Townsley, Antonio Demond v. State ( 2012 )

AFFIRM; Opinion issued December 21, 2012.
In The
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No. 05-11-00921-CR
ANTONIO DEMOND TOWNSLEY, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 194th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No, F08-50255-M
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Moseley, Fillmore, and Myers
Opinion By Justice Fillmore
The trial court found Antonio Demond Townsley guilty of the offense of forgery, enhanced
by one prior conviction and assessed punishment of seven years’ imprisonment. On appeal,
Townsley asserts (1) the trial court lacked jurisdiction to proceed with an adjudication of guilt after
the period of community supervision had expired, and (2) trial counsel was ineffective by failing to
object to the trial court’s lack of jurisdiction. We affirm the trial court’s judgment. We limit
recitation of the background and facts of this case because these matters are well known to the
parties. We issue this memorandum opinion because the law to be applied is well settled. See TEx.
R. APP. P. 47.2(a), 47.4.
Background
iownsley was charged with cornniitting forgery by check, enhanced by one prior conviction.
On July 2, 2008, Townsley pleaded guilty to the forgery offense and true to the enhancement
paragraph. The trial court deferred an adjudication of Townsley’s guilt, placed Townsley on
community supervision for a period of two years, and assessed a fine of $250.
On May 7, 2009, the State filed a motion to prceed with an adjudication of guilt, alleging
Townsley failed to comply with the conditions of community supervision by (1) committing a new
offense on March 26, 2009; (2) being delinquent in the amount of $540 for probation fees, $50 for
payments to crime stoppers, and $90 for urinalysis fees; and (3) failing to perform comnulnity
service hours and complete substance abuse evaluation. On May 7, 2009, the trial court issued a
capias for Townsley’s arrest, On June 18, 2010, the State filed an amended motion to adjudicate
guilt, alleging Townsley failed to comply with the conditions of community supervision by (1)
committing a new offense on March 26, 2009; (2) failing to report to the supervision officer from
May 2009 through June 2010; (3) being delinquent in the amount of $465 for payment of costs or
fines, $1380 for probation fees, $50 for payments to crime stoppers, and $200 for urinalysis fees; and
(4) failing to perform community service hours and complete substance abuse evaluation. The trial
court did not issue a new capias following the filing of the amended motion.
On June 17, 2011, the trial court held a hearing on the amended motion to adjudicate guilt.
The State withdrew the allegation that Townsley committed a new offense, and Townsley pleaded
true to the remaining allegations. The trial court adjudicated Townsley guilty and assessed
punishment of seven years’ imprisonment.
Trial Court’s Jurisdiction
In his first issue, Townsley argues the trial court did not have jurisdiction to proceed with an
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adjudication of guilt based on the amended motion after the period of community supervision had
expired because no capias issued before the expiration of the period of community supervision on
the amended motion. Townsley specifically asserts the law requires a motion to adjudicate guilt he
accompanied by a capias which relates specifically to that IflOtiOfl.
Generally, a trial court’s jurisdiction over a defendant’s criminal charge expires once the
defendant successfully completes the period of deferred community supervision. TEx, ConE CRIM.
PROC. ANN, art. 42.12, § 5(c) (West Supp. 2012),2 However, when a motion to adjudicate guilt is
filed and a capias is issued before the expiration of the period of community supervision, the court
retains jurisdiction to proceed with an adjudication of guilt after the period of community
supervision has expired. Id. art. 42. 12, § 5(h); see also Gui/lot v. State, 543 S.W.2d 650, 652—53
(Tex. Crirn. App. 1976); In re Cherry, 258 S.W.3d 328, 332 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, orig.
proceeding).
Relying on Jones v. State, No. I 20l.00221.CR, 2002 WL 940192 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2002,
no pet.) (per curiam) (not designated for publication), Townsley argues the trial court did not have
jurisdiction to proceed with an adjudication of guilt following the expiration of the period of
community supervision because, although a capias issued following the filing of the original motion
to adjudicate, a second capias was not issued on the amended motion to adjudicate guilt. In Jones,
the defendant pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and was sentenced to 180 days in
jail, probated for one year. Within the probationary period, the State filed a motion to revoke
“A caflias ad resiwndendurn, usually simply termed a ‘capias,’ is a ‘writ commanding the shenff to take the defendant into custody to ensure
that the defendant will appear in court.” Rarnire2 v. State. 84 S.W.3d 392,394 n.l (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006. no pet.) (quoting BLACK’S LAW
DICTK)NARY 200 (7th ed, 1999)).
2
Belbre 1993. the statuLo term br “community supervision” was ‘probation.’ See Riley s’. State, 378 S.W.3d 453. 455 n. (Tex. Crim. App.
2012). We use the terms interchangeably in this opinion.
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probation and an amended motion to revoke probation. Id. at * . Although capias was issued on
both motions, neither capias was executed on the defendant. Id. The revocation hearing was held
after the probationary period had expired.
The defendant requested the trial court dismiss the motion to revoke asserting, as a defense
to the revocation, that the State had not used due diligence in executing the capias. Id, at 1, *2,
The trial court denied the defendant’s motion and revoked his probation. Id. at *1, The only issue
on appeal was whether the State had used due diligence in executing the capias. Id. at *2. Jones did
not address whether it was necessary to issue a capias on an amended motion to revoke in order to
vest the trial court with jurisdiction to hear the amended motion after the period of community
supervision had expired.
3
In Johnston v. State, 774 S.W.2d 818 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989, no pet.), the defendant was
placed on deferred adjudication probation for a period of two years. During the probationary period,
the State filed a motion to adjudicate guilt and a capias was issued. Id. at 818—19. The defendant
filed a motion to quash on the ground the State’s motion did not give sufficient notice of the
allegations. Id. at 819. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion. Before the probationary
period expired, the State filed another motion to adjudicate, but no capias was issued on the second
motion. Id. The hearing on the second motion was not concluded until after the probationary period
had expired. hi.
On appeal, the defendant asserted the trial court did not havejurisdiction to proceed with the
revocation because a capias was not issued on the second motion to adjudicate guilt. Id. This Court
Townsley also cites to Brecheisen v,State, 4 S.W3d 761 (Tex, Crim. App. 1999), Pollard v,Srare, 172 Tex. Crini. 39, 353 S.W.2d 449(1962).
and Garca c’. State, 695 S.W,2d 726 (Tex. App.—Dallas 985), aff’d, 725 S,W.2d 256 (Tex, Crim. App. 1987) in support of his argument. However,
these cases all address whether the State exercised due diligence in serving the defendant with a motion to adjudicate or whether any capias was issued
and executed to bring the defendant into custody. Accordingly, they do not support Townsley’s argument.
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disagreed, concluding ftwmer article 42.12, section 8(a) (now article 42. 12, section 21 (b))
4 of the
code of criminal procedure did not require that a motion be filed prior to the capias being issued.
Id. We concluded the jurisdictional requirements are met “whenever a motion to revoke is filed and
a capias is issued during the probationary period, regardless of which comes first.” Id. at 820. Once
the State filed a motion to revoke and a capias was issued, the trial court had jurisdiction to
determine the merits of the motion after the probationary period expired. Id. There is no statutory
requirement to execute a second capias on either a new motion to adjudicate or an amended motion
to adjudicate. LL
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The San Antonio Court of Appeals considered a similar issue in Ruiz v. State, 100 S.W.3d
259 (Tex. App.—.--San Antonio 2002. pet. ref’d). In Ruiz, the defendant was placed on community
supervision for a period of two years. During the period of community supervision, a capias was
issued for the defendant’s arrest. Id. at 260. Two months later, but still within the period of
community supervision, the State filed a motion to revoke community supervision based on the
defendant’s failure to report after the capias was issued. The hearing on the State’s motion was held
after the period of community supervision had expired. Id.
On appeal, the defendant asserted the trial court did not have jurisdiction to proceed with the
revocation because the date on the capias preceded the date on which the alleged violations of
community supervision occurred and no capias was issued on the State’s motion to revoke. Id. The
court of appeals noted the purpose of a capias “is simply to secure the presence of a defendant at a
See Act of May 29, 1989. 7 St Lag., R.S., ch. 785, § 4.17, 1989 Tex, Gen. Laws 347 3501: Act of May 29, I99, 73d Lag., R.S., ch. 900,
,
* 4.01, 2003 Tex. Gen, Laws 3716, 3739—40 (current version at TEX. CODE CRtM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, §21(b) (West Supp. 2012)); see also TEX.
CODE CRM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.12, §5th).
See also Cook e. State, No.05-104)1072-CR. 2012 WL 1371071, at ‘2 (Tex. App.DalIas Apr. 20, 2012, no pet.) (mern. op., not designated
for publication); Jones v.5/ate, No, 06-08-00077-CR, 2008 WL 5156446, at * I and n.3 (Tex. App.—Texarkana Dec. 10, 2008. pet. ref’d) (mem.
op.. not designated for publication).
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proceeding against him.” hi. It is the motion to revoke, not the capias, that determines the
allegations that are the basis of the revocation hearing, and it is not required that “a motion to revoke
he filed prior to the capias being issued,” hi. Although the capias on which the defendant was
arrested was not issued on the motion to revoke, the trial court had jurisdiction to proceed with the
revocation because the motion was filed and the capias was issued during the period of community
supervision, Id. at 260—61; see also Ajinowzc v. State, 689 S.W.2d 252, 254 (Tex. App.—Waco
1985, no pet.) (“Thus, when the State filed the original motion to revoke and issued the first capias,
the court acquired limited jurisdiction to hear the motion after the probation period expired. This
jurisdiction included the power to hear the amended motion because it was filed within the probation
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period.”).
In this case, the amended motion to adjudicate guilt was filed and a capias was issued during
the period of community supervision. Accordingly, the trial court had jurisdiction to proceed with
the revocation after the period of community supervision had expired. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. art. 42.12, * 5(h); Johnston, 774 S.W.2d at 820; Ruiz, 100 S.W.3d at 260. We resolve
Townsley’s first issue against him.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In his second issue, Townsley asserts he received ineffective assistance of counsel because
trial counsel failed to object to the trial court’s lack of jurisdiction to hear the amended motion to
adjudicate. To prevail on an ineffective assistance claim, appellant must show (1) counsel’s
performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms;
and (2) a reasonable probability exists that, but for counsel’s errors, the result would have been
6
See also Phillips Slate, Nos, 05- 6-()l523-CR—05-06-01525-CR, 2007 WL 1126481, at *2 (Tex. App—Dallas Nov. 21, 2007, no pet.)
(not designated for publication).
different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 US. 668,687—88,689(1984); Exparte Lane, 303 S,W3d
702, 707 (Tex. Crim, App. 2009); see aLo Riley c. Stare, 378 S,W3d 453,456 n,5 (Tex. Crim, App.
2012). A defendant’s failure to satisfy one prong negates the need to consider the other prong.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697; Ex parte Lane, 303 S.W.3d at 707.
We have concluded the trial court had jurisdiction to hear the State’s amended motion to
adjudicate guilt. Therefore, we cannot conclude trial counsel’s failure to raise the issue of
jurisdiction fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. See Exparte Martinez, 330 S.W.3d
891, 901 (Tex. Crim. App.), ccii. denied, 131 S. Ct. 3073 (2011) (‘To successfully assert that trial
counsel’s failure to object amounted to ineffective assistance, the applicant must show that the trial
judge would have committed error in overruling such an ohjection”). Therefore, Townsley has
failed to satisfy the first prong of the Strickland standard. We resolve Townsley’s second issue
against him,
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
.
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE
Do Not Publish
Tux. R. APp. P.47
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JUDGMENT
ANTONIO DEMOND TOWNSLEY, Appeal from the 194th Judicial District
Appellant Court of Dallas County, Texas. (Tr.Ct.No.
FO85025 5 M).
No, 051 1M092lCR V. Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
Justices Moseley and Myers participating.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, AppeHee
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIR11ED.
Judgment entered December 21, 2(12.
ROBERT M. FILLMORE
JUSTICE