Davis v. State, 48326

Citation507 S.W.2d 740
Decision Date10 April 1974
Docket NumberNo. 48326,48326
PartiesWilliam E. DAVIS, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Stephen M. Orr, Austin, for appellant.

Robert O. Smith, Dist. Atty., & Charles Craig, Asst. Dist. Atty., Austin, and Jim D. Vollers, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

OPINION

MORRISON, Judge.

Conviction is for burglary of a coin operated machine on a plea of guilty to the jury; the punishment, two years.

Appellant's first ground of error complains that the judgment is void in that it shows that eleven instead of twelve jurors were impaneled. The pertinent portion of the judgment reads that '. . . a jury, to-wit: Burglary of a Coin Operated Machine and eleven others was duly selected, impaneled and sworn . . .' The above underlined portion is incorrect and should obviously have been filled in by reference to the foreman of the jury, Sterlin C. Moore.

Appellant made no issue of the number of jurors prior to his appeal of the conviction. There is no showing that only eleven jurors were impaneled. We reform the portion of the judgment above under the authority in Art. 44.24, Vernon's Ann.C.C.P., wherein it states 'Burglary of a Coin Operated Machine' to read 'Sterlin C. Moore.' 1

Ground of Error number two urges that appellant's plea of guilty should have been withdrawn by the trial court upon certain exculpatory testimony of the appellant. Appellant argues that such testimony clearly indicates that he did not open the machine with the intent to commit theft, an essential element of the crime. We do not agree.

Appellant's testimony coming closest to negating an intent to commit theft is to the effect that he found some keys in his pocket and he tried to see if the keys would open the machine and one of them did. Appellant did not testify that he had no intent to commit theft at the time he used the keys.

Appellant goes on to testify that he knew it was wrong to go into the machine and that he might be put in jail for doing so. We hold that the evidence was not such as to render it incumbent on the trial court to withdraw the guilty plea. In Reyna v. State, 434 S.W.2d 362, 365, this court said: '. . . evidence must go farther than just tending to show a defensive issue, but must reasonably and fairly present such issue before the trial court would be required to withdraw the guilty plea.' No error is shown.

Ground of Error number three complains that there was not a proper admonishment upon appellant's plea of guilty under Article 26.13, V.A.C.C.P.

The record reflects the following:

'(End of jury voir dire.)

(Whereupon, a jury having been selected, the following proceedings were had before the jury).

THE COURT: At this time I'll ask the Defendant to stand, and we'll commence the trial by the reading of the indictment.

(Whereupon the indictment was read by Mr. Collins, Counsel for the State.)

THE COURT: And to which indictment the Defendant, William Davis, pleads guilty or not guilty?

THE DEFENDANT: Guilty, Your Honor.

THE COURT: And I have hereto (sic) advised you of the consequences and you thoroughly understand that? (Emphasis Added)

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.' (Emphasis Added)

There is an instrument in the record entitled 'Arraignment of the Defendant on Plea of Guilty' signed by the trial court reciting that the proper admonishments were given following arraignment on the day of the trial. There is a sworn statement in the record by the appellant acknowledging that he was warned of the consequences of pleading guilty. The docket sheet reflects that appellant was warned of his rights and the consequences of his plea. In view of the above recitals, we conclude that the proper admonishments were given to appellant in a preliminary proceeding on the day of the trial. 2

Finding no reversible error, the judgment as reformed is affirmed.

ONION, Presiding Judge (concurring).

I feel compelled to state my reasons for concurring as to the disposition of ground of error #3 contending there was not a proper admonishment under Article 26.13, Vernon's Ann.C.C.P.

The judgment reflects that the appellant was properly admonished as required by Article 26.13, supra. Nevertheless, the appellant relies upon the transcription of the court reporter's notes, which reflects that after the indictment was read to the trial jury on May 1, 1973, the following occurred:

'THE COURT: And to which indictment the Defendant, William Davis, pleads guilty or not guilty?

'THE DEFENDANT: Guilty, Your Honor.

'THE COURT: And I have hereto (sic) advised you of the consequences and you thoroughly understand that?

'THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.'

The docket sheet reflects that on May 1, 1973, prior to the jury trial on the same date, the appellant was 'arraigned and warned of his rights and the consequences of a plea of guilty. . . .' Also in the record, not objected to by the appellant, is a written instrument dated May 1, 1973, and signed by the judge entitled ...

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13 cases
  • Moon v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • October 4, 1978
    ...required to withdraw the guilty plea. Reyna v. State, supra. See also Galvan v. State, 525 S.W.2d 24 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Davis v. State, 507 S.W.2d 740 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Jones v. State, 491 S.W.2d 883 (Tex.Cr.App.1973).3 In 9 Houston Law Review 641, Bruder, "Pretrial Motions in Texas Crimin......
  • Duffy v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • June 7, 1978
    ...was not given. Cf. McCloud v. State, 527 S.W.2d 885 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Green v. State, 510 S.W.2d 919 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Davis v. State, 507 S.W.2d 740 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Grant v. State, 507 S.W.2d 732 Appellant seems to argue that this presumption of regularity is inapplicable in the insta......
  • Garza v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • March 20, 1985
    ...contendere plea. Reyna v. State, [434 S.W.2d 362 (Tex.Cr.App.1968) ]; Galvan v. State, 525 S.W.2d 24 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Davis v. State, 507 S.W.2d 740 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Jones v. State, 491 S.W.2d 883 (Tex.Cr.App.1973). "This is true even though no effort was made by defense counsel at any ......
  • Varela v. State, 54504
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • July 6, 1977
    ...withdraw the guilty or nolo contendere plea. Reyna v. State, supra ; Galvan v. State, 525 S.W.2d 24 (Tex.Cr.App.1975); Davis v. State, 507 S.W.2d 740 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Jones v. State, 491 S.W.2d 883 With this background, a review of the facts concerning the instant case will be required. I......
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