Mason, Ryan Keith ( 2015 )


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  •                         no. Pl>-MZ5-H
    IN THE
    COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
    OF TEXAS
    RYAN KEITH MASON,
    March 2, 2015                      Appellant/Petitioner
    VS.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    Appellee/Respondent
    APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
    In Appeal No. 10-13-00368-CR
    from the
    Court of Appeals
    for the Tenth Judicial District
    Waco, Texas
    Ryan Keith Mason
    TDCJ #01880542
    James V. Allred Unit
    2101 Fm 369 North
    Iowa Park, TX 76367
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES                                              tv
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT                                 \
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE                                             %
    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY                                   Q_
    GROUNDS FOR REVIEW                                                2
    GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. ONE
    [Set out the Ground orQuestion Presented for Review]
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    INTHE
    COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
    OF TEXAS
    RYAN KEITH MASON,
    Appellant/Petitioner
    VS.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    Appellee/Respondent
    APPELLANT'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
    TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS:
    Appellant/Petitioner respectfully submits this Petition for Discretionary
    Review and moves that this Honorable Court grant review ofthis cause and offers
    the following in supportthereof:
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
    The Appellant/Petitioner requests oral argument in this case because such
    argument may assist the Court in applying the facts to the issues raised. It is
    suggested that oral argument may help simplify the facts and clarify the issues.
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    [Briefly state the nature of the case. This statement shouldseldom exceed half a
    page. See Rule 68.4(d), Texas Rules ofAppellate Procedure.]
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    STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    [Statement of the history of the case. See Rule 68.4(e), Texas Rules of
    Appellate Procedure, for the dates that must be included in this portion of the
    Petition, including the filing and overruling ofany motion for rehearing, ifany.]
    In Cause No. 36,947 the Appellant/Petitioner was charged with the offense
    of Possession of Controlled Substance (4-200) grams with Intent to Deliver. The
    Appellant/Petitioner was convicted of such offense on August 16, 2013 and
    appealed the conviction. On October 9, 2014 the Waco Court of Appeals affirmed
    the conviction. No motion for rehearing was filed. On \7s*\["~Vi                 this
    Petition for Discretionary Review was timely forwarded to the Court of Appeals
    for filing pursuant to Rule 9.2(b), Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.
    GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
    I.
    [State briefly, without argument, the grounds or questions on which thePetition are
    based. See Rule 68.4(f), Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.]
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    IN THE
    TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
    No. 10-13-00368-CR
    RYAN K. MASON,
    Appellant
    v.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS,
    Appellee
    From the 40th District Court
    Ellis County, Texas
    Trial Court No. 36947CR
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    A jury found Appellant Ryan Keith Mason guilty of possession of a controlled
    substance, namely methamphetamine,in an amount of four grams or more but less than
    200 grams, with intent to deliver, and assessed his punishment, enhanced by prior
    felony convictions, at sixty-eight years' imprisonment, "'to be served consecutive with
    any other sentences and parole revocations, beginning after the other sentences are
    completed." This appeal ensued.
    Challenge for Cause
    In his first issue, Mason contends that he was denied his constitutional right to
    an impartial jury because the trial court denied his request to strike a juror for cause.
    The trial court's ruling on a challenge for cause is reviewed for abuse of
    discretion. Russeau v. State, 171 S.W.3d 871,879 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). "We afford the
    trial court considerable deference, because it is in the best position to evaluate a
    prospective juror's demeanor and responses." 
    Id. "This is
    especially true when this
    Court is faced with a vacillating or equivocating venireperson." Banda v. State, 890
    S.W.2d 42,54 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994); see 
    Russeau, 171 S.W.3d at 879
    . "The trial court is
    able to consider important factors such as demeanor and tone of voice that do not come
    through when reviewing a cold record." Banda, 890S.W.2d at 54.
    The court of criminal appeals has held that a prospective juror may be properly
    challenged for cause and removed "if he cannot impartially judge the credibility of a
    witness." Ladd v. State, 
    3 S.W.3d 547
    , 560 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); see Tex. Code Crim.
    Proc. Ann. art. 35.16(a)(9) (West 2006). Potential jurors "must be open-minded and
    persuadable, with no extreme or absolute positions regarding the credibility of any
    witness." 
    Ladd, 3 S.W.3d at 560
    . The fact that a prospective juror is more or less
    skeptical of a certain category of witness, however, does not make him subject to
    challenge for cause. 
    Id. (stating that
    prospective jurors are not challengeable for cause
    "simply because they would give certain classes of witnesses a slight edge in terms of
    credibility"); Jones v. State, 
    982 S.W.2d 386
    , 389 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (holding that
    Mason v. State                                                                        Page 2
    prospective juror was not challengeable for cause simplybecause she stated she would
    bemore skeptical ofaccomplice witnesses than ofwitnesses generally).
    During voir dire, after both parties had addressed the panel ofprospective jurors
    as a whole, several prospective jurors were called individually to the bench to speak
    with the attorneys and the trial court in private. The following exchange occurred
    when the trial court calledProspective Juror No. 9:
    THE COURT: To get the ball rolling, I'm going to ask you a
    question verbatim.
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
    THE COURT: Prior to hearing the witness testify, would you
    automatically disbelieve somebody simply because they are a convicted
    felon?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I would not automatically.
    THE COURT: Thank you. Any questions on the part of the
    defense?
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes. What do youmean by automatically?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Can I speak freely?
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay.
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Back to the conversation we were having
    at the time. I wouldn't automatically discredit that person, but do I have
    less trust or faith in that person as opposed to a police officer like we're
    bringing up? Yes.
    I'm not going to tell you he's lying automatically. I'm going to
    listen to his testimony and make my best judgment. But from him going
    to the stand, he's a convicted felon. I feel he's less trustworthy than a
    police officer, and that's how I'm going to look at it.
    [PROSECUTOR]: CanI aska few questions, Judge?
    Mason v. State                                                                         Page 3
    THE COURT: Sure.
    [PROSECUTOR]: So you're using the conviction as - - to judge his
    credibility?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: lam
    [PROSECUTOR]: Okay.
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: In a sense.
    [PROSECUTOR]:        But you don't - - wouldn't automatically
    disbelieve anything that he says just because he's a convicted felon?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: No. It's going to take his - - the way he
    presents himself, the way he handles himself, how convincing he is as a
    witness. But I would have less faith in that person or trust in that person
    than an officer of the law.
    THE COURT:       Of course, you understand someone's felony
    conviction may have been 27 years ago?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: And that's why I felt it was a very hard
    question to answer because - - and the circumstances can be very different
    and it's hard to give that exact answer.
    THE COURT: Both sides just want to make sure that you don't
    prejudge somebody. You got to wait until they take the witness stand - -
    PROSPECTIVEJUROR: Agreed.
    THE COURT: - - and then assess credibility?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I understand.
    THE COURT: Is that true?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: That is true, yes, sir.
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: But, again, 27 years ago, ten years ago, 30
    years ago, he's a convicted felon. He's not going [to] receive the same
    amount of credibilitybefore he even takes the stand as a police officer, is
    he?
    Mason v. State                                                                        Page 4
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: It's hard to say again without knowing
    what the circumstances are, but going onto it, is that person, in my eyes,
    less trustworthy than a police officer automatically? Yes. After his
    testimony would I think differently? Again, possibly. I can't be certain
    without being in the situation, but I stand by the fact that a police officer is
    a little more trustworthy from the start given his testimony than a
    convicted felon is.
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: All right. So but automatically they would
    start low and they'd have to build themselves up?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: I guess you could say that, yes?
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And a police officerwould start up?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Start medium right where anybody else
    would that wasn't a police officer.
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: But a convicted felon would not start at
    that point?
    PROSPECTIVE        JUROR:      Possibly, depending        upon     the
    circumstances, yes.
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Well, you've gone both ways. You've said
    no-
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Because I don't want to lie to you, and I
    don't want to give you a dishonest answer. And I can't tell you for
    certainty without the situation being there. I would love to tell you I think
    I would question more the testimony of a convicted felon over that of a
    police officer or somebody that was just a witness. I mean, that's just the
    way I feel about it.
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And there was another issue that I asked
    you at one point where I said if you had 99 reasons, reasonable reasons to
    convict the defendant - -
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Okay.
    [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: - - and one reasonable doubt, what would
    your verdict be, and I think you said guilty?
    Mason v. State                                                                             Page 5
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Well, I was confused on the situation. I
    apologize. If I had 99 reasons to convict and one not to convict?
    THE COURT:     And I want to be clear that the reasonable doubt
    goes to an element of the offense to which the State is required to prove.
    So if you had a reasonable doubt as to one of the essential elements of the
    crime.
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Then I would have to go with not guilty in
    that situation.
    THE COURT: In conclusion, I want to read the two statements
    again.
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
    THE COURT: And I just need your candid yes or no answer.
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
    THE COURT: Prior to an individual taking the witness stand,
    would you automatically disbelieve somebody simply because they are a
    convicted felony [sic]?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: No, sir.
    THE COURT: Do you feel as though you could evaluate a witness
    and his testimony and decide if he's being truthful without automatically
    dismissing his testimony because of some criminal history?
    PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, sir.
    THE COURT: Thank you, sir. You may step outside.
    Mason argues that Prospective Juror No. 9 vacillated regarding the issue of
    credibility because although he answered the trial court's "magic questions" correctly,
    his other responses showed that he considered a police officer to be more trustworthy
    from the start than a convicted felon. We disagree. Furthermore, ProspectiveJuror No.
    Mason v. State                                                                        Page 6
    9 did not exhibit an automatic predisposition to disbelieve a witness solely because he
    had a prior felony conviction. Nor did Prospective Juror No. 9 exhibit an automatic
    predisposition to believe a witness solely because he was a police officer. Rather,
    ProspectiveJuror No. 9 stated that a police officer's credibility would start out the same
    as that of any other witness that did not have a felony conviction. And Prospective
    Juror No. 9 indicated that police officers and other witnesses not having a felony
    conviction would have a slight edge in terms of credibility. See Tex. R. Evtd. 609
    (providing for impeachment of a witness's credibility under certain circumstances by
    prior felony conviction).
    Prospective jurors are not challengeable for cause simply because they would
    give certain classes of witnesses a slight edge in terms of credibility. 
    Ladd, 3 S.W.3d at 560
    . The trial court did not, therefore, abuse its discretion in denying Mason's request
    to strike Prospective Juror No. 9 for cause. We overrule Mason's first issue.
    Punishment-Phase Jury Argument
    In his second issue, Mason contends that the trial court erred in overruling his
    objection to the State's punishment-phase closing argument because the State argued
    how parole applied to him in violation of statutory law.
    Tobe permissible, the State's jury argument must fallwithin one of the following
    four general areas: (1) summation of the evidence; (2) reasonable deduction from the
    evidence; (3) answer to argument of opposing counsel; or (4) plea for law enforcement.
    Felder v. State, 
    848 S.W.2d 85
    , 94-95 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). An argument that exceeds
    these bounds is error. 
    Id. at 95.
    It only becomes subject to reversal if, in light of the
    Masonv. State                                                                      Page 7
    record as a whole, the argument is extreme or manifestly improper, violative of a
    mandatory statute, or injectsnew facts, harmful to the accused, into the trial. 
    Id. Article 37.07,
    section 4(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure expressly prohibits a
    jury from considering parole eligibility for the defendant on trial. Specifically, the jury
    is charged:
    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.
    Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.07, § 4(b) (West Supp. 2013). Consequently, while it
    is not improper for the State to explain how parole eligibility rules apply to certain
    sentences, the State may not ask a jury to consider how good-conduct time may be
    awarded to a particular defendant or how parole law will particularly affect the
    defendant's sentence.       See Waters v. State, 
    330 S.W.3d 368
    , 371-74 (Tex. App.—Fort
    Worth 2010, pet. ref'd) (citing Taylor v. State, 
    233 S.W.3d 356
    , 359 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2007)).
    In this case, the following exchange occurred during the State's punishment-
    phase closing argument:
    [Prosecutor]: ....
    And, you know, I'll agree with [Defense Counsel] on one thing. I
    am going to tell you that 25 years is not enough for this defendant. It's
    not. That's why the law gives you this range of punishment. You get to
    consider all of those things. Well, this ain't his first rodeo. You've heard
    that. He's told you that. He's been to prison twice before. And I want
    you to pay close attentionto the dates on those. Hislast onewas in March
    31st, 2006 where his sentence was 15 years. That means supposed to end
    in2000and--
    Masonv. State                                                                            Page 8
    [Defense Counsel]: Your Honor, I'm going to object with regards to
    any argument regarding parole in this case. This chargeparticularly says
    she cannot do that.
    THE COURT: I'm going to overrule your objection at this point.
    Renew if appropriate.
    [Prosecutor]: Just look at the dates. You go in in 2006 for 15 years
    [Defense Counsel]: Same objection, Your Honor. She is talking
    about how parole applies to this particular defendant.
    [Prosecutor]: Judge, it's on the evidence.
    THE COURT: Overruled.
    [Prosecutor]: Y'all can recall. I'll let you look at that. Now, what
    do we know about this defendant? We know that he's a career criminal.
    It has been ongoing. Lots of drug charges. Delivery of a controlled
    substance. Multiple cases. Possession of controlled substance with intent
    to deliver. The exact same charge as he has here.
    And sure I'm going to talk about his prior convictions. I should.
    It's important. How many chances does he get? How many chances does
    it take? You were here as I read out each conviction. How many does it
    take for a person to change? This many? What do you think the
    likelihood of him changing? That's a lot of chances. Lots of chances. If
    you haven't learned by now, when will you learn?
    Now, we're going to ask that you go back and take all of these
    convictions back there with you, look at the dates, look at the charges,
    look at when these were committed, and ask yourself what is the
    appropriate punishment for him. Are you going to protect the
    community? Sometimesenough is enough. Some people will never learri.
    You can't help everybody.
    Mason argues that in the foregoing closing argument,
    Mason v. State                                                                          Page9
    the prosecutor made a plea to the jurors to "pay close attention to his
    dates of incarceration" in an effort to encourage them to "look at the
    dates" as they consider Appellant's potential eligibility for parole.... [The
    prosecutor] asked them to look at the dates of conviction, the term of
    sentence, and to finally calculate his release date based on those dates.
    The State responds that, contrary to Mason's contention, the prosecutor did not tell the
    jury to calculate Mason's release date based on the prior time that he served. The State
    argues that the prosecutor's argument was instead merely a summation of the evidence
    as the prosecutor asked the jury to look at all of Mason's prior criminal history and past
    sentences in determining his appropriate sentence in this case.
    We agree with the State. The prosecutor made no express reference to the parole
    laws. Instead, she appears to be pointing out Mason's continued criminal activity and
    lack of rehabilitation despite his prior recent confinement. See, e.g., Bowman v. State, 782
    S.W.2d933,936-37 (Tex. App.—Houston [14thDist.] 1989, pet. ref'd).
    Furthermore, even if we assume that the prosecutor was impliedly asking the
    jury to consider how parole law would affect his sentence, such error was harmless.
    Because the error is non-constitutional, it must be disregarded unless it affects
    substantial rights. Tex. R. App. P. 44.2(b). In detenrtining whether Mason's substantial
    rights were affected, we consider: (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 v. State, 135
    S.W.3d 72,78 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
    Mason argues that the severity of the prosecutor's conduct in this case is clear.
    Mason states that the prosecutor pleaded with the jury to assess a heavy sentence based
    Masonv. State                                                                       Page 10
    not on the evidence but on his potentialeligibility for parole, which resulted in a heavy
    sixty-eight-year sentence. We disagree. Any error was not egregious. As stated above,
    the prosecutor did not even make an express reference to the parole laws. As for
    curative measures, while the trial judge did not give an instruction to disregard the
    prosecutor's statements, the jury charge did properly instruct the jury on parole
    eligibility times and properly instructed the jury not to consider how good time and
    parole law would be applied to Mason. Finally, given the evidence of Mason's criminal
    history and his lack of rehabilitation, it is unlikely that the jury would have assessed a
    less lengthy sentence if the prosecutor had not made the comments of which Mason
    complains. We overrule Mason's second issue.
    Motion for New Trial
    In his third issue,Masoncontends that the trial court erred in denyinghis motion
    for new trial, thereby denying him a fair and impartial trial. We review the trial court's
    denial for abuse of discretion. See Salazar v. State, 38S.W.3d 141,148 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2001). Mason specifically argues that the prosecutor's improper parole argument
    allowed jurorsto focus on the lengthof timehe would actually servein detemuninghis
    sixty-eight-year sentence. Masonstates that he was prepared to present testimony as to
    whether the improper argument influenced the jury's decision at the motion-for-new-
    trial hearingbut that the trial court erred and denied the motionwithout a hearing.
    The relevant facts are as follows: Mason timely filed a motion for new trial and
    requested a hearing on the motion. The motion alleged that (1) "[j]urors engaged in
    misconduct thereby depriving the Defendant of a fair and impartial trial" and (2) "[t]he
    Mason v. State                                                                     Page11
    verdict was contrary to the law and evidence which was undertaken to prejudice
    Defendant to the point of the denial of a fair trial." The motion was unsworn, and no
    affidavits were attached. The State filed written objections to the motion. The trial
    court denied the motion for new trial without a hearing.
    The purposes of a new-trial hearing are (1) to determine whether the case should
    be retried or (2) to complete the record for presenting issues on appeal. Hobbs v. State,
    298 S.W.3d 193,199 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). Such a hearing is not an absolute right. 
    Id. But a
    trial judge abuses his discretion in failing to hold a hearing if the motion and
    accompanying affidavits (1) raise matters that are not determinable from the record and
    (2) establish reasonable grounds showing that the defendant could potentially be
    entitled to relief.    
    Id. This second
    requirement limits and prevents "fishing
    expeditions." 
    Id. A new-trial
    motion must be supported by an affidavit specifically
    setting out the factual basis for the claim.     
    Id. If the
    affidavit is conclusory, is
    unsupported by facts, or fails to provide requisite notice of the basis for the relief
    claimed, no hearing is required. 
    Id. Here, Mason's
    motion for new trial was not supported by an affidavit; therefore,
    the trial court did not abuse its discretionin denying the motion without a hearing. We
    overrule Mason's third issue.
    Cruel and Unusual Punishment
    In his fourth and fifth issues, Mason contends that the sentence imposed
    constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth
    Mason v. State                                                                   Page 12
    Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 19 of the Texas
    Constitution because sixty-eight years' imprisonment is not an appropriate sentence.
    Generally, a sentence within the statutory range of punishment for an offense is
    not excessive, cruel, or unusual punishment.1 Winchester v. State, 
    246 S.W.3d 386
    , 389
    (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2008, pet. ref'd); Alvarez v. State, 63 S.W.3d 578,580 (Tex. App.—
    Fort Worth 2001, no pet.). A narrow exception to this rule is recognized where the
    sentence is grossly disproportionate to the offense. See Moore v. State, 54 S.W.3d529,542
    (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref'd); see also Harmelin v. Michigan, 
    501 U.S. 957
    ,
    1004-05, 
    111 S. Ct. 2680
    , 2707,115 L.Ed.2d 836 (1991) (Kennedy. J., concurring); Solem v.
    Helm, 
    463 U.S. 277
    , 290-92, 
    103 S. Ct. 3001
    , 3010-11, 
    77 L. Ed. 2d 637
    (1983); McGruder v.
    Puckett, 954 F.2d 313,316 (5th Cir. 1992). But a defendant must complain or object in the
    trial court about an allegedly disproportionate sentence to preserve his complaint for
    appeal. Ham v. State, 355 S.W.3d 819,825 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2011, pet. ref'd); Gertz v.
    State, No. 10-11-00008-CR, 
    2012 WL 3799146
    , at *2 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 30, 2012, no
    pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (citing Wynn v. State, 219 S.W.3d 54,61
    (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist] 2006, no pet.); and Solis v. State, 
    945 S.W.2d 300
    , 301
    (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997,pet. ref'd)).
    Mason argues that he raised his complaint in his motion for new trial that was
    denied without a hearing. As shown above, however, Mason's motion for new trial
    1In this case, the charged offense of possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, in
    an amount of four grains or more but less than 200 grams,with intent to deliver, is a first-degree felony.
    Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.112(a), (d) (West 2010). Because the jury found the enhancement
    paragraphs to be true, Mason faced punishment of a term of imprisonment between twenty-five and
    ninety-nine years or life and a fine up to $10,000. TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.42(d) {West Supp. 2013).
    Mason's sentence of sixty-eight years' confinement is within this statutory range.
    Mason v. State                                                                                    Page 13
    alleged only that (1) "[jjurors engaged in misconduct thereby depriving the Defendant
    of a fair and impartial trial" and (2) "[t]he verdict was contrary to the law and evidence
    whichwas undertaken to prejudice Defendant to the point of the denial of a fair trial."
    Mason argues alternatively that no objection was required because the error was
    apparent and an objection "would have served no useful purpose." Citing Ray v. State,
    119 S.W.3d 454,459 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, pet. ref'd), Mason further states that
    most courts agree that a complaint of cruel and unusual punishment may be addressed
    for the first time on appeal if it rises to the level of constitutional error. The Fort Worth
    Court of Appeals, however, has since declined to follow Ray. See Crawford v. State, No.
    2-04-299-CR, 
    2005 WL 1477958
    , at *4 & n.3 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jun. 23, 2005, pet.
    ref'd) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
    Because Mason did not raise his complaint about his sentence in the trial court,
    his fourth and fifth issues are not preserved and are thus overruled. See Tex. R. App. P.
    33.1.
    Consecutive Sentences
    Before the sentence was pronounced, the State asked that the sentence in this
    case run consecutively to Mason's prior sentence of fifteen years. Mason argued that it
    should run concurrently. During sentencing, the trial court stated:
    And further, this sentence is to run consecutively with any other
    sentences previously imposed, as well as any other parole revocations, if
    any, that may occur. So once all prior sentences are satisfied and once all
    prior sentencesare served, then this one would begin and go forward.
    Masonv. State                                                                         Page14
    Accordingly, the judgment states: "This sentence is to be served consecutive with any
    other sentences and parole revocations, beginning after the other sentences are
    completed."
    In his sixth issue, Mason contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
    ordering that his sentence in this case run consecutively to that of any parole
    revocations.     Mason argues that while the trial court has discretion to cumulate
    sentences, its discretion is not without limitations. Mason states that the trial court's
    decision to order consecutive sentences "should be firmly grounded in the facts and
    evidence of the case, the circumstances of the case, the personal circumstances of the
    defendant, and the nature of the crime" and that the trial court is not authorized to
    cumulate a sentence with a parole revocation.
    We disagree with Mason that the trial court abused its discretion in its decision
    to cumulate.     Under article 42.08(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, when a
    defendant has two or more convictions,
    in the discretion of the court, the judgment in the second and subsequent
    convictions may either be that the sentence imposed or suspended shall
    begin when the judgment and the sentence imposed or suspended in the
    preceding conviction has ceased to operate, or that the sentence imposed
    or suspended shall run concurrently with the other case or cases.
    Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 42.08(a) (West Supp. 2013). A trial court has the
    authority under this article to stack a new sentence onto a prior sentence for which the
    defendant is then on parole. Hill v. State, 
    213 S.W.3d 533
    , 538 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
    2007, no pet); Wilson v. State, 854 S.W.2d 270,273 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1993, pet. ref'd);
    Jimenez v. State, 634 S.W.2d 879,881-82 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982, pet. ref'd).
    Mason v. State                                                                      Page 15
    The State acknowledges, however, and we agree, that the judgment, as entered,
    does not contain sufficient information to allow the Texas Department of Criminal
    Justice (TDCJ) to cumulate the sentences.      A cumulation order should contain five
    elements describing the prior convictions: (1) the trial court number, (2) the trial court
    name, (3) the date of conviction, (4) the term of years, and (5) the offense of conviction.
    Banks v. State, 
    708 S.W.2d 460
    , 461 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986). The inclusion of all of the
    elements is not mandatory, but there must be enough information included in the
    judgment from which corrections officials may know precisely when the defendant's
    sentence is to begin. 
    Id. As stated
    above, the judgment in this case merely provides:
    "This sentence is to be served consecutive with any other sentences and parole
    revocations, beginning after the other sentences are completed."
    The State requests that we reform the judgment and sentence to include the
    proper language of the prior conviction. If we have the necessary data and evidence
    before us for reformation, we may reform the judgment and sentence on appeal. 
    Id. at 462.
    During the punishment phase of the trial, Mason entered a plea of true to the
    enhancement paragraphs that were alleged in the indictment. The judgments for each
    of those prior convictions were admitted into evidence without objection. One was a
    2006 judgment against Mason in Cause No. 00-00-30241-CR in the 13th District Court of
    Navarro County for possession of a penalty-group 1 controlled substance, in an amount
    of over four grams but under 200 grams, with intent to deliver, for which Mason
    received fifteen years' imprisonment. The other involved a delivery-of-a-controlled-
    Mason v. State                                                                     Page 16
    substance case for which Mason had received six years' imprisonment in 1993;
    therefore, the judgment and sentence imposed in that case has "ceased to operate."
    Additionally, during the punishment phase, the judgments from several other prior
    convictions were also admitted into evidence, but the judgments and sentences
    imposed in thosecases have also "ceased to operate."
    Based on the foregoing, we therefore modify the judgment and sentence so that
    the punishment of sixty-eight years' confinement in this case shall begin when the
    judgment and sentence from the 13th District Court in Navarro County in Cause No.
    00-00-30241-CR for possession of a penalty-group 1 controlled substance, in an amount
    of over four grams but under 200 grams, with intent to deliver, whose sentence is fifteen
    years' imprisonment, shall have ceased to operate.
    Cumulative Error
    In his seventh issue, Mason contends that the cumulative effect of the foregoing
    errors warrants a reversal. We disagree. The Court of Criminal Appeals has stated, "It
    is conceivable that a number of errors may be found harmful in their cumulative effect."
    Chamberlain v. State, 
    998 S.W.2d 230
    , 238 (Tex. Crim App. 1999). But the Chamberlain
    court continued that non-errors may not in their cumulative effect cause error.        
    Id. Because we
    have not concluded that the trial court erred in this case, other than that the
    judgment did not contain sufficient information to allow the TDCJ to cumulate the
    sentences, which we have reformed, we overrule Mason's seventh issue.
    Mason v. State                                                                     Page 17
    Conclusion
    We modify the trial court's judgment such that the following statement, "This
    sentence shall begin when the judgment and sentence from the 13th District Court in
    Navarro County in Cause No. 00-00-30241-CR for possession of a penalty-group 1
    controlled substance, in an amount of over four grams but under 200 grams, with intent
    to deliver,whose sentence is fifteen years' imprisonment, shallhave ceased to operate,"
    is substituted for the statement, "This sentence is to be served consecutive with any
    other sentences and parole revocations, beginning after the other sentences are
    completed." Weaffirm the trial court's judgmentas modified.
    REX D.DAVIS
    Justice
    Before Chief Justice Gray,
    Justice Davis, and
    Justice Scoggins
    Affirmed as modified
    Opinion delivered and filed October 9,2014
    Do not publish
    [CRPM]
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    Mason v. State                                                                  Page 18
    OrM Al-lred on i t
    Iowa P/vrk.Tx 76367
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    RECEIVED
    JAN 0 5 2015
    COURT OF APPEALS
    WACO, TEXAS
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