Ryan K. Mason v. State

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-13-00368-CR
RYAN K. MASON,
Appellant
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
From the 40th District Court
Ellis County, Texas
Trial Court No. 36947CR
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A jury found Appellant Ryan Keith Mason guilty of possession of a controlled
substance, namely methamphetamine, in an amount of four grams or more but less than
200 grams, with intent to deliver, and assessed his punishment, enhanced by prior
felony convictions, at sixty-eight years’ imprisonment, “to be served consecutive with
any other sentences and parole revocations, beginning after the other sentences are
completed.” This appeal ensued.
Challenge for Cause
In his first issue, Mason contends that he was denied his constitutional right to
an impartial jury because the trial court denied his request to strike a juror for cause.
The trial court’s ruling on a challenge for cause is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. Russeau v. State, 171 S.W.3d 871, 879 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “We afford the
trial court considerable deference, because it is in the best position to evaluate a
prospective juror’s demeanor and responses.” Id. “This is especially true when this
Court is faced with a vacillating or equivocating venireperson.” Banda v. State, 890
S.W.2d 42, 54 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); see Russeau, 171 S.W.3d at 879. “The trial court is
able to consider important factors such as demeanor and tone of voice that do not come
through when reviewing a cold record.” Banda, 890 S.W.2d at 54.
The court of criminal appeals has held that a prospective juror may be properly
challenged for cause and removed “if he cannot impartially judge the credibility of a
witness.” Ladd v. State, 3 S.W.3d 547, 560 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); see TEX. CODE CRIM.
PROC. ANN. art. 35.16(a)(9) (West 2006). Potential jurors “must be open-minded and
persuadable, with no extreme or absolute positions regarding the credibility of any
witness.” Ladd, 3 S.W.3d at 560. The fact that a prospective juror is more or less
skeptical of a certain category of witness, however, does not make him subject to
challenge for cause. Id. (stating that prospective jurors are not challengeable for cause
“simply because they would give certain classes of witnesses a slight edge in terms of
credibility”); Jones v. State, 982 S.W.2d 386, 389 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (holding that
Mason v. State Page 2
prospective juror was not challengeable for cause simply because she stated she would
be more skeptical of accomplice witnesses than of witnesses generally).
During voir dire, after both parties had addressed the panel of prospective jurors
as a whole, several prospective jurors were called individually to the bench to speak
with the attorneys and the trial court in private. The following exchange occurred
when the trial court called Prospective Juror No. 9:
THE COURT: To get the ball rolling, I’m going to ask you a
question verbatim.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Prior to hearing the witness testify, would you
automatically disbelieve somebody simply because they are a convicted
felon?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I would not automatically.
THE COURT: Thank you. Any questions on the part of the
defense?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes. What do you mean by automatically?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Can I speak freely?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Back to the conversation we were having
at the time. I wouldn’t automatically discredit that person, but do I have
less trust or faith in that person as opposed to a police officer like we’re
bringing up? Yes.
I’m not going to tell you he’s lying automatically. I’m going to
listen to his testimony and make my best judgment. But from him going
to the stand, he’s a convicted felon. I feel he’s less trustworthy than a
police officer, and that’s how I’m going to look at it.
[PROSECUTOR]: Can I ask a few questions, Judge?
Mason v. State Page 3
THE COURT: Sure.
[PROSECUTOR]: So you’re using the conviction as - - to judge his
credibility?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I am.
[PROSECUTOR]: Okay.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: In a sense.
[PROSECUTOR]: But you don’t - - wouldn’t automatically
disbelieve anything that he says just because he’s a convicted felon?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: No. It’s going to take his - - the way he
presents himself, the way he handles himself, how convincing he is as a
witness. But I would have less faith in that person or trust in that person
than an officer of the law.
THE COURT: Of course, you understand someone’s felony
conviction may have been 27 years ago?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: And that’s why I felt it was a very hard
question to answer because - - and the circumstances can be very different
and it’s hard to give that exact answer.
THE COURT: Both sides just want to make sure that you don’t
prejudge somebody. You got to wait until they take the witness stand - -
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Agreed.
THE COURT: - - and then assess credibility?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I understand.
THE COURT: Is that true?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: That is true, yes, sir.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: But, again, 27 years ago, ten years ago, 30
years ago, he’s a convicted felon. He’s not going [to] receive the same
amount of credibility before he even takes the stand as a police officer, is
he?
Mason v. State Page 4
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: It’s hard to say again without knowing
what the circumstances are, but going onto it, is that person, in my eyes,
less trustworthy than a police officer automatically? Yes. After his
testimony would I think differently? Again, possibly. I can’t be certain
without being in the situation, but I stand by the fact that a police officer is
a little more trustworthy from the start given his testimony than a
convicted felon is.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: All right. So but automatically they would
start low and they’d have to build themselves up?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I guess you could say that, yes?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And a police officer would start up?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Start medium right where anybody else
would that wasn’t a police officer.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: But a convicted felon would not start at
that point?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Possibly, depending upon the
circumstances, yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Well, you’ve gone both ways. You’ve said
no - -
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Because I don’t want to lie to you, and I
don’t want to give you a dishonest answer. And I can’t tell you for
certainty without the situation being there. I would love to tell you I think
I would question more the testimony of a convicted felon over that of a
police officer or somebody that was just a witness. I mean, that’s just the
way I feel about it.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And there was another issue that I asked
you at one point where I said if you had 99 reasons, reasonable reasons to
convict the defendant - -
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Okay.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: - - and one reasonable doubt, what would
your verdict be, and I think you said guilty?
Mason v. State Page 5
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Well, I was confused on the situation. I
apologize. If I had 99 reasons to convict and one not to convict?
THE COURT: And I want to be clear that the reasonable doubt
goes to an element of the offense to which the State is required to prove.
So if you had a reasonable doubt as to one of the essential elements of the
crime.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Then I would have to go with not guilty in
that situation.
THE COURT: In conclusion, I want to read the two statements
again.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: And I just need your candid yes or no answer.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Prior to an individual taking the witness stand,
would you automatically disbelieve somebody simply because they are a
convicted felony [sic]?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: No, sir.
THE COURT: Do you feel as though you could evaluate a witness
and his testimony and decide if he’s being truthful without automatically
dismissing his testimony because of some criminal history?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Thank you, sir. You may step outside.
Mason argues that Prospective Juror No. 9 vacillated regarding the issue of
credibility because although he answered the trial court’s “magic questions” correctly,
his other responses showed that he considered a police officer to be more trustworthy
from the start than a convicted felon. We disagree. Furthermore, Prospective Juror No.
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9 did not exhibit an automatic predisposition to disbelieve a witness solely because he
had a prior felony conviction. Nor did Prospective Juror No. 9 exhibit an automatic
predisposition to believe a witness solely because he was a police officer. Rather,
Prospective Juror No. 9 stated that a police officer’s credibility would start out the same
as that of any other witness that did not have a felony conviction. And Prospective
Juror No. 9 indicated that police officers and other witnesses not having a felony
conviction would have a slight edge in terms of credibility. See TEX. R. EVID. 609
(providing for impeachment of a witness’s credibility under certain circumstances by
prior felony conviction).
Prospective jurors are not challengeable for cause simply because they would
give certain classes of witnesses a slight edge in terms of credibility. Ladd, 3 S.W.3d at
560. The trial court did not, therefore, abuse its discretion in denying Mason’s request
to strike Prospective Juror No. 9 for cause. We overrule Mason’s first issue.
Punishment-Phase Jury Argument
In his second issue, Mason contends that the trial court erred in overruling his
objection to the State’s punishment-phase closing argument because the State argued
how parole applied to him in violation of statutory law.
To be permissible, the State’s jury argument must fall within one of the following
four general areas: (1) summation of the evidence; (2) reasonable deduction from the
evidence; (3) answer to argument of opposing counsel; or (4) plea for law enforcement.
Felder v. State, 848 S.W.2d 85, 94-95 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). An argument that exceeds
these bounds is error. Id. at 95. It only becomes subject to reversal if, in light of the
Mason v. State Page 7
record as a whole, the argument is extreme or manifestly improper, violative of a
mandatory statute, or injects new facts, harmful to the accused, into the trial. Id.
Article 37.07, section 4(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure expressly prohibits a
jury from considering parole eligibility for the defendant on trial. Specifically, the jury
is charged:
You may consider the existence of the parole law and good conduct time.
However, you are not to consider the extent to which good conduct time
may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular defendant. You are not
to consider the manner in which the parole law may be applied to this
particular defendant.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 37.07, § 4(b) (West Supp. 2013). Consequently, while it
is not improper for the State to explain how parole eligibility rules apply to certain
sentences, the State may not ask a jury to consider how good-conduct time may be
awarded to a particular defendant or how parole law will particularly affect the
defendant’s sentence. See Waters v. State, 330 S.W.3d 368, 371-74 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2010, pet. ref’d) (citing Taylor v. State, 233 S.W.3d 356, 359 (Tex. Crim. App.
2007)).
In this case, the following exchange occurred during the State’s punishment-
phase closing argument:
[Prosecutor]: ….
And, you know, I’ll agree with [Defense Counsel] on one thing. I
am going to tell you that 25 years is not enough for this defendant. It’s
not. That’s why the law gives you this range of punishment. You get to
consider all of those things. Well, this ain’t his first rodeo. You’ve heard
that. He’s told you that. He’s been to prison twice before. And I want
you to pay close attention to the dates on those. His last one was in March
31st, 2006 where his sentence was 15 years. That means supposed to end
in 2000 and - -
Mason v. State Page 8
[Defense Counsel]: Your Honor, I’m going to object with regards to
any argument regarding parole in this case. This charge particularly says
she cannot do that.
THE COURT: I’m going to overrule your objection at this point.
Renew if appropriate.
[Prosecutor]: Just look at the dates. You go in in 2006 for 15 years
--
[Defense Counsel]: Same objection, Your Honor. She is talking
about how parole applies to this particular defendant.
[Prosecutor]: Judge, it’s on the evidence.
THE COURT: Overruled.
[Prosecutor]: Y’all can recall. I’ll let you look at that. Now, what
do we know about this defendant? We know that he’s a career criminal.
It has been ongoing. Lots of drug charges. Delivery of a controlled
substance. Multiple cases. Possession of controlled substance with intent
to deliver. The exact same charge as he has here.
….
And sure I’m going to talk about his prior convictions. I should.
It’s important. How many chances does he get? How many chances does
it take? You were here as I read out each conviction. How many does it
take for a person to change? This many? What do you think the
likelihood of him changing? That’s a lot of chances. Lots of chances. If
you haven’t learned by now, when will you learn?
….
Now, we’re going to ask that you go back and take all of these
convictions back there with you, look at the dates, look at the charges,
look at when these were committed, and ask yourself what is the
appropriate punishment for him. Are you going to protect the
community? Sometimes enough is enough. Some people will never learn.
You can’t help everybody.
Mason argues that in the foregoing closing argument,
Mason v. State Page 9
the prosecutor made a plea to the jurors to “pay close attention to his
dates of incarceration” in an effort to encourage them to “look at the
dates” as they consider Appellant’s potential eligibility for parole.… [The
prosecutor] asked them to look at the dates of conviction, the term of
sentence, and to finally calculate his release date based on those dates.
The State responds that, contrary to Mason’s contention, the prosecutor did not tell the
jury to calculate Mason’s release date based on the prior time that he served. The State
argues that the prosecutor’s argument was instead merely a summation of the evidence
as the prosecutor asked the jury to look at all of Mason’s prior criminal history and past
sentences in determining his appropriate sentence in this case.
We agree with the State. The prosecutor made no express reference to the parole
laws. Instead, she appears to be pointing out Mason’s continued criminal activity and
lack of rehabilitation despite his prior recent confinement. See, e.g., Bowman v. State, 782
S.W.2d 933, 936-37 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, pet. ref’d).
Furthermore, even if we assume that the prosecutor was impliedly asking the
jury to consider how parole law would affect his sentence, such error was harmless.
Because the error is non-constitutional, it must be disregarded unless it affects
substantial rights. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.2(b). In determining whether Mason’s substantial
rights were affected, we consider: (1) the severity of the misconduct (prejudicial effect),
(2) curative measures, and (3) the certainty of the punishment assessed absent the
misconduct (likelihood of the same punishment being assessed). Hawkins v. State, 135
S.W.3d 72, 78 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Mason argues that the severity of the prosecutor’s conduct in this case is clear.
Mason states that the prosecutor pleaded with the jury to assess a heavy sentence based
Mason v. State Page 10
not on the evidence but on his potential eligibility for parole, which resulted in a heavy
sixty-eight-year sentence. We disagree. Any error was not egregious. As stated above,
the prosecutor did not even make an express reference to the parole laws. As for
curative measures, while the trial judge did not give an instruction to disregard the
prosecutor’s statements, the jury charge did properly instruct the jury on parole
eligibility times and properly instructed the jury not to consider how good time and
parole law would be applied to Mason. Finally, given the evidence of Mason’s criminal
history and his lack of rehabilitation, it is unlikely that the jury would have assessed a
less lengthy sentence if the prosecutor had not made the comments of which Mason
complains. We overrule Mason’s second issue.
Motion for New Trial
In his third issue, Mason contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion
for new trial, thereby denying him a fair and impartial trial. We review the trial court’s
denial for abuse of discretion. See Salazar v. State, 38 S.W.3d 141, 148 (Tex. Crim. App.
2001). Mason specifically argues that the prosecutor’s improper parole argument
allowed jurors to focus on the length of time he would actually serve in determining his
sixty-eight-year sentence. Mason states that he was prepared to present testimony as to
whether the improper argument influenced the jury’s decision at the motion-for-new-
trial hearing but that the trial court erred and denied the motion without a hearing.
The relevant facts are as follows: Mason timely filed a motion for new trial and
requested a hearing on the motion. The motion alleged that (1) “[j]urors engaged in
misconduct thereby depriving the Defendant of a fair and impartial trial” and (2) “[t]he
Mason v. State Page 11
verdict was contrary to the law and evidence which was undertaken to prejudice
Defendant to the point of the denial of a fair trial.” The motion was unsworn, and no
affidavits were attached. The State filed written objections to the motion. The trial
court denied the motion for new trial without a hearing.
The purposes of a new-trial hearing are (1) to determine whether the case should
be retried or (2) to complete the record for presenting issues on appeal. Hobbs v. State,
298 S.W.3d 193, 199 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Such a hearing is not an absolute right. Id.
But a trial judge abuses his discretion in failing to hold a hearing if the motion and
accompanying affidavits (1) raise matters that are not determinable from the record and
(2) establish reasonable grounds showing that the defendant could potentially be
entitled to relief. Id. This second requirement limits and prevents “fishing
expeditions.” Id. A new-trial motion must be supported by an affidavit specifically
setting out the factual basis for the claim. Id. If the affidavit is conclusory, is
unsupported by facts, or fails to provide requisite notice of the basis for the relief
claimed, no hearing is required. Id.
Here, Mason’s motion for new trial was not supported by an affidavit; therefore,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion without a hearing. We
overrule Mason’s third issue.
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
In his fourth and fifth issues, Mason contends that the sentence imposed
constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth
Mason v. State Page 12
Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 19 of the Texas
Constitution because sixty-eight years' imprisonment is not an appropriate sentence.
Generally, a sentence within the statutory range of punishment for an offense is
not excessive, cruel, or unusual punishment.1 Winchester v. State, 246 S.W.3d 386, 389
(Tex. App.—Amarillo 2008, pet. ref’d); Alvarez v. State, 63 S.W.3d 578, 580 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth 2001, no pet.). A narrow exception to this rule is recognized where the
sentence is grossly disproportionate to the offense. See Moore v. State, 54 S.W.3d 529, 542
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref’d); see also Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957,
1004-05, 111 S. Ct. 2680, 2707, 115 L. Ed. 2d 836 (1991) (Kennedy. J., concurring); Solem v.
Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 290-92, 103 S. Ct. 3001, 3010-11, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637 (1983); McGruder v.
Puckett, 954 F.2d 313, 316 (5th Cir. 1992). But a defendant must complain or object in the
trial court about an allegedly disproportionate sentence to preserve his complaint for
appeal. Ham v. State, 355 S.W.3d 819, 825 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2011, pet. ref’d); Gertz v.
State, No. 10-11-00008-CR, 2012 WL 3799146, at *2 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 30, 2012, no
pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (citing Wynn v. State, 219 S.W.3d 54, 61
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.); and Solis v. State, 945 S.W.2d 300, 301
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. ref’d)).
Mason argues that he raised his complaint in his motion for new trial that was
denied without a hearing. As shown above, however, Mason’s motion for new trial
1In this case, the charged offense of possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, in
an amount of four grams or more but less than 200 grams, with intent to deliver, is a first-degree felony.
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.112(a), (d) (West 2010). Because the jury found the enhancement
paragraphs to be true, Mason faced punishment of a term of imprisonment between twenty-five and
ninety-nine years or life and a fine up to $10,000. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.42(d) (West Supp. 2013).
Mason’s sentence of sixty-eight years’ confinement is within this statutory range.
Mason v. State Page 13
alleged only that (1) “[j]urors engaged in misconduct thereby depriving the Defendant
of a fair and impartial trial” and (2) “[t]he verdict was contrary to the law and evidence
which was undertaken to prejudice Defendant to the point of the denial of a fair trial.”
Mason argues alternatively that no objection was required because the error was
apparent and an objection “would have served no useful purpose.” Citing Ray v. State,
119 S.W.3d 454, 459 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, pet. ref’d), Mason further states that
most courts agree that a complaint of cruel and unusual punishment may be addressed
for the first time on appeal if it rises to the level of constitutional error. The Fort Worth
Court of Appeals, however, has since declined to follow Ray. See Crawford v. State, No.
2-04-299-CR, 2005 WL 1477958, at *4 & n.3 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jun. 23, 2005, pet.
ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
Because Mason did not raise his complaint about his sentence in the trial court,
his fourth and fifth issues are not preserved and are thus overruled. See TEX. R. APP. P.
33.1.
Consecutive Sentences
Before the sentence was pronounced, the State asked that the sentence in this
case run consecutively to Mason’s prior sentence of fifteen years. Mason argued that it
should run concurrently. During sentencing, the trial court stated:
And further, this sentence is to run consecutively with any other
sentences previously imposed, as well as any other parole revocations, if
any, that may occur. So once all prior sentences are satisfied and once all
prior sentences are served, then this one would begin and go forward.
Mason v. State Page 14
Accordingly, the judgment states: “This sentence is to be served consecutive with any
other sentences and parole revocations, beginning after the other sentences are
completed.”
In his sixth issue, Mason contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
ordering that his sentence in this case run consecutively to that of any parole
revocations. Mason argues that while the trial court has discretion to cumulate
sentences, its discretion is not without limitations. Mason states that the trial court’s
decision to order consecutive sentences “should be firmly grounded in the facts and
evidence of the case, the circumstances of the case, the personal circumstances of the
defendant, and the nature of the crime” and that the trial court is not authorized to
cumulate a sentence with a parole revocation.
We disagree with Mason that the trial court abused its discretion in its decision
to cumulate. Under article 42.08(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, when a
defendant has two or more convictions,
in the discretion of the court, the judgment in the second and subsequent
convictions may either be that the sentence imposed or suspended shall
begin when the judgment and the sentence imposed or suspended in the
preceding conviction has ceased to operate, or that the sentence imposed
or suspended shall run concurrently with the other case or cases.
TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 42.08(a) (West Supp. 2013). A trial court has the
authority under this article to stack a new sentence onto a prior sentence for which the
defendant is then on parole. Hill v. State, 213 S.W.3d 533, 538 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
2007, no pet.); Wilson v. State, 854 S.W.2d 270, 273 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1993, pet. ref’d);
Jimenez v. State, 634 S.W.2d 879, 881-82 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982, pet. ref’d).
Mason v. State Page 15
The State acknowledges, however, and we agree, that the judgment, as entered,
does not contain sufficient information to allow the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice (TDCJ) to cumulate the sentences. A cumulation order should contain five
elements describing the prior convictions: (1) the trial court number, (2) the trial court
name, (3) the date of conviction, (4) the term of years, and (5) the offense of conviction.
Banks v. State, 708 S.W.2d 460, 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). The inclusion of all of the
elements is not mandatory, but there must be enough information included in the
judgment from which corrections officials may know precisely when the defendant’s
sentence is to begin. Id. As stated above, the judgment in this case merely provides:
“This sentence is to be served consecutive with any other sentences and parole
revocations, beginning after the other sentences are completed.”
The State requests that we reform the judgment and sentence to include the
proper language of the prior conviction. If we have the necessary data and evidence
before us for reformation, we may reform the judgment and sentence on appeal. Id. at
462.
During the punishment phase of the trial, Mason entered a plea of true to the
enhancement paragraphs that were alleged in the indictment. The judgments for each
of those prior convictions were admitted into evidence without objection. One was a
2006 judgment against Mason in Cause No. 00-00-30241-CR in the 13th District Court of
Navarro County for possession of a penalty-group 1 controlled substance, in an amount
of over four grams but under 200 grams, with intent to deliver, for which Mason
received fifteen years’ imprisonment. The other involved a delivery-of-a-controlled-
Mason v. State Page 16
substance case for which Mason had received six years’ imprisonment in 1993;
therefore, the judgment and sentence imposed in that case has “ceased to operate.”
Additionally, during the punishment phase, the judgments from several other prior
convictions were also admitted into evidence, but the judgments and sentences
imposed in those cases have also “ceased to operate.”
Based on the foregoing, we therefore modify the judgment and sentence so that
the punishment of sixty-eight years’ confinement in this case shall begin when the
judgment and sentence from the 13th District Court in Navarro County in Cause No.
00-00-30241-CR for possession of a penalty-group 1 controlled substance, in an amount
of over four grams but under 200 grams, with intent to deliver, whose sentence is fifteen
years’ imprisonment, shall have ceased to operate.
Cumulative Error
In his seventh issue, Mason contends that the cumulative effect of the foregoing
errors warrants a reversal. We disagree. The Court of Criminal Appeals has stated, “It
is conceivable that a number of errors may be found harmful in their cumulative effect.”
Chamberlain v. State, 998 S.W.2d 230, 238 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). But the Chamberlain
court continued that non-errors may not in their cumulative effect cause error. Id.
Because we have not concluded that the trial court erred in this case, other than that the
judgment did not contain sufficient information to allow the TDCJ to cumulate the
sentences, which we have reformed, we overrule Mason’s seventh issue.
Mason v. State Page 17
Conclusion
We modify the trial court’s judgment such that the following statement, “This
sentence shall begin when the judgment and sentence from the 13th District Court in
Navarro County in Cause No. 00-00-30241-CR for possession of a penalty-group 1
controlled substance, in an amount of over four grams but under 200 grams, with intent
to deliver, whose sentence is fifteen years’ imprisonment, shall have ceased to operate,”
is substituted for the statement, “This sentence is to be served consecutive with any
other sentences and parole revocations, beginning after the other sentences are
completed.” We affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.
REX D. DAVIS
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Affirmed as modified
Opinion delivered and filed October 9, 2014
Do not publish
[CRPM]
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