Nan Canion v. State ( 2014 )

NUMBER 13-13-00204-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
NAN CANION, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 24th District Court
of Calhoun County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Valdez and Justices Benavides and Longoria
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Benavides
By six issues, which we consolidate and re-number as four issues, appellant, Nan
Canion, challenges the trial court’s finding of guilt and subsequent order of restitution.
We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND1
A Calhoun County grand jury indicted Canion for theft of an amount more than
$1,500 but less than $20,000 (“the 7227 indictment”), a state jail felony enhanced to a
third-degree felony. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03 (e)(4)(A), (f)(3)(B) (West,
Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.) (enhancing the offense if shown that the owner of the
property appropriated was at the time of the offense a nonprofit organization).
The allegations in the 7227 indictment stem from Canion’s role as treasurer for
the Calhoun County Youth Rodeo Association (CCYRA), a nonprofit organization.
According to the State’s indictment, Canion unlawfully appropriated money by writing
several unauthorized checks from the CCYRA’s bank account from May 20, 2009
through September 29, 2010. Subsequently, the State indicted Canion for an additional
charge of theft of an amount more than $1,500 but less than $20,000 (“the 7228
indictment”) arising from alleged unauthorized checks written while Canion served as
CCYRA’s treasurer during the period of 2007 through 2008.
Canion and the State reached a plea agreement in which Canion waived her right
to a jury trial and plead guilty to the 7227 indictment. The State agreed to dismiss the
7228 indictment, and the agreement further states that restitution was “TBD . . . at [the]
punishment hearing.”
On January 3, 2013, Canion entered an open plea of guilty to the trial court on the
7227 indictment and judicially confessed to all of the allegations contained in the 7227
indictment. The trial court took the plea under advisement and reset the case for a
separate sentencing hearing. On March 8, 2013, the trial court held a hearing to decide
1A related civil appeal styled Canion v. Roberts, Roberts Odefey & White with appellate cause
number 13-13-00258-CV is also before this Court.
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Canion’s punishment. Several witnesses testified at the hearing, including Canion.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court found that the evidence
substantiated Canion’s guilt, deferred adjudication, and placed Canion on probation for
ten years. In addition to other punishments including required completion of community
service hours and a $2,500 fine, the trial court ordered Canion to pay restitution to the
CCYRA in the amount of $20,847. This appeal followed.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
By her second issue, Canion asserts that the State failed to present sufficient
evidence to support her plea of guilty.
A. Applicable Law and Standard of Review
The statute controlling this issue states the following:
No person can be convicted of a felony except upon the verdict of a jury duly
rendered and recorded, unless the defendant, upon entering a plea, has in
open court in person waived his right of trial by jury in writing . . . ; provided,
however, that it shall be necessary for the state to introduce evidence into
the record showing the guilt of the defendant and said evidence shall be
accepted by the court as the basis for its judgment and in no event shall a
person charged be convicted upon his plea without sufficient evidence to
support the same. The evidence may be stipulated if the defendant in such
case consents in writing, in open court, to waive the appearance,
confrontation, and cross-examination of witnesses, and further consents
either to an oral stipulation of the evidence and testimony or to the
introduction of testimony by affidavits, written statements of witnesses, and
any other documentary evidence in support of the judgment of the court.
Such waiver and consent must be approved by the court in writing, and be
filed in the file of the papers of the cause.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 1.15 (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.).
The Jackson standard of review for sufficiency challenges is inapplicable where a
defendant enters a plea of nolo contendere or guilty. See Chindaphone v. State, 241
S.W.3d 217, 219 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007, pet. ref’d). Instead, an appellate court
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will affirm the trial court’s judgment under article 1.15 if the State introduced evidence
that embraces every essential element of the offense charged and that is sufficient to
establish the defendant’s guilt. Id.; see also Tijerina v. State, 264 S.W.3d 320, 323
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2008, pet. ref’d). A judicial confession, standing alone, is
sufficient to sustain a conviction upon a guilty plea under article 1.15. Dinnery v. State,
592 S.W.2d 343, 353 (Tex. Crim. App. 1979) (op. on reh’g).
B. Discussion
The January 3, 2013 plea hearing record shows that the trial court asked Canion
whether she had reviewed and signed the State’s punishment recommendation, her
judicial confession, and plea memorandum submitted to the trial court as evidence.
Canion replied in the affirmative. The trial court further inquired whether she was
waiving her right to trial, confrontation, and cross examination of witnesses solely on the
issue of guilt. Canion again replied in the affirmative. Finally, Canion made a
voluntary plea of guilty to the trial court on the 7227 indictment.
Canion argues that the State failed to meet its burden under article 1.15. We
disagree. The State introduced, without objection, Canion’s judicial confession which
stated the following:
Under oath, in writing and in open Court, I swear that I have read the
indictment . . . in this cause, that I am the person named in the indictment .
. . , that I understand everything that it contains and that I am guilty of all
allegations made in the indictment . . . , including any amendments or
modifications thereto, as well as any lesser included offenses. I agree
and understand that the [t]rial [c]ourt will consider this judicial confession
as evidence. Finally, I further testify that all allegations contained in the
indictment . . . are true and correct.
Under Dinnery, Canion’s judicial confession regarding “all allegations” made in the 7227
indictment is sufficient to sustain her conviction based upon her guilty plea as required
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by article 1.15. See id. Accordingly, Canion’s first issue is overruled.
III. RESTITUTION
By her first and third issues, Canion asserts that the trial court erred in ordering
her to pay: (1) any restitution related to the 7728 indictment; and (2) any restitution at
all.
A. Applicable Law and Standard of Review
In sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense, a trial court may order the
defendant to make restitution to any victim of the offense. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. art. 42.037 (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). Restitution is intended to
adequately compensate the victim of the offense in the course of punishing the criminal
offender and is focused on the victims of the offenses for which a defendant has been
convicted. Cabla v. State, 6 S.W.3d 543, 545–46 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (internal
quotations omitted).
The trial court is also within its sound discretion to order restitution as a condition of
probation so long as the amount set by the court has a factual basis in the record and was
just. See Martin v. State, 874 S.W.2d 674, 676 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). Thus, a trial
court’s order of restitution is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See Campbell v. State,
5 S.W.3d 693, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (“An abuse of discretion by the trial court in
setting the amount of restitution will implicate due–process considerations.”). This
discretion is not unlimited. A trial court may not order restitution for an offense for which
the defendant is not criminally responsible. Campbell, 5 S.W.3d at 697. Furthermore, a
trial court may not order restitution to anyone but the victim or victims of the offense with
which the offender is charged. See Martin, 874 S.W.2d at 679. Finally, a trial court may
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not order restitution to other victims unless their losses have been adjudicated.
Campbell, 5 S.W.3d at 697.
B. Discussion
In her first issue, Canion argues that the trial court abused its discretion by
ordering her to pay restitution for an amount related to the 7228 indictment because she
was not found criminally responsible for the 7228 indictment.
A trial court may only order a defendant to make restitution for losses caused by
an offense for which she has been found criminally responsible. Gordon v. State, 707
S.W.2d 626, 630 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). Canion correctly points out that because the
State only prosecuted the 7227 indictment, she was only criminally responsible for the
7227 indictment; however, the procedural posture of this case renders the rule in Gordon
inapplicable.
In Gordon, the defendant was found guilty of violating the civil rights of a prisoner.
At the time of the decision, such a charge was a third-degree felony. If the prisoner
sustained a serious bodily injury, the charge was enhanced to a second-degree felony; if
death occurred, the charge became a first-degree felony. See id. at 627. The prisoner
in Gordon died from his injuries, but the jury found Gordon guilty solely of the
third-degree felony. The jury recommended that Gordon’s sentence be probated, and
the trial court followed that finding with the condition of probation that Gordon pay the
prisoner’s family restitution of “up to” four thousand dollars as a reimbursement for the
decedent’s funeral expenses. See id. at 628. The court of criminal appeals held that
in light of the jury’s finding, the trial court’s order for Gordon to pay the decedent’s funeral
expenses was a denial of due process, “tantamount to penalizing [Gordon] for an offense
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of which he was acquitted.”
Unlike in Gordon, Canion entered into a negotiated plea agreement with the
State, which was admitted into evidence at the sentencing hearing. The record reflects
that the restitution was “TBD . . . at punishment hearing.” Furthermore, the State
agreed to “dismiss” the 7228 indictment. The record reveals that Canion’s trial counsel
acknowledged at the conclusion of the plea hearing that the amount of restitution to be
determined by the trial court would relate to the allegations in the 7227 and 7228
indictments:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: [. . .] I've been apprized be the D.A. that the
only restitution amounts that we're going to be
talking about are in 7227 and 7228 that we're
limiting our parameter to that and that way I can
know exactly what to present to the court in
both the P.S.I. and punishment hearing set for
March 8th.
[THE STATE]: That's correct, your Honor, we're not going
beyond 2007.
At the March 8, 2013 sentencing hearing, the State introduced two sets of the
CCYRA’s bank statements for the years 2009 through 2010 and the years 2007 through
2008. Prior to the admission of these two exhibits, Canion’s trial counsel made the
following statement:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: [. . .] Number two, and more importantly, is that
my understanding of the agreement with the
Court that even though the other indictment
was dismissed the Court was going to allow
him to put in evidence of the 7228, which is the
2007 and 2008 and I'm understanding that was
the agreement, so with that understanding then
no other objection other than that.
When Canion agreed to the terms of a plea bargain agreement, she was deemed
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to enter into the agreement knowingly and voluntarily unless shown otherwise, and, in
effect, became a party to a “contract” with the State. See Ex parte Williams, 637
S.W.2d 943, 947 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982). The “contract” becomes operative when the
court announces it will be bound by the plea agreement. Id. Both the defendant and
the State are bound to carry out the terms of the agreement as set out by the parties.
Id. To allow Canion to circumvent the terms of an agreement on appeal, after her trial
counsel and the State stipulated on the record to its terms regarding what the trial court
could consider for purposes of ordering restitution, would defeat the purpose of the
agreement and render it meaningless. Therefore, after reviewing the record, we hold
that the Gordon rule is inapplicable under the facts of this case because a prior
agreement had been reached between Canion and the State. Canion’s first issue is
overruled.
By her third issue, Canion argues that the State failed to meet its burden to show
that the amount of the restitution order be supported by a factual basis. We disagree.
The record shows that CCYRA is a non-profit organization in which Canion
served as treasurer in an unpaid capacity. CCYRA member Richard Meyer testified
that Canion’s responsibilities as treasurer involved keeping “the books” and “receipts” as
well as a “green money box.” Furthermore, the State introduced two separate exhibits
of bank statements of transctions for the period of 2009 until 2010 and 2007 until 2008,
as well as spreadsheets prepared by the CCYRA’s accountant for a meeting between
the CCYRA and Canion regarding checks made in Canion’s name from the CCYRA’s
bank account. The trial court also admitted the 7727 and 7728 indictments, which
contained itemizations of the checks and totals that the CCYRA claimed Canion
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misappropriated from the organization for 2007 through 2008 and 2009 through 2010.
Meyer testified that the total amount of restitution CCYRA sought to recover was
$20,847.86. However, Canion disputed the $20,847.86 figure and testified that she had
offered $11,000 in restitution to the CCYRA. Canion also filed a supplement to her
pre-sentence investigation report, in which she apologized for her actions and stated that
she owed the CCYRA $2,316.08 based upon her own accounting.
When conflicting evidence is presented, reconciliation of those conflicts is within
the sole province of the factfinder because it turns on an evaluation of credibility and
demeanor. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.04 (West, Westlaw through 2013
3d C.S.); see also Cain v. State, 958 S.W.2d 404, 408–09 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering Canion
to pay restitution in the amount of $20,847.86 because such amount has a factual basis
in the record. See Martin, 874 S.W.2d at 676. Canion’s third issue is overruled.
IV. PLEA AGREEMENT
Canion argues in her fourth and fifth issues that the trial court erred by admitting
and considering evidence “in contravention of the agreed plea recommendation” and not
allowing Canion to withdraw her plea.
Specifically, Canion argues in her fourth issue that the trial court improperly
considered the 7228 indictment because such an indictment should have been
dismissed as part of the plea agreement entered into by the State and Canion. We are
unpersuaded. As outlined in Parts II and III of this opinion, Canion voluntarily entered
into a plea agreement with the State, in which restitution would be determined at a
separate hearing and the State would dismiss the 7228 indictment. Canion contends,
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however, that she agreed to the plea “with the understanding that the 7228 indictment
was to be dismissed and the [trial] court was not going to consider the amounts set out in
the 7228 indictment.” While the former of Canion’s contention is supported by the
record, the latter is not. The record is clear that the parties stipulated on the record that
the amount of restitution would be limited to the 7227 and 7228 indictments. The State
stated on the record that a motion to dismiss the 7228 indictment was filed by the State,
but the trial court carried it with the case and did not rule on it. The record shows that
the State’s agreement to dismiss the 7228 indictment did not affect the parties’
agreement, as stated in open court, because the 7227 and 7228 indictments would be
considered solely for purposes of determining the amount of restitution. Canion’s fourth
issue is overruled.
Canion argues by her fifth issue that because the trial court “decline[d]” to follow
the plea agreement, it should have sua sponte withdrawn Canion’s plea of guilty and
enter a not guilty plea. We incorporate our review of the record from Parts II, III, and IV
of this opinion and note that the record does not show any effort or intent by the trial
court to “decline” following the plea agreement. Therefore, Canion’s argument is
without merit. We overrule Canion’s fifth issue.
V. EVIDENTIARY RULINGS
By Canion’s sixth and final issue, she asserts that the trial court erred by admitting
copies of spreadsheets prepared by the CCYRA’s accountant, labeled State’s Exhibits 5,
6, and 7.
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
A trial court’s admission of evidence after finding it authentic is reviewed for an
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abuse of discretion. Tienda v. State, 358 S.W.3d 633, 638 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). If
the trial court’s ruling that a jury could reasonably find proffered evidence authentic is at
least “within the zone of reasonable disagreement,” we will not interfere. Id.
Authentication is a condition precedent to admissibility that may be satisfied by
“evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent
claims.” TEX. R. EVID. 901(a). Evidence may be authenticated in a number of ways,
including by direct testimony from a witness with personal knowledge, by comparison
with other authenticated evidence, or by circumstantial evidence. Tienda, 358 S.W.3d
at 638.
B. Discussion
Canion argues that the trial court abused its discretion by overruling her trial
counsel’s objections to the authenticity of State’s Exhibits 5, 6, and 7 because the State
introduced the evidence through an improper witness.
The State introduced State’s Exhibits 5, 6, and 7 through CCYRA member Meyer.
Prior to the exhibits’ admission, Meyer testified that the CCYRA accountant, whose
name is not apparent from the record, prepared spreadsheets of the CCYRA bank
account transactions in advance of a meeting that Meyer had with Canion. Over
Canion’s objection on authenticity, the State asked Meyer whether these exhibits were
kept by CCYRA in the ordinary course of business, to which Meyer replied “No, sir.”
Meyer additionally testified that the spreadsheets were prepared by the “CPA” from the
CCYRA bank statements. On voir dire by Canion’s trial counsel, the following colloquy
with Meyer took place:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Mr. Meyer, you didn't produce those documents
5, 6 and 7; correct?
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MEYER: No, sir.
Q. You didn't look at checks and go back and
determine what, if anything, was included in
that 5, 6 and 7; correct?
A. No, sir.
Q. And, in fact, what the prosecutor asked you,
you looked at the front page; correct?
A. Just now?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. And you can't explain to the Court what
the foundation is or the basis of even any of
those numbers being on there because you
didn't prepare it; correct?
A. I did not prepare it; correct.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Same objection, Judge, no proper foundation.
THE COURT: [Exhibits] Five, six and seven are admitted.
The record shows that Meyer did not produce or prepare exhibits 5, 6, and 7, nor
was he entirely familiar with the exhibits until they were handed to him by the prosecutor.
Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court’s finding of authenticity was outside of the
zone of reasonable disagreement. See id. The State could have properly
authenticated these records through other evidence, such as the direct testimony of the
accountant who prepared the documents.
Because we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion, we must now
evaluate for harm. See TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2. Generally, if the trial court’s ruling merely
offends the rules of evidence, the erroneous admission or exclusion of evidence is
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non-constitutional error for purposes of a harm analysis. See Celis v. State, 354
S.W.3d 7, 38 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2011), aff’d 416 S.W.3d 419 (Tex. Crim. App.
2013). Non-constitutional errors that do not affect substantial rights must be
disregarded. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b). Inadmissible evidence can be rendered
harmless if other evidence at trial is admitted without objection and it proves the same
fact that the inadmissible evidence sought to prove. Anderson v. State, 717 S.W.2d
622, 628 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (en banc). The inadmissible spreadsheets appeared
to be summaries from the CCYRA’s more detailed monthly bank statements evidencing
transactions, which were admitted without objection. Accordingly, the erroneous
admission of the spreadsheets were harmless and did not constitute reversible error.
See id. Canion’s final issue is overruled.
VI. CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
__________________________
GINA M. BENAVIDES,
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2 (b).
Delivered and filed the
3rd day of July, 2014.
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