Cecilia Cerda v. State

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed April 29, 2014. In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-13-00967-CR No. 05-13-00968-CR CECILIA CERDA, Appellant V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause Nos. F13-33135-U, F13-00398-U MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Moseley, O’Neill, and FitzGerald Opinion by Justice O’Neill Cecilia Cerda appeals her convictions for aggravated robbery and theft. In two issues, appellant contends the sentences imposed violate her constitutional rights. We affirm the trial court’s judgments. Appellant waived a jury and pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery of an elderly person and theft from an elderly person. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 29.03(a), 31.03(a) (West 2011 & Supp. 2013). After finding appellant guilty, the trial court assessed punishment at forty years’ imprisonment and a $3,000 fine for the aggravated robbery and ten years’ imprisonment and a $2,000 fine for the theft. Appellant contends the sentences are grossly disproportionate to the offenses and inappropriate to the offender, in violation of the United States and Texas Constitutions. Appellant asserts she committed the offenses to support her heroin addiction, and she should have been placed on community supervision and allowed to participate in the SAFPF program. The State responds that appellant failed to preserve her complaints for appellate review and alternatively, the sentences cannot be characterized as being grossly disproportionate to the offense. Appellant did not complain about the sentences either at the time they were imposed or in her motions for new trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1); Castaneda v. State, 135 S.W.3d at 723. Thus, she has not preserved this issue for appellate review. Moreover, punishment that is assessed within the statutory range for an offense is neither excessive nor unconstitutionally cruel or unusual. Kirk v. State, 949 S.W.2d 769, 772 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1997, pet. ref’d); see also Jackson v. State, 680 S.W.2d 809, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). Aggravated robbery of an elderly person is a first-degree felony offense, punishable by imprisonment for five to ninety- nine years or life and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 12.32, 29.03(a)(3)(A), (b) (West 2011). Theft from an elderly person is a third-degree felony offense, punishable by imprisonment for two to ten years and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000. Id. §§ 12.34, 31.03(e)(4)(B), (f)(3)(A) (West 2011 & Supp. 2013). Appellant’s forty- year and ten-year sentences and the fines imposed are within the statutory ranges of their respective offenses. We conclude the sentences do not violate either the United States or Texas Constitution. We overrule appellant’s two issues. -2- We affirm the trial court’s judgments. /Michael J. O'Neill/ MICHAEL J. O'NEILL JUSTICE Do Not Publish TEX. R. APP. P. 47 130967F.U05 -3- Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT CECILIA CERDA, Appellant Appeal from the 291st Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. No. 05-13-00967-CR V. F13-33135-U). Opinion delivered by Justice O’Neill, THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Moseley and FitzGerald participating. Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the trial court’s judgment is AFFIRMED. Judgment entered April 29, 2014. /Michael J. O'Neill/ MICHAEL J. O'NEILL JUSTICE -4- Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT CECILIA CERDA, Appellant Appeal from the 291st Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. No. 05-13-00968-CR V. F13-00398-U). Opinion delivered by Justice O’Neill, THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee Justices Moseley and FitzGerald participating. Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the trial court’s judgment is AFFIRMED. Judgment entered April 29, 2014. /Michael J. O'Neill/ MICHAEL J. O'NEILL JUSTICE -5-