State v. Sean Michael McGuire ( 2015 )


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  •                                                                                              ACCEPTED
    01-14-01023-CR
    FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
    HOUSTON, TEXAS
    6/10/2015 5:48:47 PM
    CHRISTOPHER PRINE
    CLERK
    NO. 01-14-01023-CR
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE       FILED IN
    1st COURT OF APPEALS
    FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON, TEXAS
    AT HOUSTON, TEXAS       6/10/2015 5:48:47 PM
    CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
    Clerk
    CAUSE NO. 10-DCR-055898, COUNT TWO
    240TH DISTRICT COURT, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS
    STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant
    VS.
    SEAN MICHAEL MCGUIRE, Appellee
    STATE'S AMENDED APPELLATE BRIEF
    JOHN F. HEALEY, JR.
    District Attorney, 268th Judicial District
    Fort Bend County, Texas
    Jason Bennyhoff
    Sherry Robinson
    Assistant District Attorneys
    --Oral argument requested--
    Gail Kikawa McConnell
    Assistant District Attorney
    SBOT #11395400
    301 Jackson Street, Room 101
    Richmond, Texas 77469
    (281) 341-4460 / (281) 238-3340 (fax)
    Gail.McConnell@fortbendcountytx.gov
    Counsel for the State of Texas
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
    Pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(a)(1)(A), the State supplements Appellant’s
    list of parties to the trial court's final judgment:
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant
    John F. Healey, Jr.                              District Attorney, 268th Judicial District
    301 Jackson St                                                   Fort Bend County, Texas
    Richmond, TX 77469
    Jason Bennyhoff                                               Assistant District Attorneys
    Sherry Robinson                                                                     at trial
    Gail Kikawa McConnell                                           Assistant District Attorney
    Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office                                      on appeal
    301 Jackson Street, Room 101
    Richmond, Texas 77469
    SEAN MICHAEL MCGUIRE. Appellee
    Michael W. Elliott                                                  Attorney for McGuire
    905 Front Street
    Richmond, TX 77469
    Kristen Jernigan                                                    Attorney for McGuire
    207 So Austin Ave
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    i
    TRIAL COURT
    Hon. Donald Higginbotham                                   Judge Presiding
    Assigned Judge                                       at Trial on the Merits
    c/o Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas
    301 N. Thompson, Suite 102
    Conroe, TX 77301
    Hon. Thomas Culver, III                                   Judge Presiding
    240th District Court, Fort Bend County                at the Writ Hearing
    301 Jackson St
    Richmond, TX 77469
    ii
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
    TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
    TABLE OF AUTHORITIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
    POINTS OF ERROR.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
    STATEMENT OF FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
    SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
    ARGUMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    A.       The standard of review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    B.       Appellee invited error in leaving Count II pending and is
    estopped from complaining of his wrong.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    1.       The double jeopardy clause protects against multiple trials
    and multiple punishments, not multiple convictions in a
    single trial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    2.       Article 37.07, Section 1(c) requires a verdict on each count
    presented by the indictment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
    3.       A double jeopardy violation by multiple punishments is
    prevented by issuing mandate on only the greater offense
    after appellate review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
    iii
    4.        Appellee invited error in requesting only one verdict, and
    the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Appellee to
    take advantage of his own wrong.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
    C.       Final Jeopardy has not attached to either count and there is no
    double jeopardy bar to a second trial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
    D.       The State avers that if the conviction for felony murder is
    affirmed, it will dismiss the charge for intoxication manslaughter
    upon the receipt of mandate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
    PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
    iv
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
    CASES                                                                                                     Page
    Abney v. United States,
    
    431 U.S. 651
    (1977). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
    Bigon v. State,
    
    252 S.W.3d 360
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
    Blueford v. Arkansas,
    
    132 S. Ct. 2044
    (2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
    Brown v. Ohio,
    
    432 U.S. 161
    (1977). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    Ex parte Cavazos,
    
    203 S.W.3d 333
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    Ex parte Koester,
    
    451 S.W.3d 908
    (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, no pet.).. . . . . . . . . . 5
    Kniatt v. State,
    
    206 S.W.3d 657
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    North Carolina v. Pearce,
    
    395 U.S. 711
    (1969), overruled on other grounds by
    Alabama v. Smith, 
    490 U.S. 794
    (1989). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    Prystash v. State,
    
    3 S.W.3d 522
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    Thieleman v. State,
    
    187 S.W.3d 455
    , 458 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
    Washington v. State,
    
    326 S.W.3d 701
    (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . 5
    v
    Woodall v. State,
    
    336 S.W.3d 634
    (Tex. Crim App. 2011).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    CONSTITUTIONS
    United States Constitution
    Amendment V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    Amendment XIV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    STATUTES AND RULES
    CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
    Article 37.07. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 9
    PENAL CODE
    Section 19.02.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
    Section 49.08.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
    vi
    NO. 01-14-01023-CR
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
    FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS
    AT HOUSTON, TEXAS
    CAUSE NO. 10-DCR-055898, COUNT TWO
    240TH DISTRICT COURT, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS
    STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant
    VS.
    SEAN MICHAEL MCGUIRE, Appellee
    STATE'S APPELLATE BRIEF
    TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    The State appeals the trial court’s order of pre-trial habeas relief dismissing
    Count II-intoxication manslaughter as a double jeopardy violation after Appellee was
    convicted by a jury in Count I-felony murder. [2CR635] Appellee appealed the
    judgment for Count I. McGuire v. State, No. 01-14-00240-CR. Count II was tried
    together with Count I and for the offense of failure to stop and render charged in a
    separate indictment. [RR-writ at 5-6] Count II remained pending after trial because
    Appellee insisted that only one guilty verdict or “an acquittal” be returned after
    vii
    consideration of murder, intoxication manslaughter, DWI-3rd, DWI-2nd, or DWI.
    [RR-writ at 5, 2CR474-88]
    The State appeals the dismissal of Count II at the invitation of the trial court
    and solely to preserve and/or insure its right to try Appellee on Count II if this Court
    were to reverse or vacate the judgment for felony murder. By this appeal, the State
    in no way concedes error in No.01-14-00240-CR or believes it likely to be found, but
    simply recognizes that several unsettled issues were presented in that appeal.
    STATEMENT OF ORAL ARGUMENT
    Whether the trial court erred in dismissing Count II as a double jeopardy
    violation, is one of law. However, oral argument may be helpful to the Court because
    of the common concept that the Double Jeopardy Clause protects against “multiple
    convictions,” when its protection prevents multiple trials and multiple punishments
    for the same offense.
    viii
    POINTS OF ERROR
    Point of Error One: The trial court abused its discretion in allowing
    Appellee to take advantage of his wrong in insisting that only one
    verdict be returned when the indictment alleged two counts.
    Point of Error Two: The trial court abused its discretion in dismissing
    Count II when no verdict had been rendered, the judgment in Count I
    was not final, and the Double Jeopardy Clause did not bar a second trial.
    ix
    STATEMENT OF FACTS1
    Appellee was charged in a single indictment with the offenses of felony murder
    and intoxication manslaughter in causing the death of David Stidman:
    COUNT I
    did then and there unlawfully commit or attempt to commit a felony, to
    wit: Driving While Intoxicated (Third Offense), and in furtherance of
    the commission, or in immediate flight from the commission of said
    felony, he committed or attempted to commit an act clearly dangerous
    to human life, to wit: while driving a motor vehicle on a public street the
    defendant failed to maintain an adequate lookout for traffic and road
    conditions and by failing to take proper evasive actions, and thus
    collided with a motorcycle driven by David Stidman causing the death
    of David Stidman.
    1
    No evidence was offered at the writ hearing, which was not heard by the
    judge who presided at Appellee’s jury trial. [RR-writ at 4] The Statement of Facts
    is drawn from:
    (1) the parties’ briefs, which the trial court assured the parties it had read. [RR-
    writ at 3] No objections were lodged by either side to any part of the other party’s
    brief. [RR-writ at 3-4] These briefs are included in the Clerk’s Record at pages 519-
    629.
    (2) the uncontroverted statements of the attorneys referencing events and
    circumstances at trial that are corroborated by the reporter’s record of the charge
    conference included in the State’s brief at 2CR550-73, and the jury charge at
    2CR461-93. See Thieleman v. State, 
    187 S.W.3d 455
    , 458 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005)
    (uncontroverted assertion by counsel about an event may be taken as true if “(1) the
    event could not have happened without being noticed; and (2) the assertion is of the
    sort that would provoke a denial by opposing counsel if it were not true. If these two
    conditions are met, the opposing party may be held to have adoptively admitted the
    assertion, and the assertion will be accepted as both true and sufficient to preserve an
    issue for appellate review”).
    1
    COUNT II
    It is further presented that on or about August 2, 2010 in Fort Bend
    County, Texas the Defendant, Sean Michael McGuire, did then and
    there unlawfully, by accident and mistake, while operating a motor
    vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, namely by reason of
    introduction of alcohol into the defendant’s body, and by reason of that
    intoxication, did then and there cause the death of David Stidman by
    driving said motor vehicle and striking a motorcycle driven by David
    Stidman.
    [1CR10]
    These offenses were tried to a jury together with the offense of failure to stop
    and render aid (“FSRA”) that was charged in a separate indictment. [RR-writ 5-6]
    Appellee appealed his conviction for FSRA, and that appeal is pending in this Court.
    McGuire v. State, No. 01-14-00241-CR.
    The trial court adopted Appellee’s jury charge, instructing the jury to “choose
    from four separate and distinct offenses or acquittal.” [RR-writ at 5, 2CR474-88]
    The State objected and, pursuant to Article 37.07, requested that the jury be instructed
    to return a verdict of guilty or not guilty on each count. [RR-writ at 9] Appellee
    “pointed out” that the State was “requesting that the Court intentionally engage in a
    double jeopardy violation,” the trial court overruled the State’s objection. [RR-writ
    8]
    The jury convicted Appellee for felony murder and assessed punishment at
    eighteen years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. [RR-writ 5-6; 2CR483, 493] On
    2
    March 20, 2014, the District Attorney wrote a letter to TDCJ, Classifications and
    Records, explaining that Count II of the indictment for intoxication manslaughter
    remained pending because no verdict had been returned. [RR-writ at 7; 2CR525-26]
    On September 2, 2014, Appellee filed a pre-trial motion for writ of habeas
    corpus asserting, “Applicant is currently suffering a Double Jeopardy violation
    because he has already been convicted of murder for causing the death of David
    Stidman and is currently charged with Intoxication Manslaughter for causing the
    death of David Stidman.” [2CR518-45] The State filed a written response.
    [2CR539-629]
    On December 9, 2014, the trial court assured counsel it had read their briefs
    and invited arguments. [RR-writ 3] After hearing the arguments of counsel, and
    encouraging the State to appeal its order, the trial court granted relief, dismissed
    Count II, and denied the State’s motion to stay. [RR-writ at 1, 14; 2CR635] The
    State filed its timely notice of appeal. [2CR636-641]
    3
    SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
    The Double Jeopardy Clause protects against multiple trials and multiple
    punishments, not multiple convictions in a single trial. Any double jeopardy violation
    for multiple punishments can be prevented by the issuance of mandate on only one
    judgment after appellate review.
    The trial court erred in dismissing Count II-intoxication manslaughter as a
    double jeopardy violation for two reasons:
    One, Appellee created his own double jeopardy dilemma by insisting, contrary
    to statute, that only one verdict should be returned when the indictment alleged two
    counts. Because he invited error, Appellee was estopped from complaining about the
    pendency of Count II.
    Two, the decision in neither count is final. Appellee appealed the judgment in
    Count I-felony murder, which remains pending; and no verdict was rendered in Count
    II-intoxication manslaughter. While Double Jeopardy poses no bar to a second trial,
    the State has no intention of prosecuting Count II until after mandate issues in the
    appeal of the judgment in Count I.
    4
    STATE’S ARGUMENT
    The trial court erred in dismissing Count II-intoxication manslaughter.
    A.    The standard of review.
    We review a trial court's ruling on a pretrial writ of habeas corpus for an
    abuse of discretion. See Kniatt v. State, 
    206 S.W.3d 657
    , 664 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 2006); Washington v. State, 
    326 S.W.3d 701
    , 704 (Tex.
    App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.). In conducting this review, we
    view the facts in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling. See
    
    Kniatt, 206 S.W.3d at 664
    ; 
    Washington, 326 S.W.3d at 704
    .
    Ex parte Koester, 
    450 S.W.3d 908
    , 910 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, no
    pet.).
    B.    Appellee invited error in leaving Count II pending and is
    estopped from complaining of his wrong.
    At the writ hearing, the State told the trial court that Appellee requested that
    only one verdict of guilty be returned, thus leaving Count II pending. [RR-writ 9;
    2CR567-71] The State argued that Appellee “created the situation where he went to
    trial and ended up without a verdict.” [RR-writ at 9]
    The law of invited error provides that a party cannot take advantage of
    an error that it invited or caused, even if such error is fundamental.
    Prystash v. State, 
    3 S.W.3d 522
    , 531 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) (en banc).
    In other words, a party is estopped from seeking appellate relief based
    on error that it induced. 
    Id. “To hold
    otherwise would be to permit him
    to take advantage of his own wrong.” 
    Id. Woodall v.
    State, 
    336 S.W.3d 634
    , 644 (Tex. Crim App. 2011) (footnote omitted,
    appellant estopped from complaining of a violation of confrontation rights).
    5
    The trial court abused its discretion in allowing Appellee to take advantage of
    his own wrong.
    1.    The double jeopardy clause protects against multiple trials
    and multiple punishments, not multiple convictions in a
    single trial.
    The Fifth Amendment, applicable to the States under the Fourteenth
    Amendment, provides that no person shall "be subject for the same offence to be
    twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” U.S. Const. amend. V & XIV; Brown v. Ohio,
    
    432 U.S. 161
    , 164 (1977).
    The Fifth Amendment offers three different constitutional protections.
    First, protection against a second prosecution for the same offense after
    acquittal. Second, protection against a second prosecution for the same
    offense after conviction. Third, protection against multiple punishments
    for the same offense. North Carolina v. Pearce, 
    395 U.S. 711
    , 717,
    (1969), overruled on other grounds by Alabama v. Smith, 
    490 U.S. 794
           (1989); Ex parte Cavazos, 
    203 S.W.3d 333
    , 336 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2006).
    Bigon v. State, 
    252 S.W.3d 360
    , 369-70 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
    The Double Jeopardy Clause does not protect against multiple convictions in
    a single trial.
    Here, felony murder and intoxication manslaughter are not lesser included
    offenses. The State knows of no Texas case requiring the State to proceed to trial on
    either felony murder or intoxication manslaughter and not both. Logically, both
    should be presented to the jury for its consideration:
    6
    •     Felony murder2 requires two prior convictions for DWI and intoxication
    manslaughter does not. On this basis, a jury might find that the State failed in
    its proof of the two prior convictions and convict the defendant of intoxication
    manslaughter.
    •     Intoxication manslaughter3 requires the death to be caused by reason of the
    intoxication and felony murder does not. On this basis, a jury might find
    against intoxication manslaughter and find the felony murder.
    Thus, to ensure a conviction for either felony murder or manslaughter both
    offenses must be presented to a jury, and both must be presented to the same jury in
    a single trial because the “allowable unit of prosecution” is one unit per death. 
    Bigon, 252 S.W.3d at 372
    .
    2.     Article 37.07, Section 1(c) requires a verdict on each count
    presented by the indictment.
    At the writ hearing, the State told the trial court that it had requested a verdict
    in each count and was entitled to those verdicts under Article 37.07. [RR-writ at 9;
    2CR567] Article 37.07, Section 1(c) provides in pertinent part:
    If the charging instrument contains more than one count . . . the jury
    shall be instructed to return a finding of guilty or not guilty in a separate
    verdict as to each count and offense submitted to them.
    Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 37.07, § 1(c) (West 2010).
    The State was entitled to a jury verdict for each count of the indictment and
    2
    Tex. Pen. Code § 19.02(b)(3) (West 2010).
    3
    Tex. Pen. Code § 49.08 (West 2010).
    7
    Appellee invited error by insisting that only one verdict should be rendered.
    3.    A double jeopardy violation by multiple punishments is prevented
    by issuing mandate on only the greater offense after appellate
    review.
    At the writ hearing, the State argued that a double jeopardy violation for
    multiple punishments can be avoided by abandoning the lesser offense as determined
    under Bigon. [RR-writ at 9-10]
    In Bigon, the Court of Criminal Appeals resolved a double jeopardy violation
    in Bigon’s conviction for both felony murder and intoxication manslaughter by the
    “most serious offense test.” 
    Bigon, 252 S.W.3d at 273
    . This test is used for policy
    reasons including that “this test would eliminate arbitrary decisions based upon the
    order of offenses in the charging instrument, that in most circumstances the State
    would elect to retain the most serious conviction, and that public safety is insured
    through the deterrent influence of penalties.” 
    Id. “[T]he most
    serious offense is the
    offense for which the greatest sentence is assessed.” 
    Id. In Bigon,
    the sentences were
    the same, so the court looked to the degree of felony to find felony murder the most
    serious offense and vacated the judgment for intoxication manslaughter. 
    Id. Likewise, in
    this case, if Appellee had been convicted of both felony murder
    and intoxication manslaughter, after appellate review, this Court could apply the most
    serious offense test to prevent a double jeopardy violation for multiple punishments.
    8
    4.     Appellee invited error in requesting only one verdict, and
    the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Appellee to
    take advantage of his own wrong.
    Contrary to law, Appellee insisted on one verdict. Appellee is estopped from
    complaining about the pendency of Count II when a verdict should have been
    rendered at trial.
    As shown in the foregoing argument, and as Appellee stated in his application
    for writ of habeas corpus, “To be sure, the Double Jeopardy Clause protects against
    being twice convicted for the same crime, and that aspect of the right can be fully
    vindicated on appeal following final judgment.” [2CR520 (quoting Abney v. United
    States, 
    431 U.S. 651
    , 660-61 (1977)]
    The trial court abused its discretion in allowing Appellee to take advantage of
    his wrong. Point of Error One should be sustained and Count II reinstated.
    C.      Final Jeopardy has not attached to either count and there is no
    double jeopardy bar to a second trial.
    At the writ hearing, the State told the trial court that it had objected to
    Appellee’s request for one verdict and asked for a verdict on each count pursuant to
    Article 37.07, Code of Criminal Procedure. [RR-writ at 9, 2CR567] The State
    analogized the failure to return a verdict on Count II to another no verdict scenario--a
    hung jury, and argued there was no double jeopardy violation in a second trial. [RR-
    writ at 11]
    9
    The Double Jeopardy Clause protects against multiple trials and multiple
    punishments for the same offense. 
    Bigon, 252 S.W.3d at 369-70
    . At the time
    Appellee brought his application for pre-trial writ, Appellee’s pending charge for
    intoxication manslaughter had not been set for a second trial. Neither multiple trials,
    nor multiple punishments has occurred in this case.
    Appellee appealed his conviction for felony murder (Count I). McGuire v.
    State, 01-14-00240-CR. Appellee’s appeal is still pending in this Court, and the
    conviction is not final.
    No verdict was rendered for intoxication manslaughter (Count II). Where no
    verdict is returned, the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar a second trial on the
    same offense. See Blueford v. Arkansas, 
    132 S. Ct. 2044
    , 2050 (2012) (absent a
    verdict, the foreperson’s report of an acquittal for capital murder and murder “was not
    a final resolution of anything”).
    The trial court abused its discretion in dismissing Count II as a double jeopardy
    violation.
    D.     The State avers that if the conviction for felony murder is
    affirmed, it will dismiss the charge for intoxication manslaughter
    upon the receipt of mandate.
    Dismissal of Count II means that if this Court were to find error and reverse or
    vacate the judgment for felony murder, the State will not be able to present the
    intoxication manslaughter offense on retrial. Hence, this appeal.
    10
    However, as shown by the record, the State is well aware that it may not retain
    convictions for both felony murder and intoxication manslaughter. [RR-writ at 10;
    2CR552, 558] The State has no intention of prosecuting Appellee for intoxication
    murder if the judgment for felony murder is affirmed. Therefore, if this Court were
    to affirm the judgment for felony murder, the State avers it will dismiss Count II upon
    receipt of the Court’s mandate.
    The State’s points of error should be sustained.
    11
    PRAYER
    The State prays that the trial court’s order granting relief be reversed and
    Count II be reinstated, pending the outcome of the appeal of the judgment in Count
    I in McGuire v. State, 01-14-00240-CR.
    Respectfully submitted,
    John F. Healey, Jr.
    SBOT# 09328300
    District Attorney, 268th Judicial District
    Fort Bend County, Texas
    /s/ Gail Kikawa McConnell
    Gail Kikawa McConnell
    Assistant District Attorney
    SBOT # 11395400
    301 Jackson Street, Room 101
    Richmond, Texas 77469
    (281) 341-4460 / (281) 238-3340 (fax)
    Gail.McConnell@fortbendcountytx.gov
    Counsel for the State
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    I hereby certify that the State’s Appellate Brief, in total through the prayer,
    contains 3,605 words as counted by WordPerfect 6X, which is less than the 15,000
    word limit for a brief.
    /s/ Gail Kikawa McConnell
    Gail Kikawa McConnell
    12
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    I hereby certify that a copy of the State's appellate brief was served by e-mail
    or the case filing manager on June 10, 2015, and by certified mail, return receipt
    requested # 7012 3460 0002 4097 9275 on June 11, 2015, on Ms. Kristen Jernigan,
    Attorney for Appellee, 207 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626.
    /s/ Gail Kikawa McConnell
    Gail Kikawa McConnell
    13