In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
______________________________
No. 06-01-00076-CR ______________________________
NOAH DWYER, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 85th Judicial District Court Brazos County, Texas Trial Court No. 28,004-85
Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Grant,* JJ. Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss
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*Ben Z. Grant, Justice, Retired, Sitting by Assignment
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Noah Dwyer appeals his convictions for delivery of marihuana in a quantity greater than one-quarter ounce, but less than five pounds and delivery of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in a quantity of less than twenty abuse units, which were charged in a single indictment. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 481.120, 481.1121 (Vernon Supp. 2003). Dwyer pled guilty without a plea agreement, and the trial court sentenced him to two two-year terms of confinement in a state jail facility and ordered him to pay two $1,000.00 fines.
In the same proceeding, Dwyer pled guilty to the charges in three other indictments: (1) possession of marihuana in a quantity greater than four ounces, but less than five pounds, for which he was sentenced to two years' confinement in a state jail facility; (2) two counts of delivery of cocaine in an amount greater than one gram, but less than four grams, for which he was sentenced to two fifteen-year terms of imprisonment; and (3) one count of possession of cocaine in an amount greater than four grams, but less than 200 grams with intent to deliver and one count of possession of LSD in a quantity greater than eighty abuse units but less than 4,000 abuse units with intent to deliver, for which he was sentenced to two fifteen-year terms of imprisonment. The trial court ordered all sentences to run concurrently. Dwyer has also filed appeals from those convictions, which we address in separate opinions.
Dwyer contends the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing him to confinement rather than placing him on community supervision. We review a sentence imposed by the trial court for abuse of discretion. Jackson v. State, 680 S.W.2d 809, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). As a general rule, a penalty assessed within the proper punishment range will not be disturbed on appeal. Id.
Dwyer was convicted of two state jail felonies. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 481.121(b)(3) (Vernon Supp. 2003), 481.1121(b)(1). The punishment range for the offenses is not less than 180 days nor more than two years' confinement and a fine not to exceed $10,000.00. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 12.35(a), (b) (Vernon 1994). Dwyer's punishment of two two-year terms of confinement and two $1,000.00 fines is within the statutory range.
Further, the evidence at Dwyer's trial supports the trial court's decision. Officer Wayland Rawls testified he first had contact with Dwyer through a confidential informant while working undercover. Rawls testified Dwyer explained to him how to grow marihuana plants in his home and discussed going to Dallas to purchase LSD. Rawls purchased twenty LSD abuse units and some potted marihuana plants from Dwyer at that meeting.
Rawls testified that on another occasion he purchased one-eighth ounce of cocaine from Dwyer. He testified Dwyer told him that he paid his bills by selling drugs, that he ensured repeat business by selling undiluted cocaine, and that he went to Dallas several times a week to purchase drugs. Rawls testified that, on the same occasion, he saw several bags of cocaine in Dwyer's possession.
Rawls testified that on another occasion Dwyer agreed to purchase LSD in Dallas if Rawls paid him in advance. On yet another occasion, a confidential informant purchased forty-seven abuse units of LSD from Dwyer.
Rawls also testified he accompanied Dwyer to Dallas to purchase drugs. He testified Dwyer sold him 420 abuse units of LSD, having previously agreed to sell him 500, but having held back eighty units. Dwyer also purchased a pound of marihuana for himself. Rawls testified that on this trip he saw Dwyer in possession of over four grams of cocaine in a cigarette box.
It was on the way back from Dallas that officers stopped the vehicle, arrested Dwyer, and seized the LSD, cocaine, and marihuana. Deputy Eddie Ramirez, who transported Dwyer to jail, testified he found several small bags containing a white, powdery substance, later identified as cocaine, where Dwyer had been seated in his patrol car. Officer Robert Wilson testified he took a statement from Dwyer in which he denied the marihuana and cocaine found in Ramirez' car were his, but admitted he took eighty abuse units of LSD from Rawls, whom he still did not know was a police officer.
Betty Meier, a community supervision officer with the Brazos County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, testified that she prepared a presentence investigation report on Dwyer. She testified Dwyer admitted selling cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, and marihuana since he was fourteen years old. She testified Dwyer told her he made between $200.00 and $3,000.00 per week selling drugs. She also testified Dwyer admitted he was in a gang from the time he was thirteen years old until two years before his arrest. Meier further testified she did not consider Dwyer a good candidate for admission to a drug rehabilitation program because he only admitted smoking marihuana and infrequent cocaine use, and did not indicate any desire to change his behavior.
Carolyn Brunson, Dwyer's girlfriend who pled guilty to a drug possession offense and agreed to testify against him, testified Dwyer would go to Dallas once or twice each month to purchase LSD. She testified she witnessed Dwyer sell LSD and marihuana to a minor. She also testified Dwyer essentially lived off selling drugs and frequently smoked marihuana.
Dwyer testified he had been selling drugs since he was fourteen years old. He would do so to offset the cost of his own drug usage. He testified he did not make much money selling drugs because he did not sell in large quantities. He testified this was the first time he had dealt in the quantities of drugs for which he was charged in the present case. He testified he had been addicted to marihuana, but was not addicted any longer. He testified he lied to Meier when he told her he did not use LSD and when he did not disclose to her he had been selling drugs since he was fourteen. Dwyer contends the trial court never considered his application for community supervision and that he had no prior criminal convictions. But the trial court detailed specifically the factors it considered in sentencing him. Those factors included the sentencing range for the offense, protection of society, protection of any possible victims, deterrence, and rehabilitation. As factors in mitigation, the trial court considered there were no allegations that Dwyer used violence or a weapon in connection with the offenses and that Dwyer pled guilty. The trial court also expressed concern about the amount of drugs involved and the length of time Dwyer had been selling drugs.
The trial court then made the following statement, "And then I make a decision whether or not to do the probation." The trial court told Dwyer it was not going to place him on community supervision because it could not trust his sincerity, in view of the fact he lied to police and community supervision officers after his arrest.
While the trial court did not specifically mention the fact Dwyer had never been convicted of a crime, it was certainly aware of this fact because Dwyer's attorney mentioned it in his opening and closing arguments. Given the record before us, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in assessing Dwyer's punishment.
We affirm the trial court's judgment.
Josh R. Morriss, III
Chief Justice
Date Submitted: September 13, 2002
Date Decided: February 6, 2003
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In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
______________________________
No. 06-11-00101-CV
______________________________
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF JOHN STANSBURY
AND CHERYL RENAE KEILMAN,
A/K/A CHERYL STANSBURY
On Appeal from the 5th Judicial District Court
Bowie County, Texas
Trial Court No. 10C0739-005
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant, John Stansbury, and Appellee, Cheryl Renae Keilman, a/k/a Cheryl Stansbury, have filed with this Court a joint motion to dismiss the pending appeal in this matter. The parties represent to this Court they have reached a full and final settlement. In such a case, no real controversy exists, and in the absence of a controversy, the appeal is moot.
We grant the motion and dismiss the appeal.
Jack Carter
Justice
Date Submitted: December 21, 2011
Date Decided: December 22, 2011