Dylyn Reed Richards v. State ( 2015 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-13-00412-CR
DYLYN REED RICHARDS,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 40th District Court
Ellis County, Texas
Trial Court No. 37254CR
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Dylyn Richards appeals from a conviction for intoxication manslaughter causing
the death of a peace officer. TEX. PEN. CODE ANN. §§ 49.08(a)(2), 49.09(b-2) (West 2011).
Richards complains that the judgment is erroneous because it references the incorrect
section of the penal code, affirmatively states that no appeal had been filed, improperly
awarded a specific amount of costs, and that the award of restitution had no factual basis
in the record. Because we find that the judgment was erroneous because it contained the
incorrect section of the penal code under which Richards was convicted, we modify the
judgment to reflect that Richards was convicted under sections 49.08(a)(2) and 49.09(b-2)
of the penal code. As modified, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Errors
In his first three issues, Richards complains of errors in the judgment entered in
this cause. In his first issue, Richards complains that the judgment entered is erroneous
because it reflects that he was convicted pursuant to section 49.07 of the penal code. The
State agrees that Richards was convicted pursuant to sections 49.08(a)(2) and 49.09(b-2)
and does not oppose the modification to the judgment. We sustain issue one.
In his second issue, Richards complains that the judgment is erroneous in that it
states that no notice of appeal had been filed. Richards was sentenced in open court on
August 30, 2013; however, the judgment was not signed until September 10, 2013.
Richards contends that a notice of appeal had been filed as of September 2, 2013. Our
review of the record indicates that while an attorney was appointed to represent Richards
in an appeal on September 4, 2013, no notice of appeal was actually filed until November
14, 2013.1 Because the record does not demonstrate that the judgment was incorrect on
the date it was signed by the trial court, we overrule issue two.
In his third issue, Richards complains that the judgment was erroneous because
there was insufficient evidence to support the specific amount of court costs because there
1A motion for new trial was timely filed on September 27, 2013, which extended the deadline for filing the
notice of appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 26.2(a)(2).
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was no bill of costs. A bill of costs has subsequently been prepared and included in a
supplemental clerk's record setting forth the specific amount of costs to be paid by
Richards. The Court of Criminal Appeals has held that this is an appropriate procedure
and that once the bill of costs has been prepared, the specific amount can be challenged
by the methods set forth in the code of criminal procedure. See Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d
385, 396 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014); see also TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 103.008 (West 2006).
Richards does not further complain that any specific item of costs is erroneous in this
appeal. Because there is now a bill of costs in the record that corresponds with the
amount of court costs awarded, we overrule issue three.
Restitution
In his fourth issue, Richards complains that there was not a factual basis to support
the assessment of restitution. We review challenges to restitution orders under an abuse
of discretion standard. Cartwright v. State, 605 S.W.2d 287, 289 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel
Op.] 1980); Drilling v. State, 134 S.W.3d 468, 469 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, no pet.). An
abuse of discretion by the trial court in setting the amount of restitution will implicate
due process considerations. Campbell v. State, 5 S.W.3d 693, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
Due process places three separate limits on the restitution a trial court may order: (1) the
amount must be just and supported by a factual basis within the record, (2) the restitution
ordered must be only for the offense for which the defendant is criminally responsible,
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and (3) the restitution must be for the victim or victims of the offense for which the
offender is charged. See Campbell, 5 S.W.3d at 696-97; Drilling, 134 S.W.3d at 470.
There must be sufficient evidence in the record to support the trial court's order.
Cartwright, 605 S.W.2d at 289. The standard of proof for determining restitution is a
preponderance of the evidence. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.037(k). The
burden of proving the amount of loss sustained by the victim is on the prosecuting
attorney. Id.
In our consideration of whether the restitution order was proper, we note that no
complaint to the trial court is required to preserve error for challenges to the sufficiency
of the evidence; however, challenges to the propriety of trial court rulings must be
preserved for appeal. See Idowu v. State, 73 S.W.3d 918, 921 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). In
other words, while complaints as to the "factual basis" of a trial court's order may be
raised for the first time on appeal, complaints as to the "appropriateness" of that order
must be preserved in the trial court. See id.
The jury determined the sentence to be imposed on Richards. After the jury was
discharged but prior to the trial court formally sentencing Richards, the State asked the
trial court to be heard on the issue of restitution. The State presented the trial court with
a letter from the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool which set forth
the amount of restitution they were seeking to reimburse them for costs paid for the
vehicle and due to the victim's death. The State also stated the specific amount owed to
Richards v. State Page 4
the compensation to victims of crime fund. The trial court took the documents into his
chambers to review. The trial court then assessed the entire amount requested from the
Texas Municipal League and the amount owed to the compensation to victims of crime
fund as restitution. Richards did not object at any time to this procedure.
Where the trial court and the parties, without objection, treat certain proof as if it
had been admitted in evidence, it is not error for the trial court to consider the same in
reaching its verdict. See Ex parte Reagan, 549 S.W.2d 204, 205 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977)
(affirming where court and parties treated governor's warrant in habeas corpus hearing
as if admitted into evidence); Killion v. State, 503 S.W.2d 765, 765-66 (Tex. Crim. App.
1973) (reviewing court permitted to consider defendant's stipulations to charged offenses
where considered by trial court in adjudicating guilt for theft and burglary, although
written stipulations not formally admitted into evidence); Richardson v. State, 475 S.W.2d
932, 932-33 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972) (finding that record showed court admitted exhibits
to support adjudication of guilt for burglary even though court did not specifically state
that exhibits were admitted into evidence). If Richards wanted to object to the amounts
as they were presented to the trial court, he was required to make a specific and timely
objection to the trial judge and to get a ruling from the trial court on the complaint. TEX.
R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A). Because he did not object to the trial court, Richards did not
preserve for appellate review his argument that the trial court did not conduct a formal
hearing or properly receive evidence. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a).
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We must next determine whether a factual basis exists for the order of restitution.
The amounts set forth in the letter from the Texas Municipal League and the amount
owed to the compensation to victims of crime fund as stated by the State comprise the
amount ordered as restitution. Therefore, we find that there was a factual basis for the
award in the record. We overrule issue four.
Conclusion
Because we find that the judgment should be modified to reflect the correct
sections of the penal code under which Richards was convicted, we modify the judgment
of conviction to state that Richards was convicted pursuant to sections 49.08(a)(2) and
49.09(b-1) of the penal code. Having found no other reversible error, we affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
TOM GRAY
Chief Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Modified, and affirmed as modified
Opinion delivered and filed April 9, 2015
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