Donaldson, Patricia

PD-0572-14, PD-0573-14
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
June 24, 2015 Transmitted 6/23/2015 3:50:44 PM
Accepted 6/24/2015 10:19:26 AM
ABEL ACOSTA
Nos. PD-0572-14 and PD-0573-14 CLERK
IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
OF TEXAS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
PATRICIA DONALDSON,
Petitioner
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Respondent
On discretionary review of a decision by the Fifth District Court of Appeals in
Cause Numbers 05-13-00598-CR and 05-13-00599-CR
On appeal from the 282nd Judicial District Court of Dallas County,
in Trial Court Cause Numbers F10-00433-S and F10-00435-S
STATE’S BRIEF
Counsel of Record:
SUSAN HAWK ALEXIS E. HERNÁNDEZ
Criminal District Attorney Assistant District Attorney
Dallas County, Texas State Bar No. 24055658
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19
Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
(214) 653-3625
Alexis.Hernandez@dallascounty.org
ATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................ ii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ...................................................................... iii
STATEMENT OF THE CASE .................................................................... 1
STATEMENT OF FACTS .......................................................................... 2
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ................................................................... 5
ARGUMENT ............................................................................................. 5
BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ACCEPTED THE PLEAS OF
GUILTY AND TRUE, THE SENTENCES ARE NOT VOID OR
OUTSIDE OF THE APPLICABLE PUNISHMENT RANGE
AND AN APPELLATE COURT MAY IMPLICITLY FIND
WHAT IS TRUE WITHIN THE RECORD ........................................... 5
PRAYER .................................................................................................. 15
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ......................................................... 15
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .................................................................. 16
ii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Statutes
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.425 (West Supp. 2014) ............................... passim
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 32.32 (West 2011) ............................................... 1, 2
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 37.10 (West Supp. 2014) ...................................... 1, 2
Federal Cases
Gabel v. McCotter,
803 F.2d 814 (5th Cir. 1986) .................................................................... 11
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Absalon v. State,
No. PD-0340-14,
2015 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 514 (Tex. Crim. App. Apr. 29, 2015)........... 10
Almand v. State,
536 S.W.2d 377 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976)..................................................... 6
Dinn v. State,
570 S.W.2d 910 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)..................................................... 6
Ex parte Pena,
71 S.W.3d 336 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) ...................................................... 5
Ex parte Rich,
194 S.W.3d 508 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006)..................................................... 9
Ex parte Seidel,
39 S.W.3d 221 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001) ...................................................... 6
Ex parte Sewell,
742 S.W.2d 393 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987)..................................................... 6
Harvey v. State,
611 S.W.2d 108 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981)..................................................... 6
iii
Jordan v. State,
256 S.W.3d 286 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)................................................... 13
Light v. State,
15 S.W.3d 104 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) .................................................... 14
Mizell v. State,
119 S.W.3d 804 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003)................................................. 5, 6
Roberson v. State,
420 S.W.3d 832 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013)................................................... 13
State v. Story,
445 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014)................................................... 10
Wilson v. State,
671 S.W.2d 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984)..................................................... 6
Texas Courts of Appeals
Box v. State,
No. 05-12-00421-CR,
2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4077 (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 28, 2013, pet. ref’d)
(mem. op., not designated for publication)................................................ 11
Burks v. State,
227 S.W.3d 138 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. ref’d) ............. 11
Donaldson v. State,
Nos. 05-13-00598-CR—602-CR,
2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 6099 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 4, 2014, pet. granted)
(mem. op. on reh'g, not designated for publication) ..................................... 2
Gomez v. State,
No. 03-07-00135-CR,
2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7481 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 27, 2008, no pet.)
(mem. op. on reh’g, not designated for publication) .................................... 9
Harris v. State,
No. 05-02-01728-CR,
2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 2117 (Tex. App.—Dallas March 21, 2005, pet. ref'd)
(not designated for publication) .................................................................. 6
iv
Mikel v. State,
167 S.W.3d 556 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.) ............... 9
Salinas v. State,
No. 07-00-0093-CR,
2002 Tex. App. LEXIS 5904 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 13, 2002, pet. ref’d)
(not designated for publication) ................................................................ 10
Warner v. State,
No. 05-03-01274-CR,
2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 2930 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 1, 2004, no pet.)
(not designated for publication) .................................................................. 7
Wooldridge v. State,
319 S.W.3d 747 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2009, pet ref’d) ............................... 7
v
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
The State of Texas submits this brief in response to the brief of
Petitioner, Patricia Donaldson.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Petitioner was charged by indictments, entered open pleas of guilty
before the court, pled true to two enhancement paragraphs, and was convicted
for the following causes: one count of making a false statement to obtain
property or credit ($1,500 or more, but less than $20,000) and one count of
tampering with a governmental record.1 (CR1:14, 16; CR2:21, 23).2 See Tex.
Penal Code Ann. § 32.32(c)(4) (West 2011), § 37.10 (West Supp. 2014). The
trial court pronounced punishment as ten years’ confinement for the making a
false statement offense and five years’ confinement for the tampering with a
governmental record offense. The judgments were entered May 1, 2013.
On April 15, 2014, the Fifth District Court of Appeals issued its opinion
which reversed and remanded the instant causes for a new punishment hearing
because it found the sentences void given the trial court purposely did not
make a finding as to whether one of the enhancement paragraphs was “true”
1
Petitioner pled guilty to five trial cause numbers, but only these two causes are on appeal
before this Court.
2
“CR1” is designated as the district clerk’s record for F10-00433-S (the charge for making a
false statement to obtain property or credit) and “CR2” is the clerk’s record for F10-00435-S
(tampering with a governmental record).
1
in each case. On April 21, 2014, the State filed a motion for rehearing and on
June 4, 2014, the Fifth Court of Appeals withdrew its original opinion and
issued a new memorandum opinion on the motion for rehearing which
affirmed Appellant’s sentences. Donaldson v. State, Nos. 05-13-00598-CR—602-
CR, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 6099 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 4, 2014, pet.
granted) (mem. op. on reh'g, not designated for publication). Petitioner’s pro se
petition for discretionary review was granted by this Court on February 4,
2015, and Petitioner subsequently filed her brief.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Petitioner waived her right to a jury trial and voluntarily entered an open
plea of guilty to both state jail felony offenses, as alleged, and pleas of true to
each of the two enhancement paragraphs. (RR2:4-12). Tex. Penal Code Ann. §
32.32(c)(4) (West 2011), § 37.10 (West Supp. 2014). Petitioner’s signed,
written judicial confessions; stipulation of evidence; and pleas of true to the
enhancement paragraphs in each case were admitted into evidence without
objection. (CR1:14-17; CR2:19-21; RR2:11-12).
The trial court initially passed the causes for the determination of guilt at
a later time. (RR2:12). The next day, the trial court stated the following at the
beginning of the sentencing hearing:
The Court: All right. Court calls Cause Numbers F11-00622, 10-
00447, 10-00435, 10-00433, and F10-00448, State of Texas versus
2
Patricia Donaldson. This is a continuation of a hearing that started
yesterday in which Ms. Donaldson entered a guilty plea to the
offenses as alleged in indictments and true to the enhancement
paragraphs. The Court found the evidence sufficient to find the
enhancement paragraphs true and found the evidence sufficient to
find Ms. Donaldson [guilty].
Today is the continuation of that hearing to make a
determination whether or not a finding of guilty should be made,
or whether any finding of guilt should be deferred for a period of
years.
(RR3:6; but see RR2:12, lines 13-16). After the sentencing hearing, the trial
court acknowledged and “accepted the pleas of guilty and … the pleas of true
to the enhancement paragraphs in all of the matters before the Court,” but
declined “to make a finding regarding the second enhancement paragraphs.”
(RR4:20-21). When pronouncing its ruling at the end of the sentencing
hearing, the court stated:
The Court: Each side having rested and closed, the defendant
having entered pleas of guilty and pleas of true to the enhancement
paragraphs, the Court has accepted the pleas of guilty and -- and
the pleas of true to the enhancement paragraphs in all of the
matters before the Court. The Court has considered the evidence
before me. The Court has considered the arguments of counsel.
Court announces the verdict as such: In Cause Number F10-
00448, the Court finds Ms. Donaldson guilty of the offense of
tampering with government records. The Court finds the first
enhancement paragraph to be true. Through a lengthy discussion
regarding the second enhancement paragraph, the Cause Number
390-CR-00193-T, the Court declines to make a finding in that -- in
that cause.
***
3
Cause Number F10-00433, the defendant's found guilty. First
enhancement paragraph is found to be true. The Court's [sic]
makes no finding in Cause Number 390-CR-0193-T. The
defendant is sentenced to 10 years TDC. No fine.
***
In Cause Number F10-00435, the defendant's found guilty. The
first enhancement paragraph is -- is found to be true. There's no
finding in Cause Number 390-CR-00193-T. This is the social
security card case. In that case, the defendant is sentenced to five
years TDC with no fine.
(RR4:19-21).
Enhancement Paragraphs
The indictment in both causes contained two enhancement paragraphs,
which alleged that Petitioner had been previously finally convicted of two
felonies. (SE 8, 9, 13; CR1:5; CR2:5). The first conviction was for federal mail
fraud, for which Petitioner was sentenced on November 1, 1990. This
conviction was subsequently affirmed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on
September 19, 1991. (SE 8; RR3:37-39, 86). Her second felony offense of credit
card abuse (cause number F92-33828) occurred subsequent to her federal
felony mail fraud conviction. (SE 8, 9, 13; CR1:5; CR2:5). The judgment in
this second prior cause reflects that Petitioner committed the offense of credit
card abuse on December 12, 1991, and was finally convicted of that offense on
July 2, 1992. (SE 13; RR3:37-38; RR5:16). Pen packets for both enhancing
4
offenses were admitted into evidence without objection. (SE 8, 9, 13; RR3:37-
38, 86).
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
Regarding Petitioner’s issue for discretionary review by this Court, she
pled true to both enhancement paragraphs and the Court effectively accepted
her pleas of true to those paragraphs, and assessed punishment within the
range provided by law. Given Petitioner’s pleas of true to the enhancement
paragraphs and the evidence in the record, even with the trial court’s refusal to
make a finding, the Court of Appeals was proper in impliedly finding that
judgment could be modified as necessary to reflect the proper sentencing
occurred in accordance with the evidence in the record.
ARGUMENT
BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ACCEPTED THE PLEAS OF GUILTY
AND TRUE, THE SENTENCES ARE NOT VOID OR OUTSIDE OF
THE APPLICABLE PUNISHMENT RANGE AND AN APPELLATE
COURT MAY IMPLICITLY FIND WHAT IS TRUE WITHIN THE
RECORD.
Applicable Law
“A sentence that is outside the maximum or minimum range of
punishment is unauthorized by law and therefore illegal.” Mizell v. State, 119
S.W.3d 804, 806 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Ex parte Pena, 71 S.W.3d 336,
336 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) and Ex parte Seidel, 39 S.W.3d 221, 225 n.4
5
(Tex. Crim. App. 2001)). Trial and appellate courts that otherwise have
jurisdiction over a criminal conviction have the authority to correct an illegal
sentence. Id.
When seeking to enhance punishment, the State has the burden to show
that the prior conviction was final under the law and that Petitioner was the
person previously convicted of that offense. Wilson v. State, 671 S.W.2d 524,
525 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984); Harvey v. State, 611 S.W.2d 108, 111 (Tex. Crim.
App. 1981). However, when a defendant pleads "true" or "guilty" to the
enhancement allegations, she removes from the State its burden to prove what
it alleged; in other words, the State’s burden is satisfied. Ex parte Sewell, 742
S.W.2d 393, 396 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987); Harvey, 611 S.W.2d at 111; Dinn v.
State, 570 S.W.2d 910, 915 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) (when a defendant pleads
"true" to the enhancement paragraph, the State's burden of proof is satisfied as
the plea of "true" is sufficient proof).
When a trial court fails to make a written or oral finding of “true,” the
court will typically imply that the court did make such a finding if it is
affirmatively reflected in the record. See Almand v. State, 536 S.W.2d 377, 379
(Tex. Crim. App. 1976); Harris v. State, No. 05-02-01728-CR, 2005 Tex. App.
LEXIS 2117, at *2-3 (Tex. App.—Dallas March 21, 2005, pet. ref'd) (not
designated for publication). When enhancement paragraphs are proven,
6
punishment at the enhanced level is mandatory. Warner v. State, No. 05-03-
01274-CR, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 2930, at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 1,
2004, no pet.) (not designated for publication) (citing Wilson, 671 S.W.2d at
525); see also Wooldridge v. State, 319 S.W.3d 747 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2009,
pet ref’d).
Application of Law to Facts
In her brief, Petitioner initially asserts that the reason the trial judge
assessed her sentence within the range provided by section 12.425(b) of the
Texas Penal Code is that the “trial court believed that a finding of “True” to a
single enhancement allegation authorized such a punishment.” (Petitioner’s
Br. at p. 7). A far more logical explanation would be that the trial judge
attempted to “split the baby” because he did not want to foreclose the
Petitioner from seeking a challenge against the use of her federal mail fraud
conviction as a basis for an enhanced punishment. Thus, the trial judge
assessed a sentence that was in line with what the State sought for punishment.
The sentence was justified by the evidence of the timing of when the federal
mail fraud sentence was imposed, followed by the commission of the
subsequent credit card abuse offense. However, the judge still chose to express
his uncertainty about the legal effect of Petitioner’s true plea, since he
entertained some doubt as a result of the concurrent sentence language seen in
7
the prior judgments. (See RR4:8-9). His uncertainty does not appear to be
based on the finality of the mail fraud conviction, but rather, appears to be
based on whether “sentences that run together count as separate enhancement
paragraphs?” (RR4:8).
Petitioner also asserts that “the trial court concluded that the State had
not sufficiently proven sequential conviction of two felonies.” (Petitioner’s Br.
at p. 9). However, this too cannot be true because this is not a case of the trial
court judge making a finding of “not true.” Instead, this is a case where the
judge refused to make any finding regarding the federal mail fraud conviction.
While Petitioner essentially argues the trial judge failed to conclude that
the second degree felony punishment range applied, the trial judge certainly
did not conclude that Petitioner should be punished only for a non-enhanced
state jail felony or that the federal enhancement had not been proven.
Moreover, the trial court expressly accepted Petitioner’s plea of true to both
convictions, as alleged, which included their sequence. In light of her true plea,
nothing more was required.
Texas Penal Code § 12.425(b) states:
If it is shown on the trial of a state jail felony punishable under
Section 12.35(a) that the defendant has previously been finally
convicted of two felonies other than a state jail felony punishable
under Section 12.35(a), and the second previous felony conviction
is for an offense that occurred subsequent to the first previous conviction
8
having become final, on conviction the defendant shall be punished for a
felony of the second degree.
Tex. Penal Code § 12.425(b) (West Supp. 2014) (emphasis added). What is
actually required of the State under section 12.425(b) is that it “show” the
enhancement facts. Logically, this showing means that such facts must be
found true based upon evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. But, this changes
when the accused does not controvert the allegations and voluntarily pleads
“true.” After the accused pleads true, the State has no burden at all. See Dinn,
570 S.W.2d at 915. The plea effectively serves as the “showing” required by
the repeat offender statute, with a single exception. See Gomez v. State, No. 03-
07-00135-CR, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7481, at *10 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug.
27, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op. on reh’g, not designated for publication) (citing Ex
parte Rich, 194 S.W.3d 508, 513 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) and Mikel v. State, 167
S.W.3d 556, 559 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.)).
It would seem that the plea loses the characterization of “showing” the
enhancement if it is later proven that the allegation was, in reality, false—or if
there was a legal impediment to the State using the prior conviction for the
purpose proposed by the State. Id. See, e.g., Ex parte Miller, 330 S.W.3d 610,
624 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); Rivera v. State, 957 S.W.2d 636, 638 (Tex. App.—
Corpus Christi 1997). This impediment might arise in instances where the
9
prior conviction is void, where the conviction did not involve the defendant,
where an offense does not meet the required sequence with the alleged final
conviction, or a situation where a Petitioner could gain habeas corpus relief.
However, none of these situations are involved in this case.
Ultimately, the court of appeals was required to affirm the judgment
(including its respective sentence) on any legal theory applicable to the facts.
Absalon v. State, No. PD-0340-14, 2015 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 514, at *7
(Tex. Crim. App. Apr. 29, 2015); State v. Story, 445 S.W.3d 729, 732 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2014). But since Petitioner did not challenge the validity and
veracity of her true plea in her appeal, there was no reason for the court not to
give effect to her plea. The court of appeals in its opinion on rehearing properly
recognized that the trial court judge lacked authority to ignore the true plea or
otherwise attempt to avoid the punishment range that was specifically
prescribed by the legislature.
It would be fair to say that a true plea to an enhancement paragraph has
always been considered to eliminate the need for any further proof of the
enhancements by the State. It can (and should) be considered “a judicial
admission of the facts alleged in the indictment.” Salinas v. State, No. 07-00-
0093-CR, 2002 Tex. App. LEXIS 5904, at *25 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 13,
2002, pet. ref’d) (not designated for publication). Short of the falsity or a legal
10
impediment exception, such admission can only be interpreted to mean that
the true plea dictates what finding the court is to make regarding the applicable
range of punishment. Burks v. State, 227 S.W.3d 138, 142 n.3 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. ref’d) (“Appellant’s true plea required that the
[fact-finder] assess at least 25 years’ imprisonment.”).
Here, the trial court could not countermand Petitioner’s decision to
concede and settle the issue of her guilt. There is no review of proof or
determination of sufficiency of evidence involved in this case. See Box v. State,
No. 05-12-00421-CR, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4077, at *20 (Tex. App.—Dallas
Mar. 28, 2013, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (by
pleading true, “the defendant waives any complaint that the evidence is
insufficient to support” the State’s proof of habitual offender status). The
Petitioner cannot derive any advantage from the trial judge’s reluctance on this
occasion to follow and enforce the applicable law if, in fact, that was his
purpose. Any other holding effectively renders the plea needless and
meaningless.
The trial judge erred only in his failure to treat the federal mail fraud
conviction as a final felony conviction under Texas Penal Code section
12.425(b). See Gabel v. McCotter, 803 F.2d 814, 815 (5th Cir. 1986). It appears
that the trial judge made an unsupported assumption that Petitioner, in fact,
11
enjoyed the right to concurrent discharge of her sentences for both the federal
mail fraud charge and credit card abuse charge. The judgment contained in
State’s exhibit 9 reflects that Petitioner was found guilty of mail fraud and
sentenced on November 1, 1990 to be confined for a period of “six (6)
months.” It does appear from this record that Petitioner appealed from this
judgment, but that the judgment was indeed affirmed by the United States
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on September 19, 1991. (See SE 8;
RR3:37-38; RR5:11). In State’s exhibit 13, the following judgment in cause
number F92-33828 reflects that Petitioner committed the offense of credit card
abuse on December 12, 1991 and was finally convicted of that offense on July
2, 1992. (RR3:37-38; RR5:16).
Obviously, any part of the sentence that was assessed in the federal court
actually served before July 2, 1992 did not gain any credit for Petitioner on her
sentence for credit card abuse. In any event, the reference in the judgment of
January 16, 1992 to Petitioner’s commitment for nine months “to the custody
of the United States Bureau of Prisons” to “run concurrent w/State sentence”
would not change the meaning or application of Texas Penal Code section
12.425(b). (See SE 9). Application of this statute is based on finality, and not
when or if the sentences were to run concurrently.
12
In any event, the language in section 12.425(b) speaks only of a final
conviction for a felony offense, followed by commission, and then conviction,
for a second felony offense. The statute says nothing about how the sentences
for the two convictions are served, likely because, given the sequencing
required, the sentence for the first offense must always be imposed before the
second offense has been committed. Therefore, if a parolee commits a new
offense after her release, the mere fact that her parole is revoked and the
sentence in the new case is not “stacked” upon the earlier sentence does not
mean the habitual offender law is not thereafter applicable to her future
conduct (i.e., her third offense).
As there was no true reason for the trial judge to doubt the State’s theory
about the applicable range of punishment, there was no reason for him to
refuse to make the only finding supported by the defendant’s plea (which fully
substituted for and met the need for any proof of the enhancement allegation in
the indictment). The legislature clearly sought “to punish more harshly persons
who repeatedly commit crimes.” Jordan v. State, 256 S.W.3d 286, 293 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2008). The only error of the trial judge was his failure to correctly
interpret the applicable law and Petitioner is not entitled to any relief based
solely on that type of error. See Roberson v. State, 420 S.W.3d 832, 840-41 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2013) (jury’s findings sufficient to support enhancement even
13
though they apparently received faulty instructions about the alleged sequence
of the convictions). And, the trial judge could simply have made a “not true”
finding if not content with the result of the aim of the statute. That did not
occur here. In the present case, neither party appeared to raise concerns
regarding Petitioner’s plea or the sequencing of the enhancement paragraphs.
Thus, the presumption of regularity of the proceedings applies. See, e.g., Light v.
State, 15 S.W.3d 104, 107 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000).
The trial court’s decision not to make a finding, but noting the
acceptability of the unopposed State’s exhibits, in tandem with Petitioner’s
uncontested pleas of guilty, satisfied the burden of proof on this issue. Here,
the trial court chose not to make a finding but noted and accepted Petitioner’s
plea of true and the State’s unopposed exhibits. Accordingly, the record shows
that the burden of proof on this issue was satisfied. Thus, if this court insists
that a true finding must be expressed by the court before any harsher
punishment can be assessed, then it should still affirm the decision of the court
of appeals on rehearing (to the extent the opinion held the material finding was
implicitly found, though designedly omitted for another, illegitimate, reason).
The court of appeals properly affirmed Petitioner’s convictions and sentences
in its opinion on rehearing. Petitioner’s issue should be decided against her.
14
PRAYER
The State respectfully prays that this Honorable Court will affirm the
opinion on rehearing of the Fifth Court of Appeals and affirm Petitioner’s
judgments and sentences in both cases.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________
Susan Hawk Alexis E. Hernández
Criminal District Attorney Assistant District Attorney
Dallas County, Texas State Bar No. 24055658
Frank Crowley Courts Bldg.
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB19
Dallas, Texas 75207-4399
(214) 653-3625 // (214) 653-3643 Fax
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that, in accordance with Tex. R. App. P. 9.4, this brief contains
approximately 3,090 words, as counted by the Microsoft Word 2010 word count
tool.
____________________________
Alexis E. Hernández
15
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true copy of the foregoing State’s Brief has been
served on Lawrence B. Mitchell, P.O. Box 797632, Dallas, Texas 75379, and upon
Lisa McMinn, the State Prosecuting Attorney, at P. O. Box 13046, Austin, Texas
78711-3046, by US mail and through email using the electronic filing service on
June 23, 2015.
____________________________
Alexis E. Hernández
16