Johnny Joe Plazola v. State ( 2020 )

NUMBER 13-19-00313-CR
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
JOHNNY JOE PLAZOLA, Appellant,
v.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.
On appeal from the 36th District Court
of San Patricio County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Benavides, Perkes, and Tijerina
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Tijerina
Appellant Johnny Joe Plazola appeals from his conviction for possession of a
controlled substance, penalty group 2-A, with intent to deliver, a state-jail felony. See TEX.
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §§ 481.113(a), (b), .1031. The trial court sentenced Plazola
to two years’ confinement. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.35. By one issue, Plazola
contends that the sentence imposed was excessive. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
Pursuant to a plea agreement with the State, Plazola pleaded guilty to the offense.
The trial court (1) adjudicated Plazola guilty, (2) imposed a sentence of two years in the
state jail, (3) probated the sentence, and (4) placed Plazola on community supervision for
five years. Subsequently, the State filed a motion to revoke alleging seven violations of
the conditions of community supervision including that Plazola committed the offense of
family violence by intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly causing bodily injury to the
complainant with whom Plazola had a dating relationship by striking her with a closed fist
on the left side of her face. At the revocation hearing, Plazola pleaded “true” to all the
State’s allegations, and the State recommended that the trial court sentence Plazola to
one-year confinement. The trial court found that Plazola had violated the terms and
conditions of his community supervision and sentenced him to two years’ confinement in
state jail. This appeal followed.
II. DISPROPORTIONATE SENTENCING
By his sole issue, Plazola contends that the punishment assessed by the trial court
constituted an excessive sentence. See U.S. CONST. amend. VIII, XIV. The State
responds that Plazola failed to preserve this issue for appeal. We agree with the State.
The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that “[e]xcessive
bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.”
Id. amend. VIII. The Eighth Amendment applies to punishments imposed by state courts
through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Id. amend. XIV. This
right and every constitutional or statutory right can be waived by a “failure to object.”
Smith v. State, 721 S.W.2d 844, 855 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986); Kim v. State, 283 S.W.3d
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473, 475 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, pet. ref’d); Noland v. State, 264 S.W.3d 144, 151–
52 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref’d) (concluding that by failing to object
the appellant did not preserve an argument that the sentence was grossly
disproportionate to the offense); Wynn v. State, 219 S.W.3d 54, 61 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (same); Smith v. State, 10 S.W.3d 48, 49 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
1999, no pet.) (same); see Mercado v. State, 718 S.W.2d 291, 296 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986)
(“As a general rule, an appellant may not assert error pertaining to his sentence or
punishment where he failed to object or otherwise raise such error in the trial court.”). To
preserve a complaint of improper sentencing, the criminal defendant must make a timely,
specific objection to the trial court or raise the issue in a motion for new trial. Kim, 283
S.W.3d at 475; Noland, 264 S.W.3d at 151–52; Trevino v. State, 174 S.W.3d 925, 927–
28 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2005, pet. ref’d); Quintana v. State, 777 S.W.2d
474, 479 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 1989, pet. ref’d) (holding defendant
waived cruel and unusual punishment argument by failing to object); see TEX. R. APP. P.
33.1.
Here, Plazola neither objected when the trial court pronounced the two-year
sentence nor complained, in any post-trial motion, that the sentence was
disproportionate, excessive, or violated the Eighth Amendment. Therefore, Plazola has
failed to preserve this issue for our review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1; Kim, 283 S.W.3d at
475; Noland, 264 S.W.3d at 151–52; Trevino, 174 S.W.3d at 927–28; Quintana, 777
S.W.2d at 479. Moreover, even had Plazola objected, a punishment falling within the
limits prescribed by a valid statute, as in this case, is not excessive, cruel, or unusual.
See Trevino, 174 S.W.3d at 928. We overrule Plazola’s sole issue.
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III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
JAIME TIJERINA,
Justice
Do not publish.
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).
Delivered and filed the
19th day of March, 2020.
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