M63-/&
PDR NO. 1263-16
mtblhAL
IN THE
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
CARL ANTHONY WILSON, COURT OF CISAL APPEALS
APPELLANT-PETITIONER,
v.
DEC 23 2018
THE STATE OF TEXAS, UW; *,
APPELLEE-RESPONDENT
Mmi&, Oer
APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW- . FILED JA!
FROM THE DECISION BY THE
CO^RT OF CRIMINAL A?PFi»L<5
^
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS IN TYLER, TEXAS ON
APPEAL NO. 12-16-0O014-CR Abei Acosta, Clerk
FILED BY:
CARL ANTHONY WILSON
PETITIONER, PRO SE
TDCJ # 2045989
ELLIS UNIT
1697 FM $80
HUNTSVILLE, TX 77343
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of contents i
Identity of judge, parties and counsel ii
Index of authorities iii
Statement regarding oral argument iv
Statement of the case iv
Statement of procedural history iv
Argument 1
Ground for review 1
Whether the court of appeals erred in concluding that Petitioner
failed to show that his trial counsel's performance prejudiced
him.
Prayer 5
Certificate of service 5
Appendix(Court of Appeals opinion) v_
IDENTITY OF JUDGE, PARTIES AND COUNSEL
TRIAL JUDGE
Honorable Judge Christi Kennedy
114th Judicial District Court-Smith County
100 N. Broadway Ave. Rm. 212
Tyler, TX 75702
TRIAL COUNSEL-DEFENSE
Melvin Thompson
2108 S. Wall Ave.
Tyler, TX 75701
Bar No. 19950900
TRIAL COUNSEL-STATE
Jacob Putman Bryan M. Jiral
Smith County Asst. D.A. Smith County Asst. D.A.
100 N. Broadway Ave. 4th Floor 100 N. Broadway Ave. 4th Floor
Tyler, TX 75702 Tyler, TX 75702
Bar No. 24065929 Bar No. 24075502
APPELLATE COUNSEL-APPELLANT
Austin Reeve Jackson
305 S. Broadway, Ste. 700
Tyler, TX 75702
Bar No. 24046139
APPELLATE COUNSEL-STATE
Smith County District Attorney
Appellate Section
100 N. Broadway Ave.
Tyler, TX 75702
n.
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES
Andrews v. State, 159 S.W.3d 98(Tex.Crim.App.2005) 3
Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828(Tex.Crim.App.2002) 2_
Branch v. State, 335 S.W.3d 893(Tex.App.-Austin 2011) 3,4
Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436(Tex.Crim.App.2001) 1
Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d 72(Tex.Crim.App.2004) 3,4
Roldan v. State, 739 S.W.2d 868(Tex.Crim.App.1987) 5_
Spriggs v. Collins, 993 F.2d 85(5th Cir.1993) 4_
Strickland v. Washington, 446 U.S. 668(1984) passim
Taylor v. State, 911 S.W.2d 906(Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1995) 4
Tong v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707(Tex.Crim.App.2000) 1
STATUTES
Tex. Code Crim. Pro. Art. 37.07 § 4 2,3
RULES
Tex. R. App. Pro. 66.3(a) 4,5
Tex. R. App. Pro. 66.3(f) 4,5
Tex. R. App. Pro. 68 iv
in.
PDR NO. 1263-16
IN THE
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS
APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:
COMES NOW, Carl Anthony Wilson, Appellant-Petitioner, pro se and files
this petition for discretionary review pursuant to Tex. R. App. Pro. 68.
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL. ARGUMENT
Oral argument is not necessary. Should this Court determine that oral ar
gument is necessary, Petitioner would then request oral argument.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Petitioner pled not guilty to the charge of Driving While Intoxicated
("DWI"), third or more, in the 114th Judicial District Court in Smith County,
Texas. After a jury trial, Petitioner was found guilty and sentenced to 60
years imprisonment.
The court of appeals being presented one point of error, affirmed the judg
ment by determining that Petitioner's trial attorney's performance did not pre
judice the defense. This petition challenges that determination.
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Petitioner presented one point of error on appeal. Rejecting this point,
the court of appeals affirmed the trial court judgment on September 21, 2016.
There was no motion for rehearing or motion for en banc reconsideration filed
in this case.
iv.
ARGUMENT
GROUND FOR REVIEW: Whether the court of appeals erred in concluding that the
Petitioner failed to show that his trial counsel's performance prejudiced
him. (slip op. at 4).
Petitioner contends that the court of appeals erred in concluding that the
Petitioner failed to show that his trial counsel's failure to object to im
proper jury argument by the state prejudiced him.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
An appellant complaining of ineffective assistance must satisfy a two-
prong test. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052(1984). Un
der the first-prong, the appellant must show that counsel's performance was
"deficient." Id; Tong v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707,712(Tex.Crim.App.2000). "This
requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not
functioning as the 'counsel' guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment."
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. The appellant must show that "counsel's repre
sentation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness." Id at 688;
Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. Absent evidence of counsel's reasons for the challenged
conduct, we assume a strategic motivation if one can be imagined, and we will
not conclude that challenged conduct is deficient unless it was so outrageous
that no competent attorney would have engaged in it. Garcia, 57 S.W.3d 436,440
(Tex.Crim.App.2001).
Under the second prong, an appellant must show that the "deficient perform
ance prejudiced the defense." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at
712. Prejudice requires a showing of a "reasonable probability that, but for
counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. The appellant
must establish both prongs by a preponderance of the evidence. Tong, supra.
Review of trial counsel's representation is highly deferential. Id. We
1.
indulge a "strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide
range of reasonable professional assistance." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. The
appellant bears the burden of overcoming the presumption that, under the cir
cumstances, the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy. Id.
Any allegation of ineffectiveness must be firmly founded in the record, and
the record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness..Bone v.
State, 77 S.W.3d 828,835(Tex.Crim.App.2002). The record on direct appeal is
rarely sufficiently developed to fairly evaluate a claim of ineffectiveness. Id.
B. DISCUSSION
The issue at bar is whether trial counsel's failure to object to the pro
secutor's improper closing argument was ineffective assistance. Petitioner con
tends that it is.
When assessing punishment, a jury is entitled to consider the existence of
parole law. Tex. Code Crim. Pro. Art. 37.07 § 4. A prosecutor may accurately
restate the law given in the jury charge, including parole law, or ask the jury
to consider that law when assessing punishment. Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d
72,84(Tex.Crim.App.2004). However, " a jury is simply prohibited from consider
ing how parole law and good time would be applied to a particular defendant."
Id. Whether improper jury argument is harmful at the punishment phase of trial
depends on the following: "(1) the severity of the misconduct(prejudicial ef
fect), (2) curative measures, and (3) the likelihood of same punishment absent
the misconduct." Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77.
During closing arguments, the state made the following argument:
In this case, if you assess a life sentence like we're asking, then
after 15 years, he would be eligible for parole. And if he made pa
role, he would be on parole for the rest of his life. If you give
him 60 years, he'll be eligible for parole at 15 years. And if he
made parole, then he would be on parole until his 60-year sentence
is done, whenever he's released. Similarly, whatever sentence you
give, if he's eligible for parole and makes parole, then he'll be
on parole until the sentence is completed.
(RR8:103).
If defense counsel's argument is correct that when [Appellant's]
on parole he's not committing more crimes, then I think we would
want him oih parole for the rest of his life, because it's work
ing.
(RR8:104).
• • • •
If you give him a life sentence, he's eligible at 15 years, But if
he ever gets parole and gets out, we know for sure somebody's
going to be supervising him every single day for the rest of his
life, and that's the best you can do to make him stop.
(RR8:109).
The court of appeals in evaluating the issue, erroneously concluded that
the majority of the state's argument focused on Petitioner's ability to make
parole under various scenarios, as opposed to speculating about when he might
actually be paroled.(Slip op. at 4). Petitioner contends that the prosecutor's
arguments were improper, because they went well beyond merely explaining the
parole-law portion of the juryicharge.
The Austin Court of Appeals has addressed a similiar issue in Branch v.
State, 335 S.W.3d 893(Tex.App.-Austin 2011). The Branch court found the argu
ment improper, found trial counsel's failure to object deficient performance,
and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Id(quoting And
rews v. State, 159 S.W.3d 98,102(Tex.Crim.App.2005)).
In the instant case, the prosecution's violating Tex. Code Crim. Pro. Art.
37.07s}§ 4 is unduly prejudicial. There were no curative measures taken by
the defense once the arguments were made. Given the factors as set forth in
Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77, the same punishment would not have been assessed ab
sent the misconduct.
There can be no sound trial strategy in failing to object to this improper
jury argument. Andrews, 159 S.W.3d at 102(finding counsel ineffective for fail-
3.
ing to object to improper argument). On that basis alone, the court of ap
peals opinion warrants review. Tex. R. App. Pro. 66.3(a),(f).
The court of appeals also gave an additional reason upon which it believed
the jury could have found the 60 year sentence justified.(Slip op. at 4). It
noted that the jury did not assess the life sentence as requested by the st
ate. (Slip op. at 4).
The court of appeals fails to recognize that there is "... no practical
difference in a 60 year sentence and a 99 year sentence." Taylor v. State,
911 S.W.2d 906,914(Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1995). That same rationale applies with
equal force in the instant case, where the state sought a life sentence and
Petitioner only got a 60 year sentence.
The jury was also made aware that whether they assessed Petitioner's pun
ishment at 60 years or life, he would be eligible for parole in the same a-
mount of time, as argued by the state in jury argument.(RR8:103). Given that
there are no categorical or practical differences in a 60 year sentence when
compared to a life sentence, the sentence was not justified.
Moreover, "... when the discretionary sentencing range is great, practi
cally any error committed by counsel could have resulted in a harsher sentence,
even if only by a year or two." Spriggs v. Collins, 993 F.2d 85,88(5th Cir.
1993). By allowing the jury to hear the prosecutor's jury argument without an
objection, Petitioner's punishment was affected, especially considering that
his 60 year sentence is the functional equivalent of a life sentence.
Under the circumstances of this case, the jury argument was harmful error.
Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77. Petitioner argues that he would have received a les
ser sentence, but for his trial counsel's failure to object. Spriggs, 993 F.2d
at88-90; Branch, 335 S.W.3d at 893. Review is warranted. Tex. R. App. Pro.
66.3(a),(f).
Since the argument is based on a question of law, and not a factual dis-
pute with the court of appeals opinion, review is warranted. Roldan v. State,
739 S.W.2d 868(Tex.Crim.App.1987).
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Petitioner prays that this Court Grant the Pe
tition For Discretionary Review. Petitioner prays for any other relief that is
just and equitable under the circumstances. Petitioner prays for general re
lief.
Respectfully Submitted,
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that the foregoing petition for discretionary review was de
livered to prison authorities for mailing by U.S. Mail, postage pre-paid,
first-class to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Clerk of the Court,
P.O. Box 12308, Austin, TX 78711-2308, State Prosecuting Attorney, P.O. Box
13046, Austin, TX 78711-3046 and the Smith County District Attorney, 100 N.
Broadway Ave., Tyler, TX 75702 on this the /£ day of December, 2016^^,
NO. 12-16-00014-CR
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
CARL ANTHONY WILSON, § APPEAL FROM THE 114TH
APPELLANT
V. § JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
APPELLEE § SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS
MEMORANDUM OPINION ~ " ===
Carl Anthony Wilson appeals from his conviction for driving while intoxicated. In one
issue, he contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. We affirm.
Background
Deputy Jason Railsback with the Smith County Sheriffs Office stopped Appellant for
speeding. He testified that Appellant's vehicle smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred, he had
difficulty forming concise sentences, he appeared nervous, and he had glassy, bloodshot eyes.
Railsback conducted field sobriety tests, which indicated that Appellant was intoxicated. A
blood test revealed that Appellant's blood alcohol ratio was two times the legal limit, at 0.153.
Appellant pleaded "not guilty" to felony driving while intoxicated. The jury found Appellant
guilty and assessed punishment of imprisonment for sixty years.
Ineffective Assistance
In his sole issue, Appellant contends that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by
failing to object to the State's closing argument during the punishment phase of trial.
Standard of Review and Applicable Law
An appellant complaining of ineffective assistance must satisfy a two-pronged test. See
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); see also
Tong v. State, 25 S.W.3d 707, 712 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Under the first prong, the appellant
must show that counsel's performance was "deficient." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct.
at 2064; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. "This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious
that counsel was not functioning as the 'counsel' guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth
Amendment." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064. The appellant must show that
"counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness." Id., 466 U.S. at
688, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. Absent evidence of counsel's reasons for the
challenged conduct, we assume a strategic motivation if one can be imagined, and we will not
conclude that challenged conduct is deficient unless it was so outrageous that no competent
attorney would have engaged in it. Garcia v. State, 57 S.W.3d 436, 440 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
Under the second prong, an appellant must show that the "deficient performance
prejudiced the defense." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at
712. Prejudice requires a showing of "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Strickland, 466
U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. A reasonable probability is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104
,S. Ct. at 2068; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. The appellant must establish both prongs by a
preponderance of the evidence or the ineffectiveness claim fails. Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712.
Review of trial counsel's representation is highly deferential. Id. We indulge a "strong
presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065. The appellant bears the burden of
overcoming the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action might be
considered sound trial strategy. Id.; Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. Any allegation of ineffectiveness
must be firmly founded in the record, and the record must affirmatively demonstrate the alleged
ineffectiveness. Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 835 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). The record on
direct appeal is rarely sufficiently developed to fairly evaluate a claim of ineffectiveness. Id. at
833.
Facts
During closing arguments, the State made the following comments:
In this case, if you assess a life sentence like we're asking, then after 15 years, he would be
eligible for parole. And if he made parole, he would be on parole for the rest of his life. If you give
him 60 years, he'll be eligible for.parole at 15. And if he made parole, then he would be on parole
until his 60-year sentence is done, whenever he's released. Similarly, whatever sentence you give,
if he's eligible for parole and makes parole, then he'll be on parole until the sentence is completed.
If [defense counsel's] argument is correct that when [Appellant's] on parole he's not committing
more crimes, then I think we would want him on parole for the rest of his life, because it's
working.
If you give him a life sentence, he's eligible at 15 years. But if he ever gets parole and gets out, we
know for sure somebody's going to be supervising him every single day for the rest of his life, and
that's the best you can do to make him stop.
Appellant's trial counsel did not object to the State's argument.
In the punishment charge, the trial court instructed the jury as follows:
Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, may earn time off the period of incarceration imposed through the award of good
conduct time. Prison authorities may award good conduct time to a prisoner who exhibits good
behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work assignments, and attempts at rehabilitation. If a
prisoner engages in misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of any good
conduct time earned by the prisoner.
It is also possible that the length of time for which the defendant will be imprisoned
might be reduced by the award of parole.
Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, he will not become eligible for parole until the actual time served plus any good
conduct time earned equals one-fourth of the sentence imposed or i5 years, whichever is less.
Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that parole will be granted.
It cannot be accurately predicted how the parole law and good conduct time might be
applied to this defendant if he is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of
these laws will depend on decisions made by prison and parole authorities.
You may consider the existence of the parole law and good conduct time. However, you
are not to consider the extent to which good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this
particular defendant. You are not to consider the manner in which the parole law may be applied
to this particular defendant.
The charge also instructed the jury that "[sjtatements made by the lawyers are not evidence."
Analysis
A jury is entitled to consider the existence of parole law when assessing punishment.
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07 § 4 (West Supp. 2016). A prosecutor may accurately
restate the law given in the jury charge, including parole law, or ask the jury to consider that law
when assessing punishment. Hawkins v. State, 135 S.W.3d 72, 84 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
"[T]he jury is simply prohibited from considering how parole law and good time would be
applied to a particular defendant." Id.; Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07 § 4. Whether
improper jury argument is harmful at the punishment phase of trial depends on the following
factors: "(1) the severity of the misconduct (prejudicial effect), (2) curative measures, and (3) the
certainty of the punishment assessed absent the misconduct (likelihood of the same punishment
being assessed)." Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77.
Assuming, without deciding, that the State's argument was improper and trial counsel
was deficient by failing to object, Appellant has not shown that such performance prejudiced his
defense. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064; see also Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712.
The majority of the State's argument focused on Appellant's eligibility for parole under various
scenarios, as opposed to speculating about when Appellant might actually be paroled. See
Taylor v. State, 233 S.W.3d 356, 359 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); see also Spencer v. State, 460
)S.W.3d 180, 187 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2015, pet. ref d). The trial court instructed the jury in
accordance with article 37.07 and further instructed that the attorneys' arguments are not
evidence. We presume the jury followed the trial court's instructions, and the record does not
indicate otherwise. See Resendiz v. State, 112 S.W.3d 541, 546 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
Additionally, when assessing Appellant's punishment, the jury could consider both
evidence admitted at the guilt phase of trial and evidence of Appellant's prior criminal history,
which included convictions for possession of marijuana, burglary of a habitation, and burglary of
a vehicle. See Fields v. State, 1 S.W.3d 687, 688 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); see also Rayme v.
State, 178 S.W.3d 21, 27 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist] 2005, pet. ref d); Tex. Code Crim.
Proc. Ann. art. 37.07 § 3. Thus, even without the State's argument, the jury could have found
that a sixty-year sentence is justified. Notably, the jury did not assess the life sentence requested
by the State.
Under the circumstances of this case, we conclude that any improper argument by the
State with regard to parole law was harmless. See Hawkins, 135 S.W.3d at 77. Appellant has
failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for trial counsel's failure to object to the
State's argument, the result of Appellant's punishment proceeding would have been different.
See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068; see also Tong, 25 S.W.3d at 712. We
overrule Appellant's sole issue.
f*-.
COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
NO. 12-16-00014-CR
CARL ANTHONY WILSON,
Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
Appellee
Appeal from the 114th District Court
of Smith County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 114-0948-15)
THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
Panel consisted of Worthen, CJ., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
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Combined Opinion