Ex Parte: William A. Runnels

NO. 12-19-00202-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
EX PARTE: §
WILLIAM A. RUNNELS, § ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
RELATOR §
MEMORANDUM OPINION
William A. Runnels, acting pro se, filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus to challenge
Respondent’s March 22, 2019, order for contempt. 1 We deny the writ.
BACKGROUND
This is a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR). 2 Domanita Craddock-Neal,
the Real Party in Interest, and Runnels are the parents of N.V.R., D.A.R., and J.T.R. In 2016,
Craddock-Neal was granted the exclusive right to determine the children’s primary residence.
Subsequently, on December 17, 2018, Respondent signed an order in suit to modify the parent-
child relationship, which contained the following provision:
Permanent Mutual Injunction
The Court finds that it is in the best interest of the parties and the children that a permanent
mutual injunction against them should be granted as appropriate relief because there is no adequate
remedy at law.
1
Respondent is the Honorable Alfonso F. Charles, Judge of the 124th District Court in Gregg County, Texas.
2
Runnels failed to file a complete record in this proceeding. In the interest of judicial economy, we take
judicial notice of the record, which has been filed in a related appeal involving the same parties, In the Interest of
N.V.R., D.A.R., and J.T.R., children, No. 12-19-00112-CV, pending before this Court. See In re Innovation Res.
Sol., LLC, No. 12-15-00254-CV, 2016 WL 1254058, at *3 (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 31, 2016, orig. proceeding)
(mem.op.) (taking judicial notice of hearing transcript filed in prior, related mandamus proceeding); see
also Humphries v. Humphries, 349 S.W.3d 817, 820, n.1 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2011, pet. denied) (appellate court may
take judicial notice of its own records in same or related proceeding involving same or nearly same parties).
The permanent mutual injunction granted below shall be effective immediately and shall
be binding on WILLIAM ANDRE RUNNELS and DOMANITA ROSHUN CRADDOCK-NEAL;
on their agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and on those persons in active concert or
participation with them who receive actual notice of this order by personal service or otherwise.
IT IS ORDERED that WILLIAM ANDRE RUNNELS and DOMANITA ROSHUN
CRADDOCK-NEAL are permanently mutually enjoined from:
…Using corporal punishment on any minor child the subject of this suit at any time, or allowing a
third person to use corporal punishment on any minor child the subject of this suit at any time.
On March 11, 2019, Craddock-Neal filed a second amended motion for enforcement of injunction,
in which she alleged that Runnels violated this provision by using corporal punishment on N.V.R.,
which escalated into an assault and resulted in his arrest for assault family violence. She alleged
that Runnels’s son videotaped the incident at Runnels’s request.
On March 22, Respondent signed an order in which he found that Runnels used corporal
punishment on N.V.R. on January 12, 2019, in violation of the permanent mutual injunction.
Respondent held Runnels in contempt and assessed confinement in the county jail for a period of
one-hundred eighty days. This proceeding followed and, on June 4, this Court granted Runnels’s
request for release on bond pending final resolution of this proceeding. 3
AVAILABILITY OF HABEAS CORPUS
Habeas corpus is available to review a contempt order entered by a lower court confining
a contemnor. Ex parte Gordon, 584 S.W.2d 686, 687–88 (Tex. 1979) (orig. proceeding). An
original habeas proceeding is a collateral attack on a contempt judgment. Ex parte Rohleder, 424
S.W.2d 891, 892 (Tex. 1967) (orig. proceeding); In re Ragland, 973 S.W.2d 769, 771 (Tex.
App.—Tyler 1998, orig. proceeding). Its purpose is not to determine the relator’s ultimate guilt
or innocence, but only to ascertain whether the relator has been unlawfully confined. Gordon, 584
S.W.2d at 688.
A court will issue a writ of habeas corpus if the order underlying the contempt is void or if
the contempt order itself is void. See Ex parte Shaffer, 649 S.W.2d 300, 301–02 (Tex. 1983)
3
Runnels has appeared before this Court on previous occasions. See In re N.V.R., D.A.R., and J.T.R., No.
12-18-00146-CV, 2019 WL 1416670 (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 29, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.); see also In re Runnels,
No. 12-19-00105-CV, 2019 WL 1416634 (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 29, 2019, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.); Runnels
v. Neal, No. 12-18-00146-CV, 2018 WL 3569682 (Tex. App.—Tyler July 25, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.).
2
(orig. proceeding); Gordon, 584 S.W.2d at 688. The relator must show that the contempt order is
void and not merely voidable. In re Munks, 263 S.W.3d 270, 272–73 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2007, orig. proceeding). Until the relator discharges this burden, the contempt order is
presumed valid. In re Parr, 199 S.W.3d 457, 460 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, orig.
proceeding). A contempt order is void if it deprives the relator of liberty without due process of
law or if it exceeded the power of the court to issue. See In re Coppock, 277 S.W.3d 417, 418
(Tex. 2009) (orig. proceeding).
APPLICABLE LAW
There are two forms of contempt: civil and criminal. A criminal contempt order is punitive
in nature and is an exertion of the court’s inherent power to punish a party for “some completed
act which affronted the dignity and authority of the court.” Ex parte Johns, 807 S.W.2d 768, 771
(Tex. App.—Dallas 1991, orig. proceeding) (quoting Ex parte Werblud, 536 S.W.2d 542, 545
(Tex. 1976) (orig. proc.)). Criminal contempt orders generally require the individual to be
incarcerated for a finite period and that period is unaffected by the individual’s performance of
any future act. In re Scariati, 988 S.W.2d 270, 272 n.1 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1998, orig.
proceeding); Ex parte Hosken, 480 S.W.2d 18, 23 (Tex. Civ. App.—Beaumont 1972, orig.
proceeding). In criminal contempt proceedings, the contemnor is being punished for his improper
actions “and no subsequent voluntary compliance on the part of the defendant can enable him to
avoid punishment for his past acts.” Johns, 807 S.W.2d at 771 (quoting Hosken, 480 S.W.2d at
23). A judge can impose a fine, imprisonment, or both in a criminal contempt order. Id. The
distinguishing feature of criminal contempt is that the penalty is unconditional. Id. Respondent’s
180-day sentence is a criminal contempt order because it punishes Runnels for violating the
permanent mutual injunction. See, e.g., Scariati, 988 S.W.2d at 272 n.1 (order was one for
criminal contempt because relator was sentenced “to jail for six months for not maintaining health
insurance for his children and the sentence was not subject to being reduced upon his obtaining
such insurance”).
DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
A criminal contempt conviction for violation of a court order requires proof beyond a
reasonable doubt of: (1) a reasonably specific order; (2) a violation of the order; and (3) the willful
3
intent to violate the order. Ex parte Chambers, 898 S.W.2d 257, 259 (Tex. 1995) (orig.
proceeding). “Noncompliance with an unambiguous order of which one has notice will ordinarily
raise an inference that the noncompliance was willful.” Id. at 261. “The involuntary inability to
comply with an order is a valid defense to criminal contempt, for one’s noncompliance cannot
have been willful if the failure to comply was involuntary.” Id. The relator must prove his inability
to comply. Ex parte Hayes, No. 05-17-00473-CV, 2017 WL 2889047, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas
July 7, 2017, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (citing Chambers, 898 S.W.2d at 261). “In reviewing
the record, we are without jurisdiction to weigh the proof and determine whether it preponderates
for or against the relator; rather, we determine only if the judgment is void because, for example,
the relator has been confined without a hearing or with no evidence of contempt to support his
confinement.” Chambers, 898 S.W.2d at 259–60.
ANALYSIS
In this proceeding, Runnels maintains that (1) a parent has a right to reasonable discipline
of a child and the court cannot order an injunction prohibiting corporal punishment absent grounds
for the injunction, and (2) a court cannot continually punish a party for contempt without affording
that party an opportunity to purge the contempt and refusing to punish the opposing party for
contempt by sua sponte purging the opposing party of contempt.
Hearing on Motion to Enforce
On March 22, 2019, Respondent conducted a hearing on Craddock-Neal’s second amended
motion for enforcement. Runnels objected to Respondent’s jurisdiction to hear the motion on due
process grounds and Respondent overruled the objection.
Runnels testified that he was aware of the injunction prohibiting the use of corporal
punishment. He admitted using a belt to spank N.V.R. while she was in his custody on January
12, 2019, but disputed whether this violated Respondent’s order. When asked whether there is a
part of “no corporal punishment” that he does not understand, Runnels replied with “Yes” and
explained, “The part to where that order overrides the best interest of a child and violates the
constitutional right of a parent to a reasonable discipline of their child for their best interest. That’s
the part I don’t understand.” He testified that he has always sought his children’s best interest,
which includes properly rearing them. Runnels testified, “That was my occupation as a parent, to
protect my children, to make sure that what I was doing would give them a strong foundation for
4
when they get off in the real world they won’t do anything that could cause them to go to jail, get
killed, any other things.” According to Runnels, he did not act out of anger on January 12 and he
explained that the video of the incident does not reflect what led to the spanking, but does reflect
the “dishes and everything that [N.V.R.] had slapped off the table in an aggressive manner.” He
stated that N.V.R. was upset because he spoke with her employer. He further stated that she did
not complete household tasks he gave her and she told him she planned to go to work regardless
of what he said. Runnels testified to allegations that N.V.R. was in a gang. He also testified that
N.V.R. has a history of “inappropriate conduct.” Runnels attempted to get N.V.R. to clean as she
had been asked, but she refused. He also went outside for a period of time to give her an
opportunity to make a better choice. Runnels testified that Craddock-Neal told N.V.R. that she
could not “get a whooping,” which communicated to N.V.R. that she could do whatever she
wanted without being disciplined. Runnels opined that the best interest of the child is to use
reasonable discipline when called for. He testified, “When it got to a point to where talking
couldn’t resolve the matter, then you have to go through the necessary steps of corporal
punishment.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, Respondent found that Runnels violated the injunction.
Respondent noted that the video showed “time for cool reflection,” Runnels had the belt in his
hand almost the entire time, and Runnels stated, “I haven’t had to whip you in a while.”
Respondent stated that the video shows Runnels intentionally engaging in corporal punishment
and telling his son to continue recording the corporal punishment. According to Respondent, the
video shows “four or so whips.” Respondent took judicial notice of prior proceedings and
considered why he imposed the injunction. He explained having seen a video of Runnels chasing
N.V.R., forcibly stopping her, forcing her to the ground, and removing his belt. Respondent
expressed concern over Runnels’s temper and use of corporal punishment and expressed his belief
that the no corporal punishment provision was in the children’s best interest, particularly that of
N.V.R. He also noted Runnels’s lengthy history of violating court orders. Thus, Respondent
ordered Runnels to county jail for 180 days.
Discussion
To the extent Runnels challenges Respondent’s subject matter jurisdiction, a motion for
enforcement shall be filed in the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction. See TEX. FAM. CODE
ANN. § 157.001(d) (West Supp. 2018). The record demonstrates that Respondent had continuing
5
exclusive jurisdiction over the case. 4 Accordingly, Respondent possessed jurisdiction to rule on
Craddock-Neal’s motion for enforcement and to sign a contempt order. See id. § 155.001(b) (West
Supp. 2018) (a “court acquires continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the matters provided for by
this title in connection with a child on the rendition of a final order”); § 157.001(a) (“court may
enforce by contempt any provision of a temporary or final order”).
With respect to Runnels’s violation of the permanent mutual injunction prohibiting
corporal punishment, Runnels is correct that a parent has the duty of reasonable discipline of the
child, including corporal punishment. See id. § 151.001(a)(2), (e)(1) (West 2014). However, a
parent’s rights and duties are subject to court order. See id. § 151.001(d)(1). A trial court has
broad discretion in fashioning restrictions on a parent’s possession and access that are in a child’s
best interest. Moreno v. Perez, 363 S.W.3d 725, 739 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no
pet.). Accordingly, unless limited by court order, a parent has the right, during periods of
possession of his child, to exercise “reasonable discipline,” such as corporal punishment. Id. at
740.
Here, Runnels’s right to punish his children through corporal punishment was limited by
court order. Respondent exercised his discretion when deciding that a provision enjoining Runnels
from using corporal punishment was in the children’s best interest. See Messier v. Messier, 389
S.W.3d 904, 907 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.) (child’s best interest is
paramount concern in custody cases); see also Moreno, 363 S.W.3d at 741 (trial court’s
prohibiting use of corporal punishment was within court’s discretion). Injunctions prohibiting use
of corporal punishment, among other limitations, are often included in SAPCR orders. See In
Interest of H.C.C., No. 01-16-00876-CV, 2017 WL 6520228, at *6 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] Dec. 21, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.).
The permanent mutual injunction is reasonably specific and unambiguous, expressly
enjoining both Runnels and Craddock-Neal from “[u]sing corporal punishment on any minor child
the subject of this suit at any time[.]” The injunction does not leave the use of corporal punishment
to the parents’ discretion, but prohibits corporal punishment entirely. In challenging the
injunction, Runnels maintains that there is no history of abuse or excessive punishment, he has not
4
Based on a recusal, the case was transferred from the 307th District Court in Gregg County to the 124th
District Court in Gregg County in November 2017. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 155.206(a) (West 2014) (“A court
to which a transfer is made becomes the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and all proceedings in the suit are
continued as if it were brought there originally”).
6
used corporal punishment on his children in years, the injunction is against the best interest of the
children, and the use of corporal punishment was the only reasonable and effective means of
disciplining N.V.R. under the circumstances. However, as previously stated, this Court lacks
jurisdiction to weigh the proof and determine whether it preponderates for or against Runnels. See
Chambers, 898 S.W.2d at 259–60. The question we must answer is whether the contempt order
is void; i.e., whether Runnels has been confined without a hearing or with no evidence of contempt
to support his confinement. See id. We conclude that the order is not void.
Runnels was confined only after a hearing on Craddock-Neal’s motion for enforcement.
At the hearing, Runnels appeared with counsel. He admitted spanking N.V.R. with his belt and
Respondent viewed a video recording of the incident. Although Runnels claimed he did not even
think about the order when deciding whether to spank N.V.R., the record also indicates that he
specifically asked his son to record the incident. Runnels’s noncompliance with Respondent’s
unambiguous order gave rise to an inference that the noncompliance was willful. See id. at 261.
And Runnels’s insistence that corporal punishment was necessary under the circumstances is not
tantamount to establishing an involuntary inability to comply with the injunction. See id. Based
on the evidence presented, Respondent could reasonably determine that Runnels violated the
permanent mutual injunction’s prohibition on corporal punishment and did so with willful intent.
See id. at 259.
Runnels also complains that Respondent’s order does not conform to the pleadings. We
disagree. Craddock-Neal alleged that Runnels violated the permanent mutual injunction by using
corporal punishment on N.V.R. and requested that Runnels be confined for up to 180 days and
required to pay reasonable attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs. In his contempt order, Respondent
expressly found that “on January 12, 2019, WILLIAM ANDRE RUNNELS used corporal
punishment on [N.V.R.]. Said corporal punishment is in violation of the Permanent Mutual
Injunction issued by this Court.” The order further finds Runnels in contempt, sentences him to
180 days in jail, and assesses attorney’s fees and costs of court. We fail to see how the order fails
to conform to the pleadings.
Additionally, Runnels argues that Respondent acted with partiality, bias, and prejudice. 5
We again disagree. As previously discussed, the record demonstrates that Runnels violated the
5
The record contains an order denying Runnels’s motion to recuse or disqualify Respondent. According to
the order, the Texas Supreme Court assigned the Honorable Jack Skeen, Jr., Judge of the 241st District Court in Smith
7
injunction by using corporal punishment on N.V.R. The record does not suggest that Respondent
based his decision on any bias, prejudice, or partiality, as opposed to the facts of the case.
Generally, no bias is shown when allegations are based solely on judicial rulings. Dow Chem. Co.
v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 240 (Tex. 2001) (per curiam). Nor do judicial remarks that are critical,
disapproving of, or even hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily support a bias or
partiality challenge. Id. Here, the record simply fails to substantiate Runnels’s claims that
Respondent acted with judicial bias, partiality, or prejudice when finding Runnels in contempt.
For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that Runnels has not been deprived of liberty
without due process of law or that the contempt order exceeded Respondent’s power to issue. See
Coppock, 277 S.W.3d at 418. Accordingly, Runnels has not been unlawfully confined and has not
established an entitlement to habeas relief. See Gordon, 584 S.W.2d at 688. 6
CONCLUSION
Having determined that Respondent did not abuse his discretion, we deny Runnels’s
petition for writ of habeas corpus. We remand Runnels to the custody of the Sheriff of Gregg
County to serve the remainder of the sentence ordered by the trial court for Runnels’s contempt.
All pending motions are overruled as moot.
BRIAN HOYLE
Justice
Opinion delivered June 19, 2019.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
(PUBLISH)
County, to hear Runnels’s motion. Judge Skeen noted that Runnels’s March 21, 2019, motion to recuse was the fifth
such motion that Runnels had filed. He concluded that Runnels’s motion was based solely on Respondent’s rulings
and, as such, the motion should be denied. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 18a(a)(3) (motion to recuse or disqualify must not be
based solely on judge’s rulings in the case).
6
Only Respondent’s March 22, 2019, order is before us in this proceeding. Thus, we do not consider
Runnels’s contentions regarding other rulings, such as those made during November 2018 and February 2019
hearings. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
8
COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
JUNE 19, 2019
NO. 12-19-00202-CV
WILLIAM A. RUNNELS,
Relator
V.
HON. ALFONSO F. CHARLES,
Respondent
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
ON THIS DAY came to be heard the petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by
William A. Runnels; who is the relator in appellate cause no. 12-19-00202-CV and a party to trial
court cause no. 2007-2400-B, pending on the docket of the 124th Judicial District Court of Gregg
County, Texas. Said petition for writ of habeas corpus having been filed herein on May 23, 2019,
and the same having been duly considered, it is the opinion of this Court that Relator’s petition for writ
of habeas corpus shall be denied.
It is therefore CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the said petition for
writ of habeas corpus be, and the same is, hereby denied, and that Relator, William A. Runnels, is
forthwith remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Gregg County, Texas, to be confined as ordered
and directed by the judgment of contempt signed by the Judge of the 124th District Court of Gregg
County, Texas, on the 22nd day of March, 2019. All costs are hereby adjudged against the Relator,
William A. Runnels.
Brian Hoyle, Justice.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.
9