Mark Anthony Kennedy v. State ( 2006 )

                                                NO. 12-05-00034-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

MARK ANTHONY KENNEDY,      §                      APPEAL FROM THE 7TH

APPELLANT

V.        §                      JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

APPELLEE   §                      SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS

OPINION

            Mark Anthony Kennedy appeals his conviction for attempted aggravated kidnapping with a finding that he used a deadly weapon, for which he was sentenced to imprisonment for twenty years.  Appellant raises one issue on appeal.  We modify and, as modified, affirm.

Background

            Appellant was charged by indictment as follows:

[O]n or about the 10th day of March, 2004, and anterior to the presentment of this Indictment, in the County and State aforesaid, MARK KENNEDY did then and there, with the specific intent to commit the offense of Aggravated Kidnapping of Amanda Chastain, do an act, to-wit: threaten Amanda Chastain with a knife and pull Amanda Chastain towards a car, which amounted to more than mere preparation that tended but failed to effect the commission of the offense intended . . . .

Appellant pleaded guilty as charged without a plea bargain agreement.  The matter proceeded to a bench trial on the issue of punishment.  Following the presentation of evidence and the argument of counsel, the trial court sentenced Appellant to imprisonment for twenty years and entered a judgment containing a finding that Appellant used or exhibited a deadly weapon in the commission of the offense.  This appeal followed.

Notice of Intent to Seek “Deadly Weapon” Finding

            In his sole issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in making a finding that Appellant used a deadly weapon because Appellant was not given proper notice of the State’s intent to seek such a finding.

Waiver

            The State first argues that Appellant waived his right to appeal in conjunction with his open plea of guilty.  A valid waiver of appeal, whether negotiated or non-negotiated, will prevent a defendant from appealing without the consent of the trial court.  Monreal v. State, 99 S.W.3d 615, 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).  In the case at hand, although Appellant waived his right to appeal in writing, the trial court gave written consent dated December 20, 2004 for Appellant to appeal.  Thus, we conclude that Appellant may pursue his appeal. 

            The State further argues that Appellant waived the issue he now seeks to raise on appeal by his failure to object to the trial court’s finding that he used a deadly weapon.  In support of its argument, the State cites Hill v. State, 750 S.W.2d 2 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 1988, pet. ref’d, untimely filed). However, in Hill, the court did not address the issue of whether an appellant is required to object to the State’s failure to give notice that it seeks a finding that the defendant used a deadly weapon.  Id. It is, therefore, distinguishable from the case at hand.

            To the contrary, the court of criminal appeals has held that no amount of uncontroverted evidence, however conclusive it may seem, will remedy the fact that a defendant was given no prior indication that the nature of the weapon used was to be a particular issue in the case, with additional consequences vis-a-vis his liberty.  See Ex parte Patterson, 740 S.W.2d 766, 777 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987), overruled on other grounds, Ex parte Beck, 769 S.W.2d 525, 527 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989).  Since the court’s decision in Patterson, other courts of appeals have held that failure to object at trial does not forfeit a defendant’s right to raise the issue that he failed to receive proper notice of the State’s intent to seek a deadly weapon finding.  See, e.g., Tellez v. State, 170 S.W.3d 158, 163 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2005, no pet.); Patterson v. State, 138 S.W.3d 643, 646–47 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2004, no pet.); Powell v. State, 808 S.W.2d 102, 104–105 (Tex. App.–El Paso 1990, no pet.); Perry v. State, 744 S.W.2d 632, 633 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1987, no pet.).  In accordance with the court’s decision in Ex parte Patterson and the holdings of our sister courts of appeals, we hold that Appellant did not waive the issue he now seeks to raise by his failure to object at trial.

Notice

            Having concluded that Appellant can raise the issue, we now consider whether Appellant received notice that the State intended to seek a deadly weapon finding.¹  Entry of a deadly weapon finding without the requisite notice is constitutional error. See Tellez, 170 S.W.3d at 163.  The State may give notice of its intent to seek a deadly weapon finding in one of two ways: (1) by pleading the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon in the indictment or (2) by filing a separate pleading giving notice of such intent.  Patterson, 740 S.W.2d at 776; Rachuig v. State, 972 S.W.2d 170, 177 (Tex. App.–Waco 1998, pet. ref’d).  Here, since the record does not contain a separate pleading giving notice of such intent, we look at the face of the indictment to resolve the issue.  The indictment states, in pertinent part, as follows:

. . .MARK KENNEDY did then and there, with the specific intent to commit the offense of Aggravated Kidnapping of Amanda Chastain, do an act, to-wit: threaten Amanda Chastain with a knife and pull Amanda Chastain towards a car, which amounted to more than mere preparation that tended but failed to effect the commission of the offense intended . . . .

            Any allegation that avers a death or serious bodily injury was caused by a named weapon or instrument necessarily includes an allegation that the named weapon or instrument was, in the manner of its use, capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.  See Rachuig, 972 S.W.2d at 177 (citing Beck, 769 S.W.2d at 526).  No such allegations are included in the indictment before us.

            Moreover, the court of criminal appeals has held that a knife is not a deadly weapon per se.  See Thomas v. State, 821 S.W.2d 616, 619 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Rather, the pertinent details with regard to a knife’s potential classification as a deadly weapon include (1) the dimensions of the object, (2) the nature of the wounds it inflicted, (3) the manner of its use, and (4) its life threatening capabilities.  Id.  Again, no such allegations are set forth in the indictment at hand.  The knife at issue is not referred to as a “deadly weapon” in the indictment.  There is furthermore no description of the knife’s appearance or of the manner of Appellant’s alleged use of it.  We hold that the State failed to give Appellant notice in the indictment that it intended to seek a deadly weapon finding.  Because the State did not give Appellant the required notice, the trial court’s entry of a deadly weapon finding was erroneous, and the finding must be deleted.  See Patterson, 740 S.W.2d at 778, Patterson, 138 S.W.3d at 647; see also Polk v. State, 693 S.W.2d 391, 395-96 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985). Appellant’s sole issue is sustained.

Conclusion

            Having held that the trial court committed error, we modify the trial court’s judgment to delete the finding that Appellant used or exhibited a deadly weapon.  However, we need not reverse unless we determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to punishment.  See Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(a); Tellez, 170 S.W.3d at 163–64.  Here, the deadly weapon finding does not affect when Appellant will be eligible for parole.  See Tex. Gov’t. Code Ann. § 508.145(d) (Vernon Supp. 2005); Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 42.12 § 3g(a)(1)(D), (2) (Vernon Supp. 2005). Moreover, the trial court’s deadly weapon finding in the instant case cannot be said to have lengthened Appellant’s sentence inasmuch as use or exhibition of a deadly weapon is not a required element of aggravated kidnapping assuming the evidence demonstrates that the accused possessed the requisite mens rea.  See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 20.04 (Vernon 2003); see also Patterson, 740 S.W.2d at 778.  Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.

                                                                                                    SAM GRIFFITH   

                                                                                                               Justice

Opinion delivered February 28, 2006.

Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and DeVasto, J.

(DO NOT PUBLISH)

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¹ The State makes no contention in its brief that the indictment did, in fact, provide Appellant notice of its intent to seek a deadly weapon finding.