NO. 07-07-0223-CR
NO. 07-07-0225-CR
NO. 07-07-0226-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL C
JUNE 24, 2008
______________________________
LINDSEY FORD JR., APPELLANT
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE
________________________________
FROM THE 140TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;
NOS. 2006-413,889; 2006-413-895; 2006-414,532;
HONORABLE JIM BOB DARNELL, JUDGE
_______________________________
Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant, Lindsey Ford Jr., appeals the entry of three judgments finding him guilty of the offense of burglary of a habitation, each offense enhanced by two prior felony convictions. In each case, punishment was assessed at life imprisonment, to run concurrent with each other and to run concurrent with two separate sentences arising from two additional indictments. In each of these three appeals, Appellant contends (1) the State’s evidence presented during his plea proceeding was factually insufficient and (2) the three life sentences to run concurrently with each other and with the other sentences imposed were disproportionate to the burglary offenses to which he pled guilty, i.e., his punishment was cruel and unusual. We affirm.
Background
On October 2, 2006, a Lubbock County Grand Jury returned the indictments in Cause Nos. 2006-413,889 and 2006-413,895, charging Appellant with the offense of burglary of a habitation. The indictment in Cause No. 2006-413,889 alleges Appellant intentionally, without the effective consent of the owner, Pamela Patton, entered her habitation with the intent to commit theft on September 6, 2006. The indictment in Cause No. 2006-413,895 alleges Appellant intentionally, without the effective consent of the owner, Brandye Jordan, entered her habitation with the intent to commit theft on September 1, 2006.
On November 21, 2006, a Lubbock County Grand Jury returned the indictment in Cause No. 2006-414,532 charging Appellant with the offense of burglary of a habitation. The indictment alleges Appellant intentionally, without the effective consent of the owner, Edward Martinez, entered his habitation with intent to commit theft on August 14, 2006.
The indictments in Cause Nos. 2006-413,889 and 2006-414,532 also contained two enhancement paragraphs alleging Appellant had prior felony convictions. Although the indictment in Cause No. 2006-413,895 did not contain any enhancement paragraphs, the State subsequently filed a Notice of Enhancements alleging the same prior felony convictions.
On May 10, 2007, Appellant appeared in open court, with counsel, and after having been duly sworn acknowledged to the court that it was his “intent to enter an open plea to each of the cases that are pending against [him] here today.” Appellant further acknowledged there was no plea agreement with the State, his plea was freely and voluntarily given and he was waiving certain rights including his right to a trial by jury, as well as his right to confront and cross-examine witnesses in open court. The record further reflects Appellant filed his Written Admonishments, wherein he indicated he was “desiring to enter a plea of guilty.” Without formally eliciting a plea of guilty in accordance with article 27.13 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the trial court reviewed the allegations contained in each indictment and asked Appellant if he was “pleading guilty to the charge because you are guilty and for no other reason.” In each case, Appellant answered in the affirmative. The trial court then reviewed the enhancements contained in the indictment and notice and explained their effect on the range of punishment. There were no objections to the procedure by which the trial court “accepted” Appellant’s pleas. Upon conclusion of the proceeding, the trial court pronounced Appellant’s sentence at confinement for life in each case.
Discussion
Appellant raises two identical legal issues in each appeal. He contends the evidence is “factually insufficient” to support each of his convictions but cites no authority to explain or support his entitlement to a factual sufficiency review where, as here, he has pled guilty to a trial court and waived his right to a jury trial. He next asserts his punishment is disproportionate to his crimes because, under the applicable statutory scheme, he will be required to serve at least thirty years of his sentences before he is eligible for parole.
Issue One - Factual Insufficiency
Appellant contends the evidence is “factually insufficient” to support his conviction but cites no authority to explain or support his entitlement to a factual sufficiency review where, as here, he has pled guilty to a trial court and waived his right to a jury trial.
Where a defendant knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony, the appellate standards of review for legal and factual sufficiency do not apply. Ex parte Martin, 747 S.W.2d 789, 791 (Tex.Crim.App. 1988); Ex parte Williams, 703 S.W.2d 674, 678 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986); O’Brien v. State, 154 S.W.3d 908, 910 (Tex.App.–Dallas 2005, no pet.); Keller v. State, 125 S.W.3d 600, 604-05 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. dism’d), cert. denied, 544 U.S. 906, 125 S. Ct. 1603, 161 L. Ed. 2d 280 (2005).
We find Appellant’s pleas constitute voluntary judicial confessions of guilt. See Dinnery, 592 S.W.2d at 352-53; Harp v. State, 148 Tex. Crim. 354, 187 S.W.2d 570, 571 (1945) (op. on reh’g); Lord, 63 S.W.3d at 92; Stewart, 12 S.W.3d at 148. And, having considered the record, we conclude there was sufficient evidence to support the judgments under article 1.15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Appellant’s issues are overruled.
Issue Two - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Appellant also contends the sentences imposed on him were disproportionate and constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the Texas and United States Constitutions. To preserve error for appeal, a party must make a timely, specific objection or motion to the trial court that states the grounds for the ruling sought with sufficient specificity and complies with the rules of evidence and procedure. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a). An argument that the punishment assessed is cruel and unusual is waived if presented for the first time on appeal. Id; Jacoby v. State, 227 S.W.3d 128, 130 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. ref’d). Because Appellant made no objection to the trial court raising the issue of cruel and unusual punishment, he has waived this issue on appeal. See Rhoades v. State, 934 S.W.2d 113, 120 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Curry v. State, 910 S.W.2d 490, 497 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995).
However, even absent waiver, after comparing the temporal numerosity and seriousness of the felony offenses for which he was convicted in light of his prior convictions for similar offenses with the sentences assessed thereon, we conclude that Appellant’s sentences were not unconstitutionally disproportionate and, thus, did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. See, e.g., Winchester v. State, 246 S.W.3d 386, 390-91 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 2008, no pet.). These issues are also overruled.
Conclusion
The trial court’s judgments are affirmed.
Patrick A. Pirtle
Justice
Do not publish.