James Anthony Gutierrez v. the State of Texas ( 2024 )

Modified and Affirmed and Opinion Filed October 16, 2024
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-23-00118-CR
JAMES ANTHONY GUTIERREZ, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 366th Judicial District Court
Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 366-81270-2021
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Molberg, Breedlove, and Kennedy
Opinion by Justice Breedlove
Appellant was convicted of aggravated assault after a jury trial and sentenced
by the trial court to life imprisonment. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 22.02(a)(1). In
one issue, appellant argues that he was improperly charged costs of court. The State
agrees with appellant that the trial court’s judgment regarding costs of court were
incorrect but disagrees with appellant’s proposed modification. We conclude the
State is correct and that the judgment should be modified to reflect the proper court
costs. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.
BACKGROUND1
On May 18, 2022, a jury found appellant guilty of aggravated assault with a
deadly weapon. After a separate trial on punishment on the same day, the jury
sentenced appellant to life imprisonment. The written judgment reflects that
defendant pled “not guilty” to the offense and “true” to the enhancement paragraphs,
that the jury found appellant guilty, found both enhancements to be true, and
assessed a life sentence. The judgment also reflects a zero-dollar fine, and court costs
of $365.58.
The trial court signed a certification of appellant’s right to appeal, but an
appeal was not filed before the deadline. Appellate counsel filed an application for
writ of habeas corpus seeking an out of time appeal, which was joined by the State
and supported by the trial court. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 11.07. The
Court of Criminal Appeals granted relief, and mandate issued on February 8, 2023.
Appellant timely filed his notice of appeal to this Court on the same day. See TEX.
R. APP. P. 26.2(a).
DISCUSSION
In his sole issue, appellant argues that he was improperly charged costs of
court in this case and that the judgment should be modified to subtract $10.58 in
reimbursement fees because appellant asserts that the record does not reflect any
1
The facts of this case are well-known to the parties; therefore we include only those facts which are
relevant to this appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
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subpoenas or returns on subpoenas. The State agrees that the costs were improper
but disagrees with appellant’s calculation, instead arguing that on $5.00 of the
reimbursement fees should be subtracted. The Bill of Costs included with the
judgment includes the following:
Fee Description Amount Assessed
Court Costs
Clerk Fee $40.00
Court Technology Fund $4.00
Courthouse Security $10.00
Jury Trial $1.00
Records Management Fee – District Clerk $25.00
Specialty Court County Fee $25.00
Warrants $50.00
Reimbursement Fees
Approving Bond by Sheriff $10.00
Mileage Cons #3 $0.58
Subpoena Service Cons #1 $5.00
Subpoena Service Cons #3 $5.00
Ticket or Arrest without Warrant $5.00
Fines
Reimbursement Fees $0.00
State Fees
Consolidated Court Costs – Felony (1.1.20) $185.00
Total $365.58
Appellate courts may modify a trial court's judgment and affirm it as modified.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.2(b); Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27–28 (Tex. Crim. App.
1993). This Court “has the power to correct and reform the judgment of the court
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below to make the record speak the truth when it has the necessary data and
information to do so.” Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1991, writ ref’d). Appellate courts may reform trial court judgments where “the
evidence necessary to correct the judgment appears in the record.” Id.Here, the record reflects that the State filed numerous applications for the
issuance of subpoenas, and that the docket sheet indicates that all of the applications
were “Issued.” However, the record only shows that one subpoena was served, a
subpoena for Medical City Plano served on June 29, 2021. The record also contains
evidence that a constable from Precinct 3 served a subpoena on Medical City Plano.
This evidence supports the $5.00 “Subpoena Service Cons #3” fee and the $0.58
“Mileage Cons #3” fee. We overrule appellant’s issue as to those fees. However,
there is no evidence in the record to support the service of a second subpoena;
therefore, we agree with both appellant and State that the “Subpoena Service Cons
#1” fee should be removed. We sustain appellant’s issue as to that fee and modify
the judgment to reflect $360.58 in total court costs.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.
230118f.u05
Do Not Publish
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b) /Maricela Breedlove/
MARICELA BREEDLOVE
JUSTICE
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Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
JAMES ANTHONY GUTIERREZ, On Appeal from the 366th Judicial
Appellant District Court, Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 366-81270-
No. 05-23-00118-CR V. 2021.
Opinion delivered by Justice
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Breedlove. Justices Molberg and
Kennedy participating.
Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
MODIFIED as follows:
Replace "$365.58" under "Court Costs" with "$360.58".
As REFORMED, the judgment is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 16th day of October, 2024.
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