Ex parte Rodriguez, 30481

Decision Date28 January 1959
Docket NumberNo. 30481,30481
Citation167 Tex.Crim. 305,320 S.W.2d 346
PartiesEx parte Raul T. RODRIGUEZ.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Perkins, Floyd & Davis, by Kenneth Oden, Alice, for appellant.

Leon B. Douglas, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

DICE, Commissioner.

This is an original application for a writ of habeas corpus by which relator seeks his release from the Texas Prison System.

The record reflects that relator and Pedro R. Amador were jointly charged by indictment in Cause No. 1425 in the 105th Judicial District Court of Kleberg County with the offense of burglary in the first count and felony theft in the second count. The indictment further alleged a prior conviction of the relator for the purpose of enhancing the punishment for the offense charged in the first count.

On April 15, 1957, the relator waived a jury and entered a plea of guilty before the court to the charge contained in the indictment. Judgment was rendered and entered by the court finding relator guilty of burglary and assessing his punishment at confinement in the penitentiary for a 'term of not less than two (2) years nor more than five (5) years.' On such date sentence was pronounced upon the relator in accordance with the judgment.

On May 13, 1957, an order was entered in the cause by the trial court declaring said judgment and sentence void and setting both aside. The court then proceeded to enter as the court's judgment in the cause a judgment finding relator guilty of the offense of felony theft and assessing his punishment at confinement in the penitentiary for a term of 'not less than two (2) nor more than ten (10) years as provided by Article 62 of the Penal Code of the State of Texas.' In accordance with this judgment the court also proceeded to enter as the sentence of the court in the cause a sentence which ordered that relator be confined in the penitentiary for a term of 'not less than two (2) nor more than ten (10) years.'

We need not discuss the various attacks made by the relator upon the judgments and sentences entered in the cause because in any event both judgments entered by the court on April 15, 1957, and May 13, 1957, were neither definite nor certain as to the punishment assessed, and for such reason were void. Ex Parte East, 154 Tex.Cr.R. 123, 225 S.W.2d 833; Ex Parte Traxler, 147 Tex.Cr.R. 661, 184 S.W.2d 286; Ex Parte Clubb, 155 Tex.Cr.R. 285, 234 S.W.2d 874, and Ex Parte Frazier, 164 Tex.Cr.R. 572, 301 S.W.2d 655.

The judgment...

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2 cases
  • Madeley v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • January 6, 1965
    ...of this court. Ex Parte Traxler, 147 Tex.Cr.R. 661, 184 S.W.2d 286; Ex Parte East, 154 Tex.Cr.R. 123, 225 S.W.2d 833; Ex Parte Rodriguez, 167 Tex.Cr.R. 305, 320 S.W.2d 346. Under the record, appellant stands convicted and his punishment enhanced to life imprisonment by virtue of the prior j......
  • Quiller v. State, 40678
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • November 1, 1967
    ...Vernon's Ann.C.C.P., and is not void. The judgment in the prior conviction assessed a definite term of ten years. In Ex parte Rodriguez, 167 Tex.Cr.R. 305, 320 S.W.2d 346, relied upon by appellant, it was the judgment of the court and not the sentence which was held void for The ground of e......

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