Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1985

Sinast v. State

Sinast v. State
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · Decided October 23, 1985 · Teague
698 S.W.2d 153; 1985 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1712 (South Western Reporter, Second Series)

Sinast v. State

Opinion of the Court

OPINION ON STATE’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

PER CURIAM.

A jury convicted appellant of misdemean- or driving while intoxicated. The trial court assessed his punishment at 30 days confinement and a fine of $500. On appeal, the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals reversed the conviction and ordered that an acquittal be entered. Sinast v. State, 688 S.W.2d 631 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi). Finding that the Court of Appeals was correct in holding the evidence insufficient, we refuse the state’s petition for discretionary review.

However, the Court of Appeals went further and held that under Texas law, prior to the 1984 amendments to Article 67011-5, V.A.C.S., a person’s refusal to submit to a breath test was not admissible evidence in a trial for driving while intoxicated. Finding that this holding was unnecessary to the decision of the case, we neither approve nor disapprove this holding.

TEAGUE, J., dissents.

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