Pamela Easton Shaffer v. the State of Texas ( 2023 )

In the
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
No. 06-22-00171-CR
PAMELA EASTON SHAFFER, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 6th District Court
Lamar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 29509
Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice van Cleef
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Pamela Easton Shaffer appeals the revocation of her felony community supervision and
the imposition of a $60.00 reimbursement fee by the trial court. Shaffer asserts that the
revocation and sentence to ten years’ confinement was unsupported by sufficient evidence.
Having reviewed the briefs of the parties and the record before us, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
I. Facts
On March 22, 2022, Shaffer pleaded guilty to the offense of driving while intoxicated,
third or more. Pursuant to a plea-bargain agreement with the State, the trial court sentenced her
to ten years’ confinement, probated for a term of ten years, with a condition that she attend and
successfully complete a Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility (SAFPF) program. The
SAFPF program provider discharged Shaffer for numerous reasons, and the State filed a motion
to revoke her community supervision.
The sole ground for revocation was that Shaffer failed to complete the SAFPF program.
The trial court convened a hearing on November 22, 2022, and Shaffer pleaded “not true” to the
allegation. Two witnesses testified: a county community supervision officer and Shaffer. The
trial court took judicial notice of its file, and a packet explaining Shaffer’s discharge from
SAFPF was admitted as an exhibit, without objection.
The gravamen of this appeal is that Shaffer could not adhere to the requirements placed
upon her in SAFPF due to a medical condition. While Shaffer testified, she did not present any
medical evidence to support her claim.
2
II. The Evidence is Sufficient
A revocation proceeding is determined by a preponderance of the evidence. Cobb v.
State, 851 S.W.2d 871, 873 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). “We review the trial court’s
[determinations] for an abuse of discretion.” Davidson v. State, 422 S.W.3d 750, 756 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana 2013, pet. ref’d) (citing Meyer v. State, 366 S.W.3d 728, 729 (Tex. App.—
Texarkana 2012, no pet.)). In a revocation hearing, the trial court is the sole trier of the facts and
“determines the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony.” In re
T.R.S., 115 S.W.3d 318, 321 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.). A trial court’s decision to
revoke community supervision and to proceed to adjudication is examined “in the light most
favorable to the trial court’s [judgment].” Id.; see Davidson, 422 S.W.3d at 756.
During the hearing, Michelle Williams, a Lamar County Community Supervision and
Corrections Department (CSCD) officer, testified that Shaffer was discharged from the SAFPF
program for twelve violations. Three of the violations were program violations, seven were for
refusing to work, three were for failing to attend counseling, and two were for failing to obey
orders.
The transcript of the hearing reveals that Shaffer attempted to rebut the alleged violations
with her own testimony concerning physical limitations. However, “[t]he trial court, as the trier
of facts. . . may accept or reject all or any part of the witnesses’ testimony.” Casey v. State, 519
S.W.2d 859, 861 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975). Ultimately, the trial court revoked Shaffer’s
community supervision and imposed a ten-year sentence of confinement. In a light most
favorable to the revocation, the evidence of numerous violations and an unsuccessful discharge
3
from the SAFPF program were sufficient to support the trial court’s decision to revoke Shaffer’s
community supervision.
III. No Jurisdiction to Consider the Reimbursement Fee
Shaffer next contends that the trial court could not impose a $60.00 reimbursement fee
because it was not supported by the prior judgment’s bill of costs.
We review the imposition of costs de novo “to determine if there is a basis for the cost.”
Johnson v. State, 423 S.W.3d 385, 390 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). The reimbursement fee is for
the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) laboratory analysis. While the original bill of
cost and the amended bill of cost do not offer a complete breakdown of the fees imposed, the
reimbursement fee was imposed in Shaffer’s original plea admonishments, was requested by a
petition for reimbursement, and was noted in the order imposing community supervision. It was
also noted in the docket entry for the March 22, 2022, hearing. There is no indication in the
record that the fee was paid or that it was the subject of any objection during the March plea
proceedings. Shaffer did not appeal that issue.
Under generally applied principles, if Shaffer wished to complain of amounts taxed
against her through the original order of community supervision, she was required to raise the
issue in a timely filed appeal of that order. See Manuel v. State, 994 S.W.2d 658, 661–62 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1999); Wiley v. State, 410 S.W.3d 313 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); Riles v. State, 452
S.W.3d 333 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015); Speth v. State, 6 S.W.3d 530, 534–35 (Tex. Crim. App.
1999). Accordingly, we have no jurisdiction to consider Shaffer’s second claim in this appeal.
4
IV. Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Charles van Cleef
Justice
Date Submitted: June 23, 2023
Date Decided: June 26, 2023
Do Not Publish
5