in the Matter of L. L., Jr. , a Juvenile

NO. 07-08-0241-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL B

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ______________________________

IN THE MATTER OF L.L., JR., A CHILD

_________________________________

FROM THE 64TH DISTRICT COURT OF HALE COUNTY;

NO. A2193-0609; HONORABLE ROBERT W. KINKAID, JR., JUDGE

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Appellant, L.L., Jr., appeals from the trial courtâs order modifying the disposition to commit him to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). Through one issue, he contends the trial court erred when it failed to make a statutorily-required determination in its written judgment. We will modify the trial courtâs judgment to reflect the omitted finding and affirm it as modified.

Background

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â In October 2006, appellant was found to be a child engaged in delinquent conduct on his plea of âtrueâ to an allegation he committed burglary of a habitation. He was placed on probation until his eighteenth birthday. The State filed two motions to modify the disposition in 2007. The first was dismissed. After a hearing held in August 2007 as to the second, appellant was placed in a rehabilitation program outside of his home. In March 2008, the State filed another motion to modify the disposition. A hearing was held in May 2008 wherein appellant plead ânot trueâ to the allegations. The court found the allegations to be true and modified the disposition to commit appellant to TYC.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The oral pronouncements made by the trial court regarding its decision included the pronouncement âthat [appellant] cannot be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision that [he] need[s] to meet the conditions of probation.â But this pronouncement was not included in the written judgment, contrary to the statutory requirement in section 54.05(m)(1)(C) of the Family Code. Appellant timely appealed.

AnalysisVia his sole point of error, appellant complains the trial court erred in failing to include the [above-noted] statutorily-directed finding in the written judgment. Because appellant complains only of an omission in the written judgment and not the trial courtâs decision to place appellant in TYC, we will address only the evidence pertinent to the omitted finding.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Section 54.05(m)(1)(C) (Vernon 2007) provides:

(m) If the court places the child on probation outside the childâs home or commits the child to the Texas Youth Commission, the court:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (1) shall include in the courtâs order a determination that:

(C) the child, in the childâs home, cannot be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision that the child needs to meet the conditions of probation . . . .

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This Court has authority to correct, modify and reform a judgment to make the record speak the truth when the matter has been called to its attention and it has the necessary information to do so. In re K.B., 106 S.W.3d 913, 916 (Tex.App.âDallas 2003, no pet.); In re J.K.N., 115 S.W.3d 166, 174 (Tex.App.âFort Worth 2003, no pet.) (court is authorized to modify juvenile courtâs judgment); Asberry v. State, 813 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Tex.App.âDallas 1991, pet. refâd). This power extends to reforming, correcting or modifying the written judgment to include omitted findings. See, e.g., French v. State, 830 S.W.2d 607, 609 (Tex.Crim.App. 1992) (court of appeals properly granted Stateâs motion to reform trial courtâs judgment to include the juryâs affirmative deadly weapon finding); Cobb v. State, 95 S.W.3d 664, 668 (Tex.App.âHouston [1^st Dist.] 2002, no pet.) (courtâs power includes adding a deadly-weapon finding to a judgment that erroneously omitted a fact-finderâs deadly-weapon finding); Asberry,Â 813 S.W.2d at 529-31) (adding deadly-weapon finding). The authority of the appellate courts to reform judgments is not limited to those situations involving mistakes of a clerical nature. Bigley v. State, 865 S.W.2d 26, 27 (Tex.Crim.App. 1993). The necessary information is provided in the record here. Accordingly, we are authorized to modify the trial courtâs judgment. Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(b).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At the close of the May 2008 hearing, the trial court stated the following findings on the record:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This court finds that you are a juvenile who is in need of rehabilitation. I further fined [sic] that the public needs protection from you. I find that it would be in the best interest of yourself that you be placed outside your home, that you cannot be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision that you need to meet the conditions of probation; that there have been reasonable efforts made by this Court to eliminate the need for your removal and make it possible for you to return to your home.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I particularly take notice of the fact that this is the second time I have found that you have violated your probation. I gave you a [break] once before; so therefore, it will be the order of the Court that you shall be committed to the Texas Youth Commission where theyâre authorized by law to keep you until your 21^st birthday.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â However, as both parties agree, the courtâs written order committing appellant to TYC failed to include the requisite determination that âthe child, in the childâs home, cannot be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision that the child needs to meet the conditions of probation.â Tex. Fam. Code Ann. Â§ 54.05(m)(1)(C) (Vernon 2007).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Appellant argues this omission requires the reversal of the judgment and remand of the case. Appellant relies on the decision in In re J.T.H., 779 S.W.2d 954 (Tex.App.âAustin 1989, no pet.) for this proposition. There, the trial court stated in its order that it was in the childâs best interest to be placed outside the home but it made no finding whether efforts were made to keep the child at home. The court concluded that by omitting its determination concerning efforts to keep appellant in his home, the trial court failed to comply with section 54.04(g). As a result, the appellate court reversed the trial courtâs order of disposition and remanded the cause. As noted by the State here, however, the J.T.H. opinion does not clearly indicate whether the trial court made oral findings with regard to the information omitted from the order. Because the trial court did so here, we find In re J.T.H. distinguishable.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Not only did the trial court make the finding that appellant could not be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision in his home that he needs to meet the conditions of probation, the evidence of record supports the finding. The trial judge who made the finding presided over the prior proceedings involving appellant and had repeatedly found appellant could not be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision needed to meet the conditions of his probation at home. Evidence supporting the trial courtâs finding was presented at each of the proceedings. The evidence presented showed appellantâs mother was incarcerated for transporting illegal drugs across the border from the beginning of the case until after appellant was committed to TYC. Appellantâs father failed to appear at one modification hearing despite being properly served notice. Appellantâs father was out of the country for at least one week, leaving his eight children without adult supervision. While in his fatherâs custody, appellant regularly smoked marijuana and crack cocaine. Appellant committed additional offenses immediately after being released from a rehabilitation program and from county jail.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We modify the trial courtâs order modifying disposition to commit appellant to TYC to reflect the trial courtâs oral pronouncement that âthe child, in the childâs home, cannot be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision that the child needs to meet the conditions of probation.â Tex. Fam. Code Ann. Â§ 54.05(m)(1)(C) (Vernon 2007). See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(b); Bigley, 865 S.W.2d at 27-28; Asberry,Â 813 S.W.2d at 529-30.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â As modified, we affirm the trial courtâs judgment.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â James T. Campbell

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Justice

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NO. 07-10-0192-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL C

JANUARY 27, 2011

OLIVIA REYES TIENDA, APPELLANT

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE

Â FROM THE 137^THDISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

NO. 2009-422,182; HONORABLE CECIL PURYEAR, JUDGE

Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This is an accelerated appeal[1] wherein Appellant, Olivia Reyes Tienda, requests this Court to review the trial court's order denying bail pending the appeal of her conviction for credit card abuse, a state jail felony offense.[2]Â In the underlying proceeding, Appellant was sentenced to two years confinement.Â By her sole issue, she asserts the trial court abused its discretion in denying her an appeal bond because the State failed in its burden to show good cause that she is likely to commit another offense while on bail.[3]Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Standard of Review

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We review a trial court's decision to deny an appeal bond under an abuse of discretion standard; Ex parte Spaulding, 612 S.W.2d 509, 511 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981), and ask whether the trial judge's "decision was made without reference to any guiding rules or principles or, in other words, if the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable."Â Davis v. State, 71 S.W.3d 844, 845-46 (Tex.App.--Texarkana 2002, no pet.) (citing Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 380 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990)).Â So long as the trial court's decision falls within the "zone of reasonable disagreement," we must uphold the trial court's decision even if we would have reached a different result.Â Id. at 845.Â Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Appeal Bond

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â There is no federal or state constitutional right to bail pending appeal.Â Dallas v. State, 983 S.W.2d 276, 278 n.1 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998). Â See Ex parte Cole, 43 S.W.3d 713, 716 (Tex.App.--Fort Worth 2001, no pet.) (citing Ex parte Lowe, 573 S.W.2d 245, 247 (Tex.Crim.App. [Panel Op.] 1978)).Â In Texas, a defendant's right to bail pending appeal is governed by the provisions of articles 44.04 and Chapter 17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.Â See Dallas, 983 S.W.2d at 278 (citing Ex parte Davila, 623 S.W.2d 408, 410 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981)) (holding that the Chapter 17 procedures concerning bail are modified and supplemented by article 44.04 after an accused has been convicted and post-verdict proceedings are initiated).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Generally, a defendant convicted of a felony offense may be eligible for release on a reasonable appeal bond unless there exists good cause to believe that he or she will not appear when his or her conviction becomes final or is likely to commit another offense while on bond.Â See art. 44.04; Compian v. State, 7 S.W.3d 199, 200 (Tex.App. --Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.) (citing Mayo v. State, 611 S.W.2d 442, 444 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981)).[4]Â Here, following a hearing, the trial court denied an appeal bond based on its finding that Appellant was likely to re-offend in the event she was released from jail.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At the hearing, the State produced evidence that Appellant was under investigation by the 286^th Judicial District Attorney's Office in 2006 for exploiting an elderly couple through forgery and theft.Â The investigation was prompted by bank employees who observed Appellant accompanying an elderly couple to the bank during a loan application review and while cashing checks written on the elderly couple's accounts.[5]Â When the bank employees checked one account, they discovered that thirty-eight thousand dollars had been withdrawn during the four months the couple had been observed with Appellant, leaving a balance of less than a hundred dollars.Â When bank employees attempted to separate Appellant from the elderly couple in order to speak with them privately, Appellant became uncooperative and belligerent.Â Shortly thereafter, they closed their account with the bank.[6]Â When the investigator confronted Appellant, she admitted that the couple had agreed to pay her one hundred twenty-five dollars a week to clean their house but had given her thousands of dollars to pay her bills and make her car payments.Â Appellant was ultimately charged with altering a check made out by the couple to her from fifty dollars to one hundred fifty dollars.Â The couple agreed that the check had been altered and a grocery employee positively identified Appellant as the person who cashed the altered check.Â Ultimately, however, the District Attorney's Office did not pursue criminal charges against Appellant because the couple was unable to testify due to an onset of dementia.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â More recently, while incarcerated, Appellant made a telephone call to her daughters wherein she asked one daughter to go to an elderly woman's house on the pretext of taking her garbage out and described how she could obtain money by deceiving the elderly woman.[7]Â She proposed a variety of lies her daughter should use to obtain money from the woman.Â Based upon the past investigation and this new information, Kevin Davis, Hockley County Sheriff, and Brandy Montgomery, a bank employee, opined that, if Appellant made bond, she would absolutely, or very likely, commit another crime.Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Given the findings of the elderly-exploitation investigation in 2006 and her recent telephone call from jail encouraging her daughter to obtain money from an elderly person by false pretext or deception,[8] we cannot say that the trial court's decision to deny an appeal bond was "so clearly wrong as to lie outside that zone within which reasonable persons might disagree."Â Shugart, 994 S.W.2d at 369 (quoting Heiselbetz v. State, 906 S.W.2d 500, 517 (Tex.Crim.App. 1995)).Â This is particularly so as the investigation report and recent phone call from jail suggest a continuous pattern of such behavior undeterred by her present incarceration.Â Accordingly, Appellant's sole issue is overruled.

Conclusion

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The trial courtÂs order denying bail is affirmed.Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Patrick A. Pirtle

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â JusticeÂ

Do not publish.

[1]An appeal of any judgment or order pertaining to an Appellant's right to bond pending appeal "shall be given preference by the appellate court."Â Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. article 44.04(g) (West 2006).Â For convenience, provisions of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure will hereafter be cited as "article ____" or "art. ____."Â

[2]See Cause No. 07-10-0257-CR, Olivia Reyes Tienda v. State, presently pending before this Court.

[3]See art. 44.04(c) (West 2006); Ex parte Castaneda, 739 S.W.2d 456, 457 (Tex.App.--Corpus Christi 1987, no pet.).

[4]When a court sets bail, certain factors should be considered in reviewing whether the bail is reasonable such as length of the sentence, nature of the offense, work record, family ties, length of residence and ability to make bail.Â See Swinnea v. State, 614 S.W.2d 453, 455 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981); Ex parte Rubac, 611 S.W.2d 848, 849-50 (Tex.Crim.App. 1981).Â However, when a court denies bail, the decision is based upon whether the record shows that the defendant is likely to commit another offense while on bail or would not appear when his conviction became final.Â Art. 44.04(c); Shugart v. State, 994 S.W.2d 367, 369 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999).Â Â Â Â Â

[5]The couple was in their eighties and the woman had recently suffered a stroke.Â Her memory and mental state were not clear.Â Â

[6]The investigative report indicated that, prior to moving their money to this bank, the couple had moved their money from another bank when bank employees confronted them with their suspicions that Appellant was exploiting them.Â The bank employees at the prior bank also became suspicious when they observed Appellant cashing multiple checks written by the couple on their account.Â Â

[7]Appellant and her daughter had been cleaning the woman's house for several years.Â Appellant's husband testified the woman was making payments to them for Appellant's medications.

[8]See Tex. Penal Code Ann. Â§Â§ 31.02, 31.03 (West Supp. 2010); Miller v. State, 164 Tex. Crim. 628, 301 S.W.2d 672, 672-73 (1957).Â

in the Matter of L. L., Jr. , a Juvenile

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