State v. Morgan
State v. Morgan
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
An information charged appellee with having committed the offense of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). The information included one additional paragraph alleging a prior final conviction for DWI on or about May 8,
The resolution of this issue has two sources. The first is set-out by the Court of Criminal Appeals in its analysis of Tex. Pen.Code Ann. §§ 49.04 & 49.09 (Vernon 2003), as discussed below. The second lies with the fact that the legislature has expressly made a distinction between “enhancement” of offenses under § 49.09(a) or (b), and “enhancement under Subchapter D, Chapter 12.” See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 49.09(g) (Vernon 2003).
In Weaver v. State, 87 S.W.3d 557 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 123 S.Ct. 1491, 155 L.Ed.2d 234, 71 U.S.L.W. 3577 (2003), the issue was whether an “intervening conviction” is an essential element of felony DWI where the State’s only intoxication-related convictions alleged in the indictment were more than ten years older than the instant offense. Id. at 558. See also Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 49.09(e) (Vernon 2003). The Court ultimately held that an “intervening intoxication-related conviction,” as described under § 49.09(e), is not an element of the offense of felony DWI and, therefore, proof beyond a reasonable doubt of said intervening conviction does not have to be presented to the jury. Id. at 561.
To further resolve the issue before us, we set out the analysis conducted by the Weaver Court in reaching its ultimate holding, viz:
Texas Penal Code §§ 49.04 and 49.09(b) together define the offense of felony driving while intoxicated. In Gibson v. State, 995 S.W.2d 693, 696 (Tex. Crim.App. 1999), we explained:
The [two] prior intoxication-related offenses [referred to in § 49.09(b) ], whether they are felonies or misdemeanors, serve the purpose of establishing whether the instant offense qualifies as felony driving while intoxicated. The prior intoxication-related offenses are elements of the offense of [felony] driving while intoxicated. They define the offense as a felony and are admitted into evidence as part of the State’s proof of its case-in-chief during the guilt/innocence stage of the trial.
In other words, under our penal statutes, two (or more) prior intoxication-related offenses are specific attendant circumstances that serve to define, in part, the forbidden conduct of the crime of felony driving while intoxicated.... Thus, if a person, such as appellant, commits DWI with the requisite attendant circumstances (i.e., two or more pri- or intoxication-related offenses), then that person has committed felony DWI.
Weaver, 87 S.W.3d at 560 (emphasis in original) (footnotes omitted).
With regard to “specific attendant circumstances” of the offense of DWI, we see no reason to make any distinction between felony or misdemeanor charging law. In other words, we believe the language just quoted from both Weaver and Gibson is as applicable to prosecutions for “enhanced offense” misdemeanor DWI as it is for “enhanced offense” felony DWI. Therefore, we hold that in order to prosecute a misdemeanor DWI defendant as a Class A “enhanced offense” offender, the State must properly allege the one intoxication-related prior conviction as an element of the offense, and prove the said prior conviction in its case-in-chief beyond a reasonable doubt. In short, the one intoxication-related prior conviction is an element of the “enhanced offense” of DWI — Class A. See § 49.09(a).
We have examined the State’s supplemental brief and have read In re State ex rel. Hilbig, 985 S.W.2d 189 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1998) (orig. proceeding). We do not find Hilbig sufficiently on point with regard to the issue before us. Furthermore, the Hilbig Court appears to have recognized, arguably, that a prior conviction “may be an element of an offense,”
AFFIRMED.
DON BURGESS, Justice, filed a dissenting opinion.
. § 49.04. Driving While Intoxicated
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) and § 49.09, an offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, with a minimum term of confinement of 72 hours.
. § 49.09. Enhanced Offenses and Penalties
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an offense under Section 49.04, 49.05, 49.06, or 49.065 is a Class A misdemeanor, with a minimum term of confinement of 30 days, if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person has previously been convicted one time of an offense relating to the operating of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, an offense of operating an aircraft while intoxicated, an offense of operating a watercraft while intoxicated, or an offense of operating or assembling an amusement ride while intoxicated. Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 49.09(a) (Vernon 2003).
. § 12.21. Class A Misdemeanor
An individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by:
(1) a fine not to exceed $4,000;
(2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or
(3) both such fine and confinement.
. § 12.43. Penalties for Repeat and Habitual Misdemeanor Offenders
(b) If it is shown on the trial of a Class B misdemeanor that the defendant has been before convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or any degree of felony, on conviction he shall be punished by:
(1) a fine not to exceed $2,000;
(2) confinement in jail for any term of not more than 180 days or less than 30 days; or
(3) both such fine and confinement.
. Appellee did not file an appellate brief. A "trial court 'effectively terminates’ the prosecution against the accused whenever the effect of its order forces any alteration of the indictment or information before the trial on the merits and the State is not willing to comply with that order. The fact that the State has appealed the decision of the trial court should be sufficient indication to the Court of Appeals that the State is unwilling to alter the indictment or information and that for all practical purposes, the prosecution in the trial court has ‘terminated.’ ” State v. Moreno, 807 S.W.2d 327, 334 (Tex.Crim.App. 1991).
. Section 49.09(g) reads: "A conviction may be used for purposes of enhancement under this section or enhancement under Subchap-
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The majority avers “[t]he resolution of this issue has two sources.” I agree, in the general sense, these sources are the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Legislature. I disagree as to the specific sources relied upon by the majority. I believe the majority misapplies Weaver v. State, 87 S.W.3d 557 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 123 S.Ct. 1491, 155 L.Ed.2d 234 (2003), when they conclude “... we see no reason to make any distinction between felony or misdemeanor charging law. In other words, we believe the language just quoted from Weaver and Gibson is as applicable to prosecutions for ‘enhanced offense’ misdemeanor DWI as it is for ‘enhanced offense’ felony DWI.”
The question in Weaver was whether an intervening intoxication-related conviction under Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 49.09(e) (Vernon 2003) was an element of the offense of felony DWI. In deciding it was not, the Court stated:
In Gibson v. State, 995 S.W.2d 693, 696 (Tex.Crim.App. 1999), we explained:
The [two] prior intoxication-related offenses [referred to in § 49.09(b) ], whether they are felonies or misdemeanors, serve the purpose of establishing whether the instant offense qualifies as felony driving while intoxicated. The prior intoxication-related offenses are elements of the offense of [felony] driving while intoxicated. They define the offense as a felony and are admitted into evidence as part of the State’s proof of its case-in-chief during the guilt/innocence stage of the trial.
Weaver, 87 S.W.3d at 560.
It is noteworthy that the Weaver Court adds the parenthetical “felony” into the quote from the Gibson Court. This accents a distinction between felony and misdemeanor DWI analysis. Robles v. State, 85 S.W.3d 211, 213 (Tex.Crim.App. 2002), also acknowledged that “[p]roof of the convictions is necessary in that the prior convictions are elements of felony DWI.” Likewise Tamez v. State, 11 S.W.3d 198, 201 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000), notes the prior offenses are required for jurisdictional purposes.
The issue before this court is whether the enhancement procedure is under Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 12.43(b)
If the punishment scheme for an offense contains a specific enhancement provision increasing punishment for a defendant who has previously been convicted of the offense, the specific enhancement provision controls over this section.
Prior to the intoxication and alcoholic beverage offenses being moved to the Penal Code, the Court of Criminal Appeals discussed a similar issue under the old statutory scheme. In Wilson v. State, 772 S.W.2d 118, 123 (Tex.Crim.App. 1989), the Court stated:
Consistent with the adoption of the language identifying offenses (“a person commits an offense”) the DWI statute also adopts the language of the Penal Code identifying enhanced punishments (“If it be shown on the trial”). For example, the provisions authorizing enhanced punishment for repeat offenders in art. 6701-í (d) and (e), supra are each prefaced with “If it is shown on the trial.... ” As previously noted, this is virtually the same language employed to introduce the availability of enhanced punishment in the Penal Code.
See also Love v. State, 833 S.W.2d 264, 265-66 (Tex.App.-Austin 1992, pet. ref'd).
The Court’s pre-trial order should be reversed and the cause remanded for trial.
. § 12.43. Penalties for Repeat and Habitual Misdemeanor Offenders
(b) If it is shown on the trial of a Class B misdemeanor that the defendant has been before convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or any degree of felony, on conviction he shall be punished by:
(1) a fine not to exceed $2,000;
(2) confinement in jail for any term of not more than 180 days or less than 30 days; or (3)both such fine and confinement.
Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 12.43(b) (Vernon 2003).
. § 49.04. Driving While Intoxicated
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) and § 49.09, an offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, with a minimum term of confinement of 72 hours.
Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 49.04(b) (Vernon 2003).
. § 49.09. Enhanced Offenses and Penalties
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an offense under Section 49.04, 49.05, 49.06, or 49.065 is a Class A misdemeanor, with a minimum term of confinement of 30 days, if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person has previously been convicted one time of an offense relating to the operating of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, an offense of operating an aircraft while intoxicated, an offense of operating a watercraft while intoxicated, or an offense of operating or assembling an amusement ride while intoxicated. Tex Pen.Code Ann. § 49.09(a) (Vernon 2003)
. In all likelihood, the State will prosecute under the majority's analysis. If convicted, Morgan will allege it was error to include the prior offenses in the guilt-innocence stage and then the Court of Criminal Appeals may review the matter.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The STATE of Texas, Appellant, v. Mark Hamilton MORGAN, Appellee
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published