Cora Lynn Romero v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 264th District Court of Bell County

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-95-00174-CR
NO. 03-95-00175-CR
Cora Lynn Romero, Appellant
v.
The State of Texas, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BELL COUNTY, 264TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NOS. 44,550 & 44,551, HONORABLE WILLIAM C. BLACK, JUDGE PRESIDING

PER CURIAM

 

In the first cause, the district court found appellant guilty of two counts of reckless injury to a child and assessed punishment at imprisonment for ten years. Act of May 29, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 357, 1, 1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 1441, amended by Act of May 27, 1991, 72d Leg., R.S., ch. 497, 1, 1991 Tex. Gen. Laws 1742 (Tex. Penal Code Ann. 22.04, since amended). In the second cause, the court found appellant guilty of driving while intoxicated, third offense, and assessed punishment at imprisonment for five years. Act of May 27, 1983, 68th Leg. R.S., ch. 303, 3, 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 1568, 1574 (Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6701l-1(b), (e), since amended and codified at Tex. Penal Code Ann. 49.04, 49.09). In two points of error, appellant contends the district court abused its discretion in assessing punishment and in overruling her motion for new trial.

Driving while intoxicated, appellant had an automobile accident in which her two young children were seriously injured. Appellant pleaded guilty and judicially confessed to the offenses alleged in the indictments. After accepting the pleas, the court and counsel discussed the punishment options. During the discussion, the court remarked:

 

My concern with sending this woman to the penitentiary, if she doesn't go to SAFPF[ (1)], is that she's going to come out an alcoholic with no treatment, and she'll be driving again. I had thought about -- if I can get her into SAFPF to send her under one, and put her under ten years probation under the other, so that she'll still be under some sort of community supervision when she gets paroled out.

 

No decision was made and the causes were continued. One month later, after considering the presentence report and hearing brief testimony, the court assessed punishment as indicated above. Appellant filed a motion for new trial asking the court to reconsider the punishment. The court denied the motion after a hearing. The court explained, "After fully considering all of the alternatives and the evidence I felt like that there was no point in sending this Defendant to SAFPF. I changed my mind and assessed the punishment . . . I think that's justified and required under the circumstances."

There was no plea bargain agreement and the punishment options were not discussed until after the pleas were made and accepted. Appellant does not contend her guilty pleas were involuntary. The punishment assessed is within the range prescribed by the legislature for these offenses. Appellant does not contend the punishment is cruel or unusual. Appellant does not contend that the court assessed punishment without reference to any evidence. Jackson v. State, 680 S.W.2d 809, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). Appellant simply urges that it would have been wiser for the court to place her on community supervision with required substance abuse treatment rather than sentence her to prison.

A great deal of discretion is accorded a sentencing court, and the court's determination of the appropriate punishment ordinarily will not be disturbed on appeal if it is within the proper range. Id. The decision to place a defendant on community supervision is also committed to the discretion of the court, which is to consider the best interest of justice, the public, and the defendant. Art. 42.12, 3, 5. We find no basis in the record before us to disturb the district court's punishment decisions in these causes. The points of error are overruled.

The judgments of conviction are affirmed.

 

Before Chief Justice Carroll, Justices Aboussie and Jones

Affirmed on Both Causes

Filed: September 20, 1995

Do Not Publish

1. As a condition of community supervision, a court may require a defendant to attend a substance abuse felony punishment facility. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 42.12, 14 (West Supp. 1995); Tex. Gov't Code Ann. 493.009 (West Supp. 1995).

1"> 

PER CURIAM

 

In the first cause, the district court found appellant guilty of two counts of reckless injury to a child and assessed punishment at imprisonment for ten years. Act of May 29, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 357, 1, 1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 1441, amended by Act of May 27, 1991, 72d Leg., R.S., ch. 497, 1, 1991 Tex. Gen. Laws 1742 (Tex. Penal Code Ann. 22.04, since amended). In the second cause, the court found appellant guilty of driving while intoxicated, third offense, and assessed punishment at imprisonment for five years. Act of May 27, 1983, 68th Leg. R.S., ch. 303, 3, 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 1568, 1574 (Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6701l-1(b), (e), since amended and codified at Tex. Penal Code Ann. 49.04, 49.09). In two points of error, appellant contends the district court abused its discretion in assessing punishment and in overruling her motion for new trial.

Driving while intoxicated, appellant had an automobile accident in which her two young children were seriously injured. Appellant pleaded guilty and judicially confessed to the offenses alleged in the indictments. After accepting the pleas, the court and counsel discussed the punishment options. During the discussion, the court remarked:

 

My concern with sending this woman to the penitentiary, if she doesn't go to SAFPF[ (1)], is that she's going to come out an alcoholic with no treatment, and she'll be driving again. I had thought about -- if I can get her into SAFPF to send her under one, and put her under ten years probation under the other, so that she'll still be under some sort of community supervision when she gets paroled out.

 

No decision was made and the causes were continued. One month later, after considering the presentence report and hearing brief testimony, the court assessed punishment as indicated above. Appellant filed a motion for new trial asking the court to reconsider the punishment. The court denied the motion after a hearing. The court explained, "After fully considering all of the alternatives and the evidence I felt like that there was no point in sending this Defendant to SAFPF. I changed my mind and assessed the punishment . . . I think that's justified and required under the circumstances."

There was no plea bargain agreement and the punishment options were not discussed until after the pleas were made and accepted. Appellant does not contend her guilty pleas were involuntary. The punishment assessed is within the range prescribed by the legislature for these offenses. Appellant does not contend the punishment is cruel or unusual. Appellant does not contend that the court assessed punishment without reference to any evidence. Jackson v. State, 680 S.W.2d 809, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). Appellant simply urges that it would have been wiser for the court to