did not ask the court to allow appellant to withdraw his plea of guilty after appellant claimed he committed the offense under duress. Appellant did not file a motion for new trial, and nothing in the record demonstrates why appellant’s counsel did not make an effort to withdraw appellant’s guilty plea. To find trial counsel ineffective would call for this court to speculate, which we will not do. See Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); Gamble, 916 S.W.2d at 93; see also Henderson v. State, 29 S.W.3d 616, 624 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. ref’d) (holding trial counsel was not ineffective when record was silent as to trial counsel’s reasons for declining to request instruction on concurrent causation).

          We overrule appellant’s second issue.   

Conclusion

          We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                             Elsa Alcala

                                                             Justice

Panel consists of Justices Hedges, Jennings, and Alcala.

Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).