Nos. 12-05-00392-CR, 12-05-00393-CR, 12-05-00394-CR, 12-05-00395-CR, 12-05-00396-CR
Opinion delivered July 31, 2006. DO NOT PUBLISH.
Appeal from the 241st Judicial District Court of Smith County, Texas.
Panel consisted of WORTHEN, C.J. and GRIFFITH, J.
SAM GRIFFITH, Justice.
Stacey Dewayne Manley appeals his four convictions for aggravated robbery, for which he was sentenced to imprisonment for life in each cause. Appellant also appeals his conviction for theft by check, for which he was sentenced to confinement for two years. Appellant raises one issue on appeal. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Appellant was charged by separate indictments with four counts of aggravated robbery and one count of theft by check. In each indictment for aggravated robbery, the State alleged a prior felony conviction. The trial court admonished Appellant, and Appellant pleaded "guilty" as charged in each cause. Thereafter, Appellant pleaded "true" to the enhancement paragraphs related to the aggravated robbery charges. Following a trial on punishment, the trial court sentenced Appellant to imprisonment for life on each of his aggravated robbery convictions. The trial court further sentenced Appellant to confinement for two years for theft by check. This appeal followed. VOLUNTARINESS OF A GUILTY PLEA
In his sole issue, Appellant argues that the trial court failed to properly admonish him pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, article 26.13, thereby rendering his guilty pleas involuntary. Specifically, Appellant argues that the trial court admonished him that the punishment range for aggravated robbery was imprisonment for five to ninety-nine years, or life, but that after he pleaded "true" to the enhancement paragraphs, the punishment range was, in fact, imprisonment for fifteen years to life in each cause. A guilty plea by a defendant must be made freely and voluntarily. SeeEx parte Evans, 690 S.W.2d 274, 276 (Tex.Crim.App. 1985). Before accepting a defendant's plea of guilty, the trial court must admonish the defendant either orally or in writing concerning the consequences of the entry of such a plea. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 26.13(a) (Vernon Supp. 2005). The purpose of such admonishments is to ensure that the defendant's plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. SeeCarranza v. State, 980 S.W.2d 653, 656 (Tex.Crim.App. 1998). The trial court need only substantially comply with article 26.13(a). Seeid. art. 26.13(c) (Vernon Supp. 2005). A complaint on appeal that the trial court failed to properly admonish the appellant on the range of punishment must be preserved at trial. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); Mendez v.State, 138 S.W.3d 334, 342 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004); Alexander v.State, Nos. 12-04-00074-CR, 12-04-00075-CR, 2005 WL 2096488, at *3 (Tex.App.-Tyler August 31, 2005, pet. dism'd, untimely filed) (not designated for publication). In the case at hand, the record does not reflect that Appellant made any objection to the trial court's admonishment on range of punishment. Thus, we hold that Appellant has failed to preserve the error, if any, of which he complains on appeal. Appellant's sole issue is overruled. DISPOSITION
Having overruled Appellant's sole issue, we affirm the trial court's judgment in each cause.