Marcus Leslie v. State ( 2015 )


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  •                                                                                                 ACCEPTED
    06-15-00057-CR
    SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
    TEXARKANA, TEXAS
    10/29/2015 5:07:31 PM
    No. 06-15-0057-CR                                              DEBBIE AUTREY
    CLERK
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE SIXTH SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT FILED IN
    6th COURT OF APPEALS
    AT TEXARKANA, TEXAS           TEXARKANA, TEXAS
    10/30/2015 10:44:00 AM
    Marcus Leslie,                                                        DEBBIE   AUTREY
    Appellant
    Clerk
    v.
    The State of Texas,                                                              State
    Appealed from the 5th Judicial District Court
    Bowie County, Texas
    BRIEF FOR THE STATE
    The State Does Not Request Oral Argument
    Respectfully submitted:
    Jerry D. Rochelle
    Criminal District Attorney
    Bowie County, Texas
    601 Main Street
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    By:     Lauren N. Sutton
    Assistant District Attorney
    601 Main Street
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    Texas Bar No. 24079421
    Attorneys for the State
    In The Court of Appeals
    For the Sixth Supreme Judicial District
    At Texarkana, Texas
    Marcus Leslie,                              §                    Nos. 06-15-0057-CR
    Appellant                       §
    §
    v.                                          §
    §
    The State of Texas,                         §
    State                          §               BRIEF FOR THE STATE
    §
    Identity of the Parties
    The following is a complete list of all the parties to the trial court’s judgment
    as required by the provisions of Rule 38.2(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate
    Procedure:
    1. Defendant and Appellant:
    Marcus Leslie
    2. Attorneys for Appellant on appeal:
    Troy Hornsby
    1725 Galleria Oaks Drive
    Texarkana, Texas 75503
    3. Attorneys for Appellant at trial:
    Chad Crowl
    Bowie County Public Defender’s Office
    i
    4. Attorney for the State of Texas at trial:
    Samantha Oglesby
    Kelley Crisp
    Assistant District Attorneys
    Bowie County, Texas
    601 Main Street
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    5. Attorney for the State of Texas on appeal:
    Lauren N. Richards
    Assistant District Attorney
    Texas Bar No. 24079421
    601 Main Street
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    Lauren.sutton@txkusa.org
    6. Presiding Judge at trial:
    The Honorable Bill Miller
    District Court Judge
    5th Judicial District
    Bowie County, Texas
    Bi-State Justice Building
    100 North State Line Avenue
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    ii
    Table of Contents
    Identity of the Parties and Counsel ......................................................................... i-ii
    Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... iii
    Index of Authorities .............................................................................................. iv-v
    Statement of the Case................................................................................................. 1
    Reply to Points of Error ............................................................................................. 2
    Summary of Argument .......................................................................................... 3-4
    Argument.............................................................................................................. 5-16
    Reply to Point of Error Number One .............................................. 5-13
    The State’s Notice of Intent to Seek Enhanced Punishment gave
    the Appellant sufficient notice of the necessary details of the
    prior felony offense which the State would be using to seek
    enhanced punishment.
    Reply to Point of Error Number Two ........................................... 13-16
    The affirmative deadly weapon finding is not based on a
    showing the firearm was “used or exhibited during the
    commission of a felony offense,”and therefore is improper.
    Prayer for Relief ....................................................................................................... 16
    Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................ 17
    Certificate of Service ............................................................................................... 18
    iii
    Index of Authorities
    Cases
    Brasfield v. State, 
    30 S.W.3d 502
    (Tex. App. –Texarkana 2000, no pet.) .............. 13
    Brooks v. State, 
    957 S.W.2d 30
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) .......................................... 7
    Cooper v. State, 
    500 S.W.2d 837
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1973)..............................9,10,11
    Ex parte Petty, 
    833 S.W.2d 145
    (Tex.Crim.App.1992) .......................................... 11
    Fitzgerald v. State, 
    722 S.W.2d 817
    (Tex. App.—Tyler 1987) .........................14,15
    Freda v. State, 
    704 S.W. 41
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) .............................................. 10
    Gale v. State, 
    998 S.W.2d 221
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) .......................................... 15
    Goff v. State, 
    931 S.W.2d 537
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) ............................................ 7
    Hickman v. State, 548 S.W.2dd 736 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977) ................................. 11
    Hollins v. State, 
    571 S.W.2d 873
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) .................................10,11
    Ibarra v. State, 
    11 S.W.3d 189
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1999) ........................................... 7
    Jackson v. Virginia, 
    443 U.S. 307
    (1979)................................................................ 13
    Narron v. State, 
    835 S.W.2d 642
    (Tex. Crim. App.1992) ..................................14,15
    Patterson v. State, 
    769 S.W.2d 938
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1989) .................................. 14
    Pelache v. State, 
    324 S.W.3d 568
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2010)..................................... 10
    Plummer v. State, 
    410 S.W.3d 855
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) ................................... 14
    Rogers v. State, 
    640 S.W.2d 248
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1982) ........................................ 6
    Tyra v. State, 
    897 S.W.2d 796
    (Tex.Crim.App.1995) .............................................14
    iv
    Villescas v. State, 
    189 S.W.2d 290
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) ...........................9,10,11
    Woods v. State, 
    398 S.W.3d 396
    (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2013, pet. ref'd) .............. 15
    Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
    Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.12 §3g(a)(2) ............................................................. 14
    Texas Penal Code
    Tex. Penal Code § 12.42(d) ..................................................................................... 11
    Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure
    Tex. R. App. Proc. 43.2 ........................................................................................... 15
    v
    Statement of the Case
    Appellant, Marcus Leslie was found guilty by a jury of unlawful possession
    of a firearm by a felony. The jury assessed punishment at fifty (50) years to be
    served consecutively in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice- Institutional
    Division. The Judge sentenced the Appellant accordingly. Appellant then perfected
    appeal to this Honorable Court. He now appeals the punishment verdict of the trial
    court on two points of error.
    1
    Reply to Points of Error
    REPLY TO POINT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE:
    The accomplice witness testimony was sufficiently corroborated by
    other testimony and evidence.
    REPLY TO POINT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO:
    The affirmative deadly weapon finding is not based on a showing the firearm was
    “used or exhibited during the commission of a felony offense,”and therefore is
    improper.
    2
    Summary of the Argument
    REPLY TO POINT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE:
    The State’s Notice of Intent to Seek Enhanced Punishment gave the
    Appellant sufficient notice of the necessary details of the prior felony
    offense which the State would be using to seek enhanced punishment.
    In his first point of error, Leslie argues the State’s Notice of Intent to Seek
    Enhanced Punishment is defective because it did not include all necessary elements
    as required. However, the State’s notice included copies of both judgments which
    gave the Appellant proper notice that the second felony offense occurred after the
    first felony offense conviction became final. Appellant received constitutionally
    adequate notice of the State’s intent to enhance punishment both with the State’s
    Notice of Intent to Seek Enhanced Punishment and during the punishment phase of
    the trial. The notice sufficiently alleged which specific prior felony convictions
    would be introduced. Because notice was given to the Appellant of which prior
    felony convictions would be introduced, the enhancement allegations were
    properly used to enhance his punishment. Appellant has failed to establish that he
    has suffered any harm resulting from the alleged inadequate notice.
    3
    REPLY TO POINT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO:
    The affirmative deadly weapon finding is not based on a showing the
    firearm was “used or exhibited during the commission of a felony
    offense,”and therefore is improper.
    In point of error number two, Appellant argues there is insufficient evidence
    to support the affirmative deadly weapon finding in the judgment. A review of
    caselaw indicates that because the Appellant was not convicted of both offenses at
    trial, the affirmative deadly weapon finding is not based on a showing the firearm
    was “used or exhibited during the commission of a felony offense.”
    4
    Argument
    Reply to Point of Error One
    The State’s Notice of Intent to Seek Enhanced Punishment gave the
    Appellant sufficient notice of the necessary details of the prior felony
    offense which the State would be using to seek enhanced punishment.
    In point of error number one, the Appellant argues that the State’s notice of
    enhancement is defective because it does not allege that the second felony was
    committed after the first felony conviction became final. However, the State
    provided sufficient notice to the Appellant that it would be seeking enhanced
    punishment and also the necessary details of the prior felony offenses which the
    State would be using to enhance punishment.
    Argument and Authorities
    The indictment for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon alleged
    only one prior felony conviction. But prior to trial, on March 25, 2015, the State
    filed a Notice of Intent to Seek Enhanced Punishment,” which alleged as follows:
    4.    Specifically, the State intends to present evidence that, prior to
    the commission of the offenses as set out above, the defendant,
    MARCUS LESLIE, was finally convicted of a felony offense,
    namely, RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, in cause No. CR-2005-30 in
    the Circuit Court of Miller County, Arkansas, on or about February
    10, 2005; and after the aforementioned felony conviction was final,
    the defendant was finally convicted of the felony offense of THEFT
    5
    OF PROPERTY, in cause No. CR-2006-197 in the Circuit Court of
    Miller County, Arkansas, on or about January 9, 2007 (See
    Attachment A).
    (C.R. p. 75).
    The referenced ‘Attachment A’ includes copies of two judgements of
    conviction for the prior felony offenses alleged in the Notice. The Notice also
    advises that proof of these two prior convictions would increase the range of
    punishment in Cause No. 13F1016-005 to any term of not less than twenty-five
    years or more than ninety-nine years of life.
    The Appellant points out that the enhancement allegation merely alleges he
    was convicted of the second felony offense after his conviction for the first felony
    offense became final, instead of alleging the second felony offense was committed
    after the conviction for the first felony offense became final.
    A. Preservation of Error
    As a general rule, appellate courts will not consider any error which counsel
    for the accused could have called, but did not call, to the attention of the trial court
    at the time when such error could have been avoided or corrected by the trial
    court.1 Furthermore, the objection raised on appeal must be the same as the
    1
    Rogers v. State, 
    640 S.W.2d 248
    , 264 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982).
    6
    objection raised at trial.2 Where a trial objection does not comport with the issue
    raised on appeal, error is not preserved for review and is waived.3
    At trial, the complaint was not that the notice was inadequate, but that the
    prior convictions were not final because the Appellant received a suspended
    sentence in one of the convictions, and therefore the conviction wasinsufficient to
    enhance punishment.
    In Appellant’s Motion to Quash, the basis of his argument was that his first
    felony offense did not become final until after the second felony offense had been
    committed. (C.R. p. 88). This argument was based on the fact the Appellant was
    initially placed on probation in the first felony offense, and for a suspended
    sentence to become a final conviction, there must be a revocation and the
    defendant has to serve time in the penitentiary. At trial, the Motion to Quash was
    addressed and the State argued that the two convictions were out of Arkansas and
    “[u]nder the Arkansas Habitual Offender Code, any conviction can be used for
    enhancement purposes and under Arkansas case law, they have expressly rejected
    a contention that because the defendant was placed on a suspended sentence and
    not revoked that that was not a felony conviction that could be used for
    enhancement purposes. In the state of Arkansas, at the time the suspended sentence
    2
    Ibarra v. State, 
    11 S.W.3d 189
    , 197 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999), cert. denied, 
    531 U.S. 828
    (2000);
    Brasfield v. State, 
    30 S.W.3d 502
    , 505 (Tex. App. –Texarkana 2000, no pet.).
    3
    
    Ibarra, 11 S.W.3d at 197
    ; Goff v. State, 
    931 S.W.2d 537
    , 551 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996), cert.
    denied, 
    520 U.S. 1171
    (1997); 
    Brasfield, 30 S.W.3d at 505
    .
    7
    is handed down, that is the final date of conviction, not when the sentence was
    revoked.” (R.R. Vol. 3, p. 78-79).
    The trial court denied the Appellant’s Motion to Quash stating:
    “It appears to the Court that numerous courts of appeals have
    held that – numerous Texas courts of appeals have held that a
    conviction in another state may be used as an enhancement in the state
    of Texas as long as the convictions in the other state or the federal
    system were considered final convictions in the other state or the
    federal system, specifically in Ramos v. State, 
    351 S.W. 319
    , which is
    the Amarillo Court of Appeals; Dominique v. State, at 
    787 S.W.2d 107
    , which is a Houston 14th District Court of Appeals; as well as
    Skillern v. State, 
    890 S.W.2d 849
    , which is an Austin Court of
    Appeals, have all held that the question under the Penal Code is
    whether or not the foreign jurisdiction would hold that conviction as a
    final conviction. So then the second question becomes whether or not
    in Arkansas a prior conviction that was a probation, where the
    defendant was placed on probation, was a final conviction at the time.
    Based upon the law provided by the state, the Supreme Court of
    Arkansas ruled in Rolark v. State at 
    772 S.W.2d 588
    that the, a
    probation finding in Arkansas would be sufficient to make it a final
    conviction with regard to that state’s enhancement provision.
    Likewise, the Arkansas Court of Appeals, in King v. State, at 
    969 S.W.2d 199
    , further relying on Rolark and Reeves v. State at 
    564 S.W.2d 503
    , I’ve found that the convictions would be a final
    conviction under Arkansas law with regard to enhancement purposes.
    Accordingly, the Court’s going to deny the defendant’s motion and
    allow the state to proceed on its intent to seek enhanced punishment.”
    (R.R. Vol. 3, p. 82-83).
    The Appellant requested a “running objection to the enhancement
    paragraphs,” which the trial court noted. (R.R. Vol. 3, p. 83).
    However, not once at trial did the Appellant object to the sufficiency of the
    notice itself. The complaint at trial was that one of the convictions the State sought
    8
    to use for enhancement did not become a final conviction until after the other
    felony had been committed. The Appellant’s complaint to the trial court was not
    that the notice was deficient. Appellant’s trial objection does not comport with the
    issue raised on appeal, therefore he has failed to preserve his claim of an
    inadequate notice of enhancement allegations.
    B. Standard of Review
    Should this Court determine the Appellant has preserved this point of error
    for review, the Notice given by the State was sufficient.
    When the State seeks to enhance a defendant's punishment with evidence of
    a prior conviction, “ ‘[t]he accused is entitled to a description of the judgment of
    former conviction that will enable him to find the record and make preparation for
    a trial on the question of whether he is the named convict therein .... and if possible
    show there is a mistake in identity, or that there was no final former conviction or
    the like.’”4 “[P]rior convictions used as enhancements must be pled in some form,
    but they need not be pled in the indictment—although it is permissible and perhaps
    preferable to do so.”5
    4
    Villescas v. State, 
    189 S.W.3d 290
    , 293 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (quoting Hollins v. State, 
    571 S.W.2d 873
    , 875 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)).
    5
    Brooks v. State, 
    957 S.W.2d 30
    , 34 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
    9
    This right to notice is rooted in due process.6 Under a due process analysis,
    the issue is “whether appellant received sufficient notice of the enhancements so
    that he had an opportunity to prepare a defense to them.” 7
    C. Application of Law to Facts
    A defendant is entitled to notice of a prior conviction that the State intends
    to use for enhancement.8 While proper notice of intent to enhance punishment must
    be timely, the notice need not be pled in the indictment to be sufficient, so long as
    it is pled “in some form” prior to trial.9 Adequate notice informs the defendant that
    the State is seeking a greater penalty than it would seek absent the enhancement
    allegations and serves to allow the defendant to show possible defenses, such as a
    mistake in identity or that the prior convictions never became final.10
    It is not required that enhancement allegations appear on the face of the
    indictment.11 The allegation is not required to be perfect and a substantially correct
    allegation may be sufficient.12 It is not necessary to allege enhancements with the
    same specificity as used in charging on the primary offense.13 All that is required is
    that the defendant receives “some form” of notice of the State’s intent to use prior
    6
    
    Villescas, 189 S.W.3d at 293
    .
    7
    Pelache v. State, 
    324 S.W.3d 568
    , 577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
    8
    Brooks v. State, 
    957 S.W.2d 30
    , 33 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997).
    9
    
    Id. at 34.
    10
    Hollins v. State, 
    571 S.W.2d 873
    , 876 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978).
    11
    
    Brooks, 957 S.W.2d at 34
    .
    12
    See Fitzgerald v. State, 
    722 S.W.2d 817
    , 822 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1987), aff’d, 
    782 S.W.2d 876
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1990).
    13
    See Freda v. State, 
    704 S.W. 41
    , 42 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986).
    10
    convictions to enhance punishment.14 At a minimum, a defendant is “entitled to a
    description of the judgment of former conviction that will enable him to find the
    record and make preparation for a trial of the question of whether he is the named
    convict therein.”15
    Whether an enhancement allegation is sufficient depends on whether a
    defendant could be misled by the erroneous allegation.16 The test is whether the
    description is sufficient to enable the defendant to find the record and prepare for
    trial.17
    Texas law requires the second felony offense to be committed after the
    conviction for the first felony offense becomes final.18 The State’s Notice alleges
    that Leslie was convicted of the second felony offense after his conviction for the
    first felony offense became final, instead of alleging the second felony offense was
    committed after the conviction for the first felony offense became final. (C.R. p.
    75). In this case, any alleged error in the enhancement allegations did not mislead
    or in any way inhibit Leslie’s preparation of a defense. The description contained
    sufficient details to enable Leslie to find the prior convictions.
    14
    Brooks, 957 S.W.2d. at 33.
    15
    
    Id. 16 See
    Hollins v. State, 
    571 S.W.2d 873
    , 877 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978); Cooper v. State, 
    500 S.W.2d 837
    , 839 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973).
    17
    Villescas v. State, 
    189 S.W.2d 290
    , 293 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (citing 
    Hollins, 571 S.W.2d at 875
    )
    18
    See Tex. Penal Code § 12.42(d); Hickman v. State, 548 S.W.2dd 736, 737 (Tex. Crim. App.
    1977).
    11
    Additionally, the State attached copies of the judgements from the two
    convictions to the Notice. The judgments both reflect the date the offense occurred
    and the date of conviction. (C.R. p. 74). While the notice alleged conviction of the
    second offense when it should have alleged commission of the second offense, the
    description expressed an explicit allegation of sequence of the prior offenses. The
    Appellant could not have been misled that the State was merely alleging multiple
    felonies in hopes of proving at least one prior felony conviction. There is no
    ambiguity that the State was seeking to invoke Tex. Penal Code § 12.42(d).
    Therefore, any error in the notice did not render its description insufficient.
    D. Conclusion
    The Appellant’s complaint at trial does not comport with his complaint on
    appeal; therefore, the Appellant waived any error regarding notice of enhancement.
    However, Appellant received constitutionally adequate notice of the State’s intent
    to enhance punishment. Appellant received the State’s Notice of Intent to Seek
    Enhanced Punishment and was aware which convictions would be used as
    enhancement allegation because the notice identified the offenses of conviction,
    trial cause numbers, convicting courts, and dates of conviction. The Notice also
    included copies of the judgments of conviction for the two prior offenses. The
    State’s Notice of Intent to Seek Enhancement contained an allegation sufficient to
    inform Leslie of the State’s intent to establish that the two prior convictions were
    12
    sequenced. Leslie has failed to allege any defense to the enhancement allegations
    that he was prevented from developing.
    For these reasons, Appellant’s first point of error should be overruled.
    Reply to Point of Error Two
    The affirmative deadly weapon finding is not based on a showing the
    firearm was “used or exhibited during the commission of a felony
    offense,”and therefore is improper.
    In point of error number two, Appellant argues there is insufficient evidence
    to support the affirmative deadly weapon finding in the judgment. A review of
    caselaw indicates that because the Appellant was not convicted of both offenses at
    trial, the affirmative deadly weapon finding is not based on a showing the firearm
    was “used or exhibited during the commission of a felony offense.”
    Argument and Authorities
    A. Standard of Review
    In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, the reviewing court should
    apply the standard set out in Jackson v. Virginia, 
    443 U.S. 307
    (1979). This
    standard requires a reviewing court to examine all the evidence in the light most
    favorable to the verdict to determine whether a rational trier of fact could have
    found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.19
    19
    
    443 U.S. 307
    , 319 (1979).
    13
    B. Application of Law to Facts
    An affirmative finding of a deadly weapon pursuant to section 3g(a)(2) of
    Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 42.12 is based on a showing that the
    deadly weapon “was used or exhibited during the commission of a felony offense
    or during immediate flight therefrom.”20 The “use” of a deadly weapon in the
    context of an affirmative deadly weapon finding includes simple possession if such
    possession facilitates the associated felony.21 “[I]n order to ‘use’ a deadly weapon
    for affirmative finding purposes, the weapon must be utilized to achieve an
    intended result, namely, the commission of a felony offense separate and distinct
    from ‘mere’ possession.”22 “[A] deadly-weapon finding for a felony offense must
    contain some facilitation connection between the weapon and the felony. The
    deadly weapon must, in some manner, help facilitate the commission of the
    felony.”23
    In this case, the evidence at trial was that Leslie was a friend of Johnny
    Booth and that Leslie took a firearm out of Booth’s home without Booth’s
    permission. (R.R. Vol. 3, p.155). In Leslie’s interview he admitted to possessing
    20
    See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.12, § 3g(a)(2).
    21
    Patterson v. State, 
    769 S.W.2d 938
    , 941 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989) (emphasis added); see Tyra v.
    State, 
    897 S.W.2d 796
    , 798 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995) (“[M]ere possession of [deadly] weapon
    without putting it to any use or purpose whatsoever does not [permit an affirmative deadly
    weapon finding].”).
    22
    Narron v. State, 
    835 S.W.2d 642
    , 644 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); see Ex parte Petty, 
    833 S.W.2d 145
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1992), abrogated on other grounds by Ex parte Nelson, 
    137 S.W.3d 666
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
    23
    Plummer v. State, 
    410 S.W.3d 855
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2013)
    14
    the firearm, but claimed that Booth had given him the firearm. (R.R. Vol. 3, p. 186;
    State’s Exhibit 4). Leslie gave multiple excuses for why he was in possession of
    the firearm. (R.R. Vol. 3, p. 186-87; State’s Exhibit 4).
    The trial court appears to have based its findings solely on Appellant’s mere
    possession of the firearm. When applied to the special issue regarding the use or
    exhibition of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony offense, the
    question facing the reviewing Court is whether a rational trier of fact could find
    beyond a reasonable doubt that the mere possession of firearms facilitated the
    associated felony.24
    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that, where the associated
    felony is unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an affirmative deadly
    weapon finding cannot be based solely on the defendant's possession of the
    firearm.25 Therefore, the affirmative deadly weapon finding pertaining to
    Appellant’s conviction for the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a
    felon is inappropriate.
    The reviewing court can modify an incorrect judgment and make the record
    “speak the truth” when we have the necessary data and information to do so.26
    24
    Gale v. State, 
    998 S.W.2d 221
    , 223–24 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
    25
    Narron v. State, 
    835 S.W.2d 642
    (Tex. Crim. App.1992); Ex parte Petty, 
    833 S.W.2d 145
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1992).
    26
    Tex. R. App. Proc. 43.2 (b); see Woods v. State, 
    398 S.W.3d 396
    , 406 (Tex. App.–Texarkana
    2013, pet. ref'd).
    15
    The record reflects an affirmative deadly weapon finding which this court
    may modify, and as modified, this Court should affirm the judgment.
    Prayer for Relief
    WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, there being legal and
    competent evidence sufficient to justify the conviction and punishment assessed in
    this case and no reversible error appearing in the record of the trial of the case, the
    State of Texas respectfully prays that this Honorable Court affirm the judgment
    and sentence of the trial court below.
    Respectfully Submitted:
    Jerry D. Rochelle
    Criminal District Attorney
    Bowie County, Texas
    601 Main Street
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    Phone: (903) 735-4800
    Fax: (903) 735-4819
    __/s/Lauren N. Sutton____________
    By:   Lauren N. Sutton
    Assistant District Attorney
    601 Main Street
    Texarkana, Texas 75501
    Phone: (903) 735-4800
    Fax: (903) 735-4819
    Attorneys for the State
    16
    Certificate of Compliance
    I, Lauren N. Sutton, certify that, pursuant to Rule 9 of the Texas Rules of
    Appellate Procedure, Appellee’s Brief contains 3,083 words, exclusive of the
    caption, identity of parties and counsel, statement regarding oral argument, table of
    contents, index of authorities, statement of the case, statement of issues presented,
    statement of jurisdiction, statement of procedural history, signature, proof of
    service, certification, certificate of compliance, and appendix.
    __/s/Lauren N. Sutton__________________
    Lauren N. Sutton
    17
    Certificate of Service
    I, Lauren N. Sutton, certify that I have served a true and correct copy of the
    foregoing Brief for the State upon Mr. Troy Hornsby, Attorney for Appellant, on
    this the 29th day of October, 2015.
    __/s/Lauren N. Sutton___________
    Lauren N. Sutton
    18