Opinion
NOS. PD–0847–15 PD–0848–15
11-16-2016
Kojuan J. MILES, Appellant v. The STATE of Texas
Nicolas Hughes, for Kojuan Miles. Kojuan Miles, pro se. Dan McCrory, Lisa McMinn, for The State of Texas.
Nicolas Hughes, for Kojuan Miles.
Kojuan Miles, pro se.
Dan McCrory, Lisa McMinn, for The State of Texas.
OPINION
Johnson, J., delivered the opinion of the Court in which Meyers, Hervey, Alcalá, and Richardson, JJ., joined.
Appellant was convicted of the sexual assault and compelled prostitution of a fifteen-year-old complainant. The jury assessed punishment at seven and twenty-three years' incarceration respectively. The trial court cumulated the sentences. On appeal, the court of appeals affirmed the judgment in the sexual-assault case, but modified the judgment in the compelling-prostitution case to delete the cumulation order and affirmed that judgment as modified. Miles v. State , 468 S.W.3d 719 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2015).
On direct appeal, appellant asserted that the trial court erred by ordering him to serve his sentences consecutively and contended that the cumulation statute does not authorize stacking a sentence for compelling prostitution onto a sentence for sexual assault of a child when both offenses arise out of the same criminal episode and are prosecuted in a single criminal action. Id. at 730. After analyzing the plain language of the general cumulation statute, Section 3.03 of the Penal Code, the court of appeals determined that "[t]he unambiguous language of Section 3.03(b) provides that a sentence for compelling prostitution may not be stacked with a sentence for sexual assault of a child when the offenses arise out of the same criminal episode and are prosecuted in a single criminal action." Id. at 736. The court of appeals held that the trial court erred in cumulating appellant's sentences and reformed the judgment of the trial court to delete the cumulation order. Id. We granted the state's petition for discretionary review, which disputed the deletion of the cumulation order: "Did the court of appeals err in holding that Section 3.03(b) of the Texas Penal Code does not allow the cumulation of sentences for two offenses listed within different paragraphs of subsection (b) of the stacking statute?" We affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.
We refused appellant's pro se petition for discretionary review, which claimed that the trial court had abused its discretion in excluding evidence that the defense offered at trial.
Analysis
As did the court of appeals, we look at the literal text of the cumulation statute, Texas Penal Code § 3.03, which provides that, when the accused is found guilty of more than one offense arising out of the same criminal episode and prosecuted in a single criminal action, generally the sentences shall run concurrently. But Section 3.03(b) also sets out exceptions to the general rule—circumstances in which sentences may be cumulated: the sentences may run concurrently or consecutively if each sentence is for a conviction for the specified offenses that are listed in the several subsections. Miles v. State , 468 S.W.3d at 731–32.
In its opinion, the court of appeals noted that subsection (b)(5)(A) of Section 3.03 provides that "sentences may be stacked if each sentence is for an offense of human trafficking or compelling prostitution, ‘regardless of whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section more than once or is convicted of violations of both sections. ’ " Id. at 733 (emphasis in original). It determined that, "[i]f all offenses listed in subsection (b) could be stacked, the references to ‘both sections' in subsections (b)(1), (3), and (5) would be meaningless and irreconcilable." Id. The court of appeals concluded that subsections (b)(1), (3), and (5) "each list only two offenses, so the phrase ‘both sections' necessarily indicates that the Legislature intended the stacking of only those two offenses together." Id. It also determined that, because subsections (b)(1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) each include a paragraph (B) that refers to convictions obtained by plea agreements when the defendant was charged with "more than one offense listed in Paragraph (A) [,]" "[t]he Legislature's use of this phrase in each paragraph (B) suggests that the Legislature intended only for offenses listed in the companion paragraph (A) to be stacked together." Id. (emphasis in original).
The court of appeals noted that the legislature had amended subsection (b) in piecemeal fashion to add specific offenses and categories of offenses, with some added to the already existing paragraphs containing specific offenses, while some were added in completely new subsections. Id. at 734. It also noted that "for some amendments, the Legislature created new subsections (b)(2) through (b)(6), but for other amendments, the Legislature added offenses to preexisting subsections." Id. For example, the court of appeals pointed out that child pornography was added to a new subsection (b)(3) at the same time the Legislature also added intoxication assault to the existing subsection (b)(1). Id. It concluded that the only logical reason for placing one new offense in a preexisting subsection and another new offense in a new subsection "is that the Legislature did not intend for intoxication assault to be stacked with child pornography." Id. at 735. It notes that, had the legislature intended for compelling prostitution to be included as one of the offenses against children enumerated in subsection (b)(2) for which cumulation is authorized, the legislature could have added it to subsection (b)(2), but instead "the Legislature grouped compelling prostitution (against adults and children alike) with human trafficking in a new subsection (b)(5), declaring that stacking was authorized for ‘both sections'—in the plea context, for ‘both sections' listed in paragraph (A)." Id. It concluded that " ‘[b]oth sections' unambiguously refers only to human trafficking and compelling prostitution."
The state asserts that "[t]he statute's plain language that the court of appeals found to be compelling evidence of a legislative intent to restrict stacking to sentences only for offenses within the same paragraph is actually the result of the unique nature in which the statute was amended over a number of legislative sessions rather than an indication of the legislative intent the appellate court attributed to the language." State's Brief at 2. It also asserts that "[t]he use of the word ‘or’ between paragraphs (b)(5) and (b)(6), combined with several extratextual factors, signals a legislative intent to permit stacking of sentences for any combination of offenses listed in subsection (b), regardless of whether the offenses are listed in the same paragraph." Id.
Appellant argues that the court of appeals "did not err when it gave effect to each word and phrase within Section 3.03(b), determining that Section 3.03(b) only permits the cumulation of sentences for offenses grouped within the same category of offenses[.]" Appellant's Brief at 1. He reasons that "interpretation of Section 3.03(b) does not stop at the single conjunction word, ‘or,’ but must give effect to ‘each word, phrase, clause, and sentence’ if reasonably possible." Id ., quoting Tapps v. State , 294 S.W.3d 175, 177 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). He also contends that "[p]ermitting the judge to cumulate only sentences for offenses listed within the same category gives effect to each word within the statute and is the only reasonable interpretation of Section 3.03(b)." Id. at 2.
Appellant suggests alternative language that the Legislature could have used in drafting Section 3.03(b) if it had intended to permit cumulation of sexual-assault and compelling-prostitution convictions, such as a "laundry list" style of statute like Section 3g of Article 42.12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Appellant also suggests that the Legislature could have worded Section 3.03(b) similarly to Penal Code Section 32.51(a)(1), which defines "identifying information" for the offense of fraudulent use of possession of identifying information, defining "identifying information in part by using several separate lists of related types of information [.]" Appellant's Brief at 11. He maintains that, "[b]y organizing Section 3.03(b) in a fashion that suggests the interpretation that only sentences for offenses in the same category of offenses may be cumulated, the layout and structure of Section 3.03(b) are strong indicators of legislative intent." Id. at 12.
We have held that, when "the statute is clear and unambiguous, the Legislature must be understood to mean what it has expressed, and it is not for the courts to add or subtract from such a statute." Parfait v. State , 120 S.W.3d 348, 350 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) ; Boykin v. State , 818 S.W.2d 782, 785 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). Thus, we assume that the legislature means what it said and derive the statute's meaning from the words that the legislature used.
The legislature's intent, whether apparent or invisible, is determined from the actual wording of the statute. Because we agree with the court of appeals and the parties that the language of Section 3.03 is clear and unambiguous and does not lead to absurd consequences, we need not delve into the extra-textual factors of legislative intent. Tapps v. State , 294 S.W.3d at 179. Miles v. State , 468 S.W.3d at 732–33, n.14.
The court of appeals noted that, in support of the unavailability of extra-textual resources to assist interpretation of the statute, both appellant and the state contended that the statute is unambiguous. However, when advocates for contrary positions perceive the same language to have different meanings, such an assertion is a puzzlement.
We agree with the court of appeals and hold that the plain language of Section 3.03(b)(5), authorizing the cumulation of sentences for convictions under "both sections," "unambiguously refers only to human trafficking and compelling prostitution." Miles , 468 S.W.3d at 735. Because appellant's convictions and sentences were for compelling prostitution and sexual assault, rather than compelling prostitution and human trafficking, the unambiguous language of Section 3.03 dictates that those sentences may not be stacked and "shall run concurrently."
Conclusion
While Section 3.03 does set out circumstances in which sentences for specific offenses "may run ... consecutively[,]" the offenses for which appellant was convicted and sentenced do not fall within any of those circumstances. Thus, pursuant to Section 3.03, appellant's sentences "shall run concurrently," and the court of appeals properly reformed the trial court's judgment to delete the cumulation order. Accordingly, we overrule the state's ground for review and affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.
Keller, P.J., filed a dissenting opinion in which Keasler, Yeary, and Newell, JJ., joined.
Keller, P.J., filed a dissenting opinion in which Keasler, Yeary and Newell, JJ., joined.
Sentences for convictions of multiple offenses arising out of the same criminal episode and tried in the same criminal action must run concurrently unless a specific exception within chapter three provides otherwise. The offenses of sexual assault of a child and compelling prostitution are listed in TEX. PENAL CODE § 3.03(b) as exceptions to the rule that sentences shall run concurrently. The issue here is whether a sentence for sexual assault of a child can be stacked upon a sentence for compelling prostitution. The Court holds that these sentences cannot be stacked. I disagree.
Tex. Penal Code§ 3.03(a).
Tex. Penal Code§ 3.03(b)(2).
Tex. Penal Code§ 3.03(b)(5).
Analysis
I believe the statute permits stacked sentences for separate offenses listed in Section 3.03(b) even when the offenses appear in different paragraphs. This case is primarily about a statutory interpretation disagreement. I believe the statute is ambiguous and that pertinent extra-textual factors indicate Section 3.03(b) offenses may be stacked.
The court of appeals acknowledged that at least one part of Section 3.03(b)"can be interpreted in two ways," but still found the statute to be unambiguous. Miles v. State, 468 S.W.3d 719, 734 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. granted).
Section 3.03(b) is ambiguous.
When a statute is ambiguous, it is appropriate to employ extra-textual tools in the analysis such as an examination of the legislative history and the consequences of a particular construction. A statute is ambiguous when it is reasonably susceptible to more than one understanding. I believe that Section 3.03(b) is reasonably susceptible to more than one interpretation.
See Tex. Gov't Code§ 311.023 ; Chase v. State, 448 S.W.3d 6, 11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) ("If the language of a statute is ambiguous, or the plain meaning leads to such absurd results, then a court may consult extra-textual factors .... Extra-textual factors include but are not limited to ... the legislative history, [and] the consequences of a particular construction."); Price v. State, 434 S.W.3d 601, 607 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) ("We may consider de novo several extra-textual factors to discern the Legislature's intent.").
Chase v. State, 448 S.W.3d at 11.
The Court agrees with the court of appeals that permitting stacked sentences across Section 3.03(b)'s subsections renders the "both sections" language in subsections (b)(1), (b)(3), and (b)(5) "meaningless and irreconcilable." I disagree that the "both sections" language becomes meaningless or irreconcilable when stacking is allowed across subsections of Section 3.03(b). All that language means is that an offender of, say, multiple acts of compelling several 15–year–old victims into prostitution across state lines (which would violate both sections of Section 3.03(b)(5) for compelling prostitution and human trafficking), could still be subject to stacked sentences for the contemporaneous sexual assault of those same victims. I understand the statute to mean that an offender can be convicted of either Section 20A.02 or Section 43.05, or both , and still serve a stacked term for a sexual assault offense arising out of the same criminal episode.
Miles v. State, 468 S.W.3d 719 at 733.
The Court also agrees that language from the subsections' paragraph (B) indicates that only the offenses listed in the subsections' companion paragraph (A) may be stacked together. The purpose of the paragraph (B)s is to permit stacked sentences even when convictions result from plea agreements. Those paragraphs do not reveal a legislative intent to prohibit stacking of different offenses across Section 3.03(b).
Nguyen v. State, 359 S.W.3d 636, 645 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) ("[T]he legislative history indicates that the amendments to Sections 3.03(b)(2)(A) & (B) in the 1997 omnibus act dealing with deferred adjudication for sex offenders authorize a trial judge to cumulate sentences when a defendant has been formally found guilty or ‘entered into a plea bargain for two or more of certain specified sex offenses occurring in the same criminal episode.’ ").
Finally, the Court contends that the word "or" between subsections (b)(5) and (b)(6) should be read to make the Section 3.03(b) offenses exclusive from one another. The syntax of the statute, however, suggests that the offense paragraphs (b)(1)–(6) should be read inclusively. If the "or" between Section 3.03(b)(5) and Section 3.03(b)(6) truly served an exclusive purpose, then the absence of that same word—"or"—from every other subsection becomes increasingly conspicuous. The Legislature could have written "or" after every semicolon between (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), and (b)(4) to exclusively cordon off the offenses listed within those subsections, but it did not.
Miles v. State, 468 S.W.3d 719 at 734.
The legislative history of Section 3.03(b) indicates that the Legislature did not intend to restrict stacked sentences to only those offenses listed in the same subsection.
The legislative history of the statute suggests that all the Section 3.03(b) offenses may be stacked regardless of where they are listed in the statute. Since 1997, the Legislature has added new offenses to Section 3.03(b) in piecemeal fashion. The offenses are listed in separate paragraphs not because of any discernable Legislative intention to restrict stacking to offenses found within the same paragraph, but in order to clarify the requirements particular to each offense. For example, stacking is only available for (b)(2) sex offenses if the victim is under the age of 17, and stacking is only available for (b)(6) offenses if the offenses are first degree felonies. The offenses listed throughout Section 3.03(b) are compartmentalized according to their nature and requirements, but that does not mean that a sentence for one offense cannot be stacked upon another offense listed in a different section.
In 2013, the bill analysis of Section 3.03 offered an explanation of the statute indicating that all offenses listed in Section 3.03(b) may run consecutively. The use of the word "and" in the bill analysis to connect all the Section 3.03(b) offenses creates an inclusive connotation. The legislative history of Section 3.03(b) thus suggests that legislators did not intend to restrict sentence stacking to only offenses listed in the same paragraphs as each other.
House Research Organization, Bill Analysis from House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, H.B. 220 (April 18, 2013) ("Sentences for convictions of plea agreements for the following offenses may run concurrently or consecutively: intoxication assault or manslaughter; online solicitation of a minor; continuous sexual abuse of a child; indecency with a child; sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault; incest; sexual performance by a child; improper photography or visual recording; possession or promotion of child pornography; trafficking of persons; and compelling prostitution.") (emphasis added).
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The Court holds that the "unambiguous language of Section 3.03(b) provides that a sentence for compelling prostitution may not be stacked with a sentence for sexual assault of a child when the offenses arise out of the same criminal episode and are prosecuted in a single criminal action." According to the Court's narrow reading of the statute, the only other offense with which appellant's 23–year imprisonment sentence could be stacked is human trafficking under Section 20A.02. The consequence of this interpretation is that a sentence for sexual assault of a child cannot be stacked with a sentence for compelling prostitution, even though the two offenses often bear a ready relationship. I do not agree with the interpretation or the result of the Court's decision, and I do not believe that the Legislature contemplated this outcome.
For all these reasons, I believe sentences for Section 3.03(b) offenses may be stacked with each other even if they are listed in different sections of the statute. I would have left the trial court's cumulation order undisturbed. Because the Court does not arrive at this conclusion, I respectfully dissent.